Prepared by: Performance Measurement Division National Parole Board Table of Contents
List of tables
INTRODUCTION Canada's population continues to grow at higher rates than most industrialized nations. Consistent with Canadian values of diversity and tolerance, immigration will fuel population growth as birth rates decline and immigration patterns contribute to growing cultural and ethnic diversity in many Canadian communities. This has led to an increased cultural and ethnic mix within the offender population. This report provides the Board with a profile of the cultural diversity within the federal offender population. Visible minority people constitute a diverse and growing population in Canada. The number of people in a visible minority has doubled in the past ten years, largely because of increasing immigration from countries outside Europe. In 1996, the visible minority population in Canada numbered 3.2 million, up from 2.5 million in 1991 and 1.6 million in 1986. As a result, people in a visible minority currently make up 11% of the total Canadian population, compared with 9% in 1991 and 6% in 1986. The visible minority population itself comes from many different cultural backgrounds. In 1996, about two-thirds of all people from a visible minority group in Canada were Chinese (27%), South Asian (21%), or Black (18%). At the same time, 8% were Arab or West Asian, 7% were Filipino, 6% were Latin American, 5% were Southeast Asian, 2% were Japanese and 2% were Korean, while 2% belonged to other visible minority groups and another 2% belonged to more than one visible minority group. As reflects the overall settlement pattern of immigrants to Canada, the majority of visible minorities in Canada live in either Ontario or British Columbia. In 1996, nearly three-quarters of all people in a visible minority lived in either Ontario (53%) or British Columbia (21%). For the purposes of this report, visible minorities are grouped as Asian, Black and Other/Unknown. The visible minority group titled Asian includes Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Southeast Asian, South Asian, Asiatic and East Indian offenders. The visible minority group titled Other/Unknown includes Filipino, Latin American, Hispanic, Arab, West Asian and Other/Unknown offenders. As Aboriginal and Caucasian offenders constitute the majority of offenders (86% on March 31, 2001) within the federal correctional system, these two groups have been included in the tables and narratives for comparison purposes. While the Other/Unknown group has been included in the tables, this group is not included in the narratives because of the cultural diversity within the group itself. On March 31, 2001, the Other/Unknown group represented 3.8% of the total federal offender population. Within this group however 1.5% were Other, 0.2% were Filipino, 0.3% were Latin American, 0.4% were Hispanic, 0.6% were Arab or West Asian, 0.3% were Unknown and 0.6% were blank. The Other group included offenders from Vietnam, Fiji, South America, Croatia, Russia, Guyana, Italy, Morocco, etc. The following sections provide statistical information in relation to the cultural profile of the federal offender population for the fiscal years 1996/97 to 2000/01. Information for prior fiscal years is not included because of inconsistency in the identification of visible minority offenders. Caution should be exercised in drawing conclusions based on the statistics provided in some of the tables due to the small sample sizes involved. HIGHLIGHTS The following are highlights from the National Parole Board's report on the cultural profile of the federal offender population, focusing on trends since 1996/97. populations: Compared to the 1996 census of the Canadian population, Aboriginal and Black offenders were over-represented within the federal offender population on March 31, 2001 and Asian and Caucasian offenders were under-represented. Since March 31, 1997, the proportion of Aboriginal offenders has increased in the total federal offender population, while the proportion of Caucasian offenders has decreased. During the same period, while the proportions of Asian and Black offenders fluctuated within the total federal offender population, the general trend has been an increase in the proportion of Asian offenders and a stabilization in the proportion of Black offenders. In comparison with their proportions of the total federal offender populations, the general trends since March 31, 1997 have been that:
Since March 31, 1997, only Aboriginal offenders have been more likely to be incarcerated than on conditional release. Of the other groups, Caucasian offenders had the highest proportion on conditional release until March 31, 1999 and Asian offenders have had the highest proportion since that time. In comparison with their proportions of the total federal offender populations, the general trends since March 31, 1997 have been that:
admissions: Since 1996/97, Aboriginal offenders have been over-represented within all the federal admissions categories compared to their proportions within the total federal offender population. During the same period, Asian and Black offenders have been over-represented in the initial warrant of committal admission category and Caucasian offenders have been over-represented in the revocation with offence admission category compared to their proportions within the total federal offender population. Since 1996/97, Aboriginal and Caucasian offenders have had the largest proportions of offenders sentenced to 2 years to less than 5 years on initial warrant of committal admissions, Black offenders have had the largest proportion sentenced to 5 to 10 years and Asian offenders have had the largest proportions sentenced to over 10 years and life. releases: Since 1996/97, Aboriginal offenders have been over-represented in the warrant expiry date and statutory release categories compared to their proportions within the total federal offender population. During the same period, Asian offenders were over-represented in the day and full parole release categories, Black offenders were over-represented in the full parole release category and Caucasian offenders were over-represented in the day parole release category compared to their proportions within the total federal offender population. grant rates: In 2000/01, Asian offenders had the highest day parole grant rate, followed by Aboriginal, Caucasian and Black offenders. This has been the general trend since 1997/98, except that prior to 2000/01, Caucasian offenders had a higher day parole grant rate than Aboriginal offenders. In 1996/97, Aboriginal offenders had the highest day parole grant rate, followed by Caucasian, Black and Asian offenders. In 2000/01, Asian offenders also had the highest full parole grant rate, followed by Black, Caucasian and Aboriginal offenders. The same trend has held since 1996/97. outcome rates: Between 1997/98 and 1999/00, Asian offenders had the highest day parole successful completion rates, followed by Black, Caucasian and Aboriginal offenders. In 2000/01, the order was Asian, Black, Aboriginal and then Caucasian offenders and, in 1996/97, the order was Asian, Caucasian, Aboriginal and then Black offenders. Between 1997/98 and 1999/00, Black offenders had the highest full parole successful completion rates followed by Asian, Caucasian and Aboriginal offenders. In 2000/01, the order was Asian, Black, Caucasian and Aboriginal offenders, while in 1996/97, the order was Black, Caucasian, Asian and then Aboriginal offenders. Since 1996/97, Asian offenders have had the highest statutory release successful completion rates, followed by Black, Caucasian and Aboriginal offenders. DETAILED CULTURAL PROFILE The following sections provide multi-year information on the cultural profile of the federal offender population with an emphasis on the fiscal year 2000/01. 1. Populations: Table 1 Source: CSC and NPB
Table 2 Source: CSC and NPB
Table 3 Source: CSC and NPB
Since March 31, 1997, the proportion of Aboriginal offenders has increased in the total federal offender population (ñ 2.5% to 14.9%), while the proportion of Caucasian offenders decreased from 74.2% on March 31, 1997 to 70.9% on March 31, 2000 and has since increased to 71.4%. The proportion of Asian offenders in the total federal offender population increased from 2.6% on March 31, 1997 to 3.7% on March 31, 2000 and has since decreased to 3.6%, while the proportion of Black offenders has fluctuated between 6.3% and 6.6%. Compared to the 1996 census of the Canadian population, Aboriginal and Black offenders were over-represented within the federal offender population on March 31, 2001 (14.9% to 2.8% of the Canadian population and 6.3% to 2.0% of the Canadian population respectively). On the other hand, Asian and Caucasian offenders were under-represented compared to their 1996 proportions of the Canadian population (3.6% to 6.4% of the Canadian population and 71.4% to 86.0% of the Canadian population respectively). Of the groups within the federal offender population, only Aboriginal offenders were more likely to be incarcerated than on conditional release (17.0% to 11.8%) on March 31, 2001. Of the other groups, Asian offenders had the highest proportion on conditional release compared to incarcerated offenders (4.8% compared to 2.8%). On March 31, 2001, Black offenders had the youngest average age (at 33 years) within the federal offender population, followed by Aboriginal and Asian offenders (at 34 years) and Caucasian offenders (at 39 years). Within the federal incarcerated population, Black offenders had the youngest average age (at 32 years) on March 31, 2001, followed by Aboriginal offenders (at 33 years), Asian offenders (at 34 years) and Caucasian offenders (at 38 years). On the same date, Black and Asian offenders had the youngest average age within the federal conditional release population (at 35 years), followed by Aboriginal offenders (at 36 years) and Caucasian offenders (at 42 years). A review of the actual number of federal offenders revealed that while the Aboriginal and Asian offenders' populations increased between March 31, 1997 and March 31, 2000, the actual number of Caucasian offenders decreased and the number of Black offenders fluctuated during the same period. Between March 31, 2000 and March 31, 2001, the numbers of Asian, Black and Caucasian federal offenders all decreased, while the number of Aboriginal federal offenders remained unchanged. Table 4 Source: CSC and NPB
Table 5 Source: CSC and NPB
Table 6 Source: CSC and NPB
Table 7 Source: CSC and NPB
Table 8 Source: CSC and NPB
A review of the total federal offender population in each region revealed that on March 31, 2001, the Prairie region had the highest proportion of Aboriginal offenders (at 37.2%), the Pacific region had the highest proportion of Asian offenders (at 6.8%), the Ontario region had the highest proportion of Black offenders (at 14.0%) and the Quebec region had the highest proportion of Caucasian offenders (at 87.7%). In the Atlantic region, the actual number of Aboriginal, Asian and Black federal offenders has fluctuated since March 31, 1997 (between 103 and 113, between 4 and 6 and between 114 and 140 respectively), while the number of Caucasian offenders decreased until March 31, 2000 and then increased (to 1,723). Compared to the 1996 census, Black offenders were the most over-represented group within the Atlantic offender population on March 31, 2001 (6.1% to 1.0%) and the Caucasian population was the most under-represented (87.2% to 96.4%). In the Quebec region, the actual number of Aboriginal federal offenders has increased (to 212) since March 31, 1997, while the numbers of Black and Caucasian offenders have decreased (to 271 and 4,999 respectively). The actual number of Asian federal offenders has fluctuated since March 31, 1997 (between 41 and 46). Compared to the 1996 census, Black offenders were the most over-represented group within the Quebec offender population on March 31, 2001 (4.8% to 1.9%) and the Caucasian population was the most under-represented (87.7% to 92.8%). In the Ontario region, the actual numbers of Aboriginal and Asian federal offenders increased between March 31, 1997 and March 31, 2000 and have since decreased (to 413 and 324 respectively), while the number of Black offenders increased until March 31, 1999 and then decreased (to 815). The number of Caucasian federal offenders has decreased since March 31, 1997 (to 3,949). Compared to the 1996 census, Black offenders were the most over-represented group within the Ontario offender population on March 31, 2001 (14.0% to 3.3%) and the Caucasian population was the most under-represented (68.0% to 82.9%). In the Prairie region, the actual number of Aboriginal federal offenders increased between March 31, 1997 and March 31, 1999 and has since decreased (to 1,949). The number of Asian federal offenders has increased (to 206) since March 31, 1997, while the number of Black offenders has fluctuated (between 112, and 121). The number of Caucasian offenders decreased between March 31, 1997 and March 31, 1998 and has since increased (to 2,781). Compared to the 1996 census, Aboriginal offenders were the most over-represented group within the Prairie offender population on March 31, 2001 (37.2% to 8.4%) and the Caucasian population was the most under-represented (53.1% to 83.8%). In the Pacific region, the actual number of Aboriginal federal offenders has fluctuated since March 31, 1997 (between 483 and 555), while the number of Asian offenders decreased between March 31, 1997 and March 31, 1999 and then increased the following year where it has remained stable (at 203). The number of Black federal offenders decreased between March 31, 1997 and March 31, 2000 and has since remained stable (at 40), while the number of Caucasian offenders also decreased between March 31, 1997 and March 31, 2000 but then increased (to 2,034). Compared to the 1996 census, Aboriginal offenders were the most over-represented group within the Pacific offender population on March 31, 2001 (18.6% to 3.9%) and the Caucasian population was the most under-represented (68.3% to 78.3%). Table 9 Source: CSC and NPB
Table 10 Source: CSC and NPB
Table 11 Source: CSC and NPB
Table 12 Source: CSC and NPB
Table 13 Source: CSC and NPB
Since March 31, 1997, the Prairie region has had the highest proportion of Aboriginal offenders but this proportion had decreased 3.6% to 60.3% by March 31, 2001. During the same period, the Ontario region had the highest proportion of Asian offenders. This proportion has fluctuated between 41.5% and 44.6% since March 31, 1997. Since March 31, 1997, the Ontario region has also had the highest proportion of Black offenders and this proportion had increased 5.8% to 59.7% by March 31, 2001. The proportions of Caucasian offenders remained relatively stable in all the regions during the same period. Table 14 Source: CSC and NPB
Table 15 Source: CSC and NPB
Table 16 Source: CSC and NPB
In comparison with their 14.9% proportion of the total federal offender population on March 31, 2001, Aboriginal offenders were under-represented in the day and full parole categories (13.1% and 8.1% respectively) and over-represented in the statutory release category (17.6%). This same trend has held since March 31, 1997. On March 31, 2001, 16.4% of the Aboriginal conditional release population were on day parole, 37.0% were on full parole and 46.5% were on statutory release. In comparison with their 3.6% proportion of the total federal offender population on March 31, 2001, Asian offenders were over-represented in the day and full parole categories (4.7% and 6.3% respectively) and under-represented in the statutory release category (2.3%). The same trend has held for the full parole and statutory release categories since March 31, 1997 and for the day parole category since March 31, 1998. On March 31, 2001, 14.5% of the Asian conditional release population were on day parole, 70.7% were on full parole and 14.8% were on statutory release. In comparison with their 6.3% proportion of the total federal offender population on March 31, 2001, Black offenders were over-represented in the full parole (6.9%) and statutory release categories (7.0%) and under-represented in the day parole category (5.5%). The same trend has held since March 31, 1997 for the day and full parole categories. Black offenders were under-represented in the statutory release category until March 31, 1999. On March 31, 2001, 12.0% of the Black conditional release population were on day parole, 55.4% were on full parole and 32.6% were on statutory release. In comparison with their 71.4% proportion of the total federal offender population on March 31, 2001, Caucasian offenders were over-represented in the day and full parole categories (73.4% and 72.1% respectively) and under-represented in the statutory release category (70.8%). The same trend has held since March 31, 1997 in the day and full parole categories. In the statutory release category, Caucasian conditional release offenders were over-represented until March 31, 2000. On March 31, 2001, 15.1% of the Caucasian conditional release population were on day parole, 54.1% were on full parole and 30.7% were on statutory release. Table 17 Source: CSC and NPB
Since March 31, 1997, the proportion of Aboriginal federal offenders on full parole has increased (to 8.1%), while their proportion on day parole increased until March 31, 1999 where it stabilized (at 13.1%) and their proportion on statutory release increased until March 31, 2000 and it has since decreased (to 17.6%). The proportions of Asian federal offenders within all federal conditional release categories increased between March 31, 1997 and March 31, 2000 and have since decreased slightly (to 4.7% day parole, 6.3% full parole and 2.3% statutory release). Since March 31, 1997, the proportions of Black federal offenders within all federal conditional release categories have fluctuated (day parole between 4.7% and 6.3%, full parole between 6.9% and 7.8% and statutory release between 6.1% and 7.0%). The proportions of Caucasian federal offenders within all federal conditional release categories decreased between March 31, 1997 and March 31, 2000 and have since increased (to 73.4% day parole, 72.1% full parole and 70.8% statutory release).
Table 18 Source: CSC and NPB
Table 19 Source: CSC and NPB
Table 20 Source: CSC and NPB
Table 21 Source: CSC and NPB
Table 22 Source: CSC and NPB
Within the federal offender population, the number of offenders serving sentences for murder has increased (ñ 10.1% to 3,624) since March 31, 1997, while the number serving sentences for schedule I-sex and schedule I-non-sex offences decreased during the same period (ò 20.1% to 2,948 and ò 6.0% to 8,593 respectively). The number serving sentences for schedule II and non-scheduled offences has fluctuated since March 31, 1997 (schedule II between 3,121 and 3,522 and non-scheduled between 2,974 and 3,084). On March 31, 2001, Aboriginal federal offenders were over-represented in the schedule I-sex and schedule I-non-sex offences categories compared to their 14.9% proportion of the total federal offender population (20.8% and 17.5% respectively). Compared to their 3.6% proportion of the total federal offender population, Asian offenders were over-represented in the schedule II offence category (12.2%). While Black offenders made up 6.3% of the total federal offender population, they were over-represented in the schedule I-non-sex and schedule II offences categories (7.3% and 10.7% respectively). Caucasian offenders, who made up 71.4% of the total federal offender population on March 31, 2001, were over-represented in the murder and non-scheduled offence categories (76.7% and 80.3% respectively). A review of the actual number of federal offenders serving sentences for murder revealed that the Asian population has seen the biggest increase in this category since March 31, 1997 (ñ 63.3% to 80). The Asian population was followed by the Black (ñ 48.0% to 148), the Aboriginal (ñ 38.4% to 501) and the Caucasian populations (ñ 5.0% to 2,778). The Caucasian, Black and Aboriginal populations all have seen decreases in the number of offenders serving sentences for schedule I-sex offences since March 31, 1997 (ò 22.9% to 2,048, ò 20.2% to 146, ò 11.2% to 613 respectively), while the Asian population's numbers have fluctuated (between 20 and 47). Since March 31, 1997, the actual number of offenders serving sentences for schedule I-non-sex offences has fluctuated for the Aboriginal, Asian and Black populations, while the Caucasian population has seen a decrease (ò 10.5% to 6,022). Since March 31, 1997, the actual number of offenders serving sentences for schedule II offences has fluctuated for the Asian, Black and Caucasian populations, while the Aboriginal population has seen an increase (ñ 167.5% to 206).
The actual number of federal offenders serving sentences for non-scheduled offences has fluctuated within all federal offender groups since March 31, 1997. Table 23 Source: CSC and NPB
Table 24 Source: CSC and NPB
Table 25 Source: CSC and NPB
Table 26 Source: CSC and NPB
Table 27 Source: CSC and NPB
The largest proportion of Aboriginal offenders were serving sentences for schedule I-non-sex offences on March 31, 2001 (46.6%). Since March 31, 1997, the proportions serving sentences for murder and schedule II offences have increased (to 15.5% and 6.4% respectively), while the proportions serving sentences for schedule I-non-sex offences and non-scheduled offences both fluctuated (between 46.5% and 48.7% and between 11.7% and 12.7% respectively). The largest proportion of Asian offenders were serving sentences for schedule II offences on March 31, 2001 (53.8%). Since March 31, 1997, the proportions have fluctuated in all the offence categories for Asian offenders. The largest proportion of Black offenders were serving sentences for schedule I-non-sex offences on March 31, 2001 (45.8%). Since March 31, 1997, the proportion serving sentences for murder increased (to 10.8%), while the proportions serving sentences for schedule II and schedule I-sex offences decreased (to 27.0% and to 10.7% respectively). The proportion serving sentences for non-scheduled offences has fluctuated since March 31, 1997 (between 5.4% and 7.5%). The largest proportion of Caucasian offenders were serving sentences for schedule I-non-sex offences on March 31, 2001 (38.9%). Since March 31, 1997, the proportion serving sentences for murder increased (to 17.9%), while the proportion serving sentences for schedule I-sex offences decreased (to 13.2%). Since March 31, 1997, the proportions have fluctuated in all the other offence categories for Caucasian offenders. Table 28 Source: CSC and NPB
Since March 31, 1997, the majority of federal offenders serving sentences for murder have been incarcerated rather than on conditional release. On March 31, 2001, of those offenders serving sentences for murder, Caucasian offenders had the greatest probability of being on conditional release (38.4%), while Black offenders had the greatest probability of being incarcerated (78.4%). Since March 31, 1997, the majority of federal offenders serving sentences for schedule I-sex offences have been incarcerated rather than on conditional release, however the proportions incarcerated have decreased for all groups since that time. On March 31, 2001, of those offenders serving sentences for schedule I-sex offences, Caucasian offenders had the greatest probability of being on conditional release (34.4%), while Asian offenders had the greatest probability of being incarcerated (72.7%). Since March 31, 1997, the majority of federal offenders serving sentences for schedule I-non-sex offences have been incarcerated rather than on conditional release, however the percentage incarcerated has decreased for all groups since that time. On March 31, 2001, of those offenders serving sentences for schedule I-non-sex offences, Asian offenders had the greatest probability of being on conditional release (40.9%), while Aboriginal offenders had the greatest probability of being incarcerated (67.7%). Since March 31, 1997, the majority of federal offenders serving sentences for schedule II offences have been on conditional release rather than incarcerated and this percentage has increased since that time for all offender groups except Aboriginal offenders. On March 31, 2001, of those offenders serving sentences for schedule II offences, Asian offenders had the greatest probability of being on conditional release (69.8%), while Aboriginal offenders had the greatest probability of being incarcerated (49.0%). Since March 31, 1997, the majority of federal offenders (except Asian offenders) serving sentences for non-scheduled offences were incarcerated rather than on conditional release. Since March 31, 1997, Asian offenders, serving sentences for non-scheduled offences, have had a greater probability of being on conditional release than incarcerated. On March 31, 2001, of those offenders serving sentences for non-scheduled offences, Asian offenders had the greatest probability of being on conditional release (55.9%), while Aboriginal offenders had the greatest probability of being incarcerated (63.6%). 2. Admissions: Table 29 Source: CSC and NPB
Table 30 Source: CSC and NPB
Table 31 Source: CSC and NPB
Table 32 Source: CSC and NPB
Table 33 Source: CSC and NPB
* Includes transfers from foreign countries, exchange of services, terminations etc. Table 34 Source: CSC and NPB
Compared to their proportions within the total federal population on March 31, 2001, Aboriginal offenders were over-represented within the total federal admissions category (17.9% to 14.9%) and Asian and Caucasian offenders were under-represented (2.7% to 3.6% and 70.0% to 71.4% respectively). The Black proportion of total admissions was slightly under-represented compared to their proportion within the total federal population (6.0% to 6.3%). Compared to their proportion within the total federal population on March 31, 2001 (14.9%), Aboriginal offenders were not only over-represented in the total federal admission category, they were also over-represented in the revocation with offence (20.9%), the revocation without offence (20.3%) and the warrant of committal (repeat) admissions categories (17.6%) and slightly over-represented in the warrant of committal (initial) admissions category (15.4%). While Asian offenders were under-represented in the total federal admissions category compared to their proportion within the total federal population on March 31, 2001 (3.6%), they were over-represented in the warrant of committal (initial) admissions category (4.5%) While Black offenders were slightly under-represented in the total federal admissions category compared to their proportion within the total federal population on March 31, 2001 (6.3%), they were over-represented in the warrant of committal (initial) admission category (7.1%). While Caucasian offenders were under-represented in the total federal admissions category compared to their proportion within the total federal population on March 31, 2001 (71.4%), they were over-represented in the warrant of committal (repeat) (75.9%) and the revocation with offence categories (71.9%). Table 35 Source: CSC and NPB
Table 36 Source: CSC and NPB
Table 37 Source: CSC and NPB
Table 38 Source: CSC and NPB
Table 39 Source: CSC and NPB
In 2000/01, the Asian offender population had the highest proportion of admissions on initial warrants of committal at 67.3% and the Caucasian offender population had the highest proportion of admissions on repeat warrants of committal at 15.9%. In the same period, the Aboriginal offender population had the highest proportion of revocation with offence admissions at 16.4% as well as the highest proportion of revocation without offence admissions at 31.9%. Since 1996/97, the Asian offender population has had the highest proportions of initial warrant of committal admissions and the Aboriginal offender population has had the highest proportions of revocation without offence admissions. While the Caucasian offender population had the highest proportions of repeat warrant of committal admissions in four of the last five years, the Aboriginal offender population had the highest proportion in 1997/98. While the Caucasian offender population had the highest proportions of revocation with offence admissions in 1996/97 and 1997/98, the Caucasian and Aboriginal proportions were equally high in 1998/99 and since that time the Aboriginal offender population has had the highest proportions. Table 40 Source: CSC and NPB
*Does not include cases under provincial jurisdiction (less than 2 years) admitted to federal jurisdiction. A review of initial warrant of committal admissions revealed that, in 2000/01, the greatest proportions of Aboriginal and Black offenders were in the 5 to 10 year sentence category (18.1% and 11.0% respectively). The greatest proportion of Asian offenders was in the over 10 year sentence category (7.7%) and the greatest proportion of Caucasian offenders was in the 2 years to less than 5 years sentence category (69.4%) and in the over 10 years category (69.2%). Between 1996/97 and 1998/99, the greatest proportions of Aboriginal offenders in the initial warrant of committal admissions category were serving sentences of between 2 and less than 5 years. In 1999/00, the greatest proportion was serving life sentences and in 2000/01 the greatest proportion were serving sentences of between 5 and 10 years. Since 1996/97, the greatest proportions of Asian offenders in the initial warrant of committal admissions category have been serving sentences of over 10 years. In 1996/97, the greatest proportion of Black offenders in the initial warrant of committal admissions category were serving sentences of between 5 and 10 years as they were in 1999/00 and 2000/01. In 1997/98 and 1998/99, the greatest proportions of Black offenders were serving sentences of over 10 years. In the five years since 1996/97, except for 1997/98, the greatest proportions of Caucasian offenders in the initial warrant of committal admissions category were serving sentences of between 2 years to less than 5 years. In 1997/98, the greatest proportion of Caucasian offenders was serving life sentences. Table 41 Source: CSC and NPB
*Does not include cases under provincial jurisdiction (less than 2 years) admitted to federal jurisdiction. A review of repeat warrant of committal admissions revealed that, in 2000/01, the greatest proportion of Aboriginal offenders was in the lifer sentence category (23.4%), the greatest proportions of Asian and Black offenders were in the 5 to 10 years sentence category (2.5% and 6.3% respectively) and the greatest proportion of Caucasian offenders was in the over 10 years sentence category (93.8%). In 1996/97, 1997/98 and 1999/00, the greatest proportions of Aboriginal offenders in the repeat warrant of committal admissions category were serving sentences of between 2 and less than 5 years. In 1998/99 and 2000/01, the greatest proportions were serving life sentences. In 1996/97 and 2000/01, the greatest proportions of Caucasian offenders in the repeat warrant of committal admissions category were serving sentences of over 10 years, in 1997/98 the greatest proportion was serving sentences of between 2 and less than 5 years and in 1998/99 and 1999/00 the greatest proportions were serving sentences of between 5 and 10 years. Given the small number of Asian and Black offenders in the repeat warrant of committal admissions category, no conclusions can be drawn from the proportions indicated. 3. Releases: Table 42 Source: CSC and NPB
Table 43 Source: CSC and NPB
Table 44 Source: CSC and NPB
Table 45 Source: CSC and NPB
Table 46 Source: CSC and NPB
*Other includes foreign transfers, deceased, court orders and long term supervisions Table 47 Source: CSC and NPB
Compared to their proportion within the total federal population on March 31, 2001 (14.9%), Aboriginal offenders were over-represented in the release at warrant expiry date (35.2%) and the release at statutory release date (21.2%) categories and under-represented in the day parole release (13.8%) and the full parole release (12.0%) categories. Compared to their proportion within the total federal population on March 31, 2001 (3.6%), Asian offenders were over-represented in the full parole release (5.0%) and the day parole release (3.8%) categories and under-represented in the release at warrant expiry date (1.3%) and the release at statutory release date (1.6%) categories. Compared to their proportion within the total federal population on March 31, 2001 (6.3%), Black offenders were over-represented in the full parole release (14.5%) category and under-represented in the release at warrant expiry date (5.2%), the day parole release (5.1%) and the release at statutory release date (5.9%) categories. Compared to their proportion within the total federal population on March 31, 2000 (71.4%), Caucasian offenders were over-represented in the day parole release (73.2%) category and under-represented in the release at warrant expiry date (55.2%), the full parole release (56.0%) and the release at statutory release date (69.1%) categories. Table 48 Source: CSC and NPB
*Other includes foreign transfers, deceased, court orders and long term supervisions Table 49 Source: CSC and NPB
*Other includes foreign transfers, deceased, court orders and long term supervisions Table 50 Source: CSC and NPB
*Other includes foreign transfers, deceased, court orders and long term supervisions Table 51 Source: CSC and NPB
*Other includes foreign transfers, deceased, court orders and long term supervisions Table 52 Source: CSC and NPB
*Other includes foreign transfers, deceased, court orders and long term supervisions In 2000/01, Aboriginal offenders had the highest proportions of releases at warrant expiry date and statutory release date at 5.6% and 68.6% respectively, Asian offenders had the highest proportion of day parole releases at 50.0% and Black offenders had the highest proportions of full parole releases at 6.3%. Since 1996/97, the Aboriginal offender population has had the highest proportions of releases at warrant expiry date and at statutory release date. During the same period, the Asian offender population had the highest proportions of day parole and full parole releases except for in 1996/97 when the Caucasian offender population had the highest proportion of day parole releases. Table 53 Source: CSC and NPB
In comparing federal offenders released directly from federal institutions in 2000/01 to statutory release with no prior day or full parole release with the total federal population on March 31, 2001, it is noted that Aboriginal (22.8% to 14.9%) and Black offenders (6.6% to 6.3%) were over-represented while Asian (1.3% to 3.6%) and Caucasian (67.3% to 71.4%) offenders were under-represented. Table 54 Source: CSC and NPB
In comparing federal offenders released directly from federal institutions in 2000/01 at warrant expiry with no prior day or full parole release with the total federal population on March 31, 2001, it is noted that Aboriginal offenders were over-represented (20.6% to 14.9%), while Asian (1.5% to 3.6), Black (5.4% to 6.3%) and Caucasian (53.4% to 71.4%) offenders were under-represented. Table 55 Source: CSC and NPB
In comparing the number of federal offenders who graduated from day parole to full parole in 2000/01 with the total federal population on March 31, 2001, it is noted that Aboriginal and Black offenders were under-represented (11.0% to 14.9% and (5.5% to 6.3%), while Asian (6.3% to 3.6), and Caucasian offenders (72.6% to 71.4%) were over-represented. The number of federal offenders graduating annually from day parole to full parole increased between 1996/97 and 1999/00 and then decreased (to 1,543). Since 1996/97, Aboriginal offenders have seen a 246.9% (to 170) increase in the number of graduations annually from day parole to full parole. Asian, Black and Caucasian offenders all saw increases between 1996/97 and 1999/00 and decreases since then. Table 56 Source: CSC and NPB
In comparing the number of federal offenders who graduated from day parole to statutory release in 2000/01 with the total federal population on March 31, 2001, it is noted that Aboriginal offenders (20.8% to 14.9%) were over-represented, while Asian (1.7% to 3.6%), Black (5.3% to 6.3%) and Caucasian (69.6% to 71.4%) offenders were under-represented. Since March 31, 1997, the number of federal offenders graduating annually from day parole to statutory release has fluctuated between 418 and 508. The same has held true for the numbers in each of the federal offender populations. 4. Grant Rates: Table 57 Source: CRIMS
In 2000/01, Asian offenders had the highest day parole grant rate at 75.9%, followed by Aboriginal offenders at 74.2%, Caucasian offenders at 71.4% and Black offenders at 67.4%. A review of the offence profile of federal offenders who had day parole pre-release decisions in 2000/01, revealed that offenders serving sentences for murder accounted for 13.4% of Aboriginal offender day parole pre-release decisions, 11.5% of Caucasian offender day parole pre-release decisions and 3.7% of Black offender day parole pre-release decisions and 3.4% of Asian offender day parole pre-release decisions. During the same year, the proportion of day parole pre-release decisions for offenders serving sentences for schedule I-sex offences was 11.6% for Aboriginal offenders, 9.7% for Caucasian offenders, 7.0% for Black offenders and 2.8% for Asian offender. In the group of offenders serving sentences for schedule I-non-sex offences the proportion of day parole pre-release decisions was 43.4% for Aboriginal offenders, 41.9% for Black offenders, 37.0% for Caucasian offenders and 24.1% for Asian offenders. In the group of offenders serving sentences for schedule II offences, the proportion of day parole pre-release decisions was 64.8% for Asian offenders, 35.6% for Black offenders, 17.3% for Caucasian offenders and 11.3% of Aboriginal offenders. In the group of offenders serving sentences for non-scheduled offences the proportion of day parole pre-release decisions was 24.5% for Caucasian offenders, 20.3% for Aboriginal offenders, 11.9% for Black offenders and 4.8% for Asian offender. Table 58 Source: CRIMS
In 2000/01, Asian offenders had the highest full parole grant rate at 68.5%, followed by Black offenders at 43.5%, Caucasian offenders at 41.5% and Aboriginal offenders at 37.0%. A review of the offence profile of federal offenders who had full parole pre-release decisions in 2000/01, revealed that federal offenders serving sentences for murder accounted for 7.0% of Aboriginal offender full parole pre-release decisions, 6.3% of Caucasian offender full parole pre-release decisions, 2.0% of Black offender full parole pre-release decisions and 1.4% of Asian offender full parole pre-release decisions. During the same year, the proportion of full parole pre-release decisions for offenders serving sentences for schedule I-sex offences was 15.5% for Aboriginal offenders, 12.4% for Caucasian offenders, 6.1% for Black offenders and 5.5% for Asian offenders. In the group of offenders serving sentences for schedule I-non-sex offences the proportion of full parole pre-release decisions was 43.9% for Black offenders, 40.9% for Aboriginal offenders, 36.9% for Caucasian offenders and 21.9% of Asian offenders. In the group of offenders serving sentences for schedule II offences the proportion of full parole pre-release decisions was 67.1% for Asian offenders, 36.2% for Black offenders, 20.0% for Caucasian offenders and 12.9% for Aboriginal offenders. In the group of offenders serving sentences for non-scheduled offences the proportion of full parole pre-release decisions was 24.5% for Caucasian offenders, 23.8% for Aboriginal offenders, 11.8% for Black offenders and 4.1% of Asian offenders. 5. Outcome Rates:Table 59 Source: CRIMS
Table 60 Source: CRIMS
Table 61 Source: CRIMS
Note : Caution should be used when drawing conclusions based on the day parole violent recidivism rate because of the small numbers involved.Table 62 Source: CRIMS
Note : Caution should be used when drawing conclusions based on the day parole total recidivism rate because of the small numbers involved.
In 2000/01, Asian offenders had the highest federal day parole successful completion rate at 94.7%, followed by Black offenders at 89.4%, Aboriginal offenders at 81.6% and Caucasian offenders at 81.6%. A review of the 2000/01 day parole successful completion rates by offence profile revealed that Aboriginal offenders had the lowest successful completion rates in the murder, schedule I-sex offence and schedule II offence categories. Caucasian offenders had the lowest day parole successful completion rate in the schedule I-non-sex offence and the non-scheduled offence categories. In 2000/01, Asian and Black offenders had 100% day parole successful completion rates in the murder and schedule I-sex offence categories. Asian offenders had the highest day parole successful completion rates in the schedule I-non-sex and schedule II offence categories and Black offenders had the highest day parole successful completion rate in the non-scheduled offence category. In 2000/01, Asian offenders had the lowest federal day parole revocation for breach of condition rate at 5.3%, followed by Black (8.9%), Aboriginal (12.5%) and Caucasian (12.8%) offenders. In 2000/01, Aboriginal offenders had a federal day parole total recidivism rate of 5.9%. Since 1996/97, Aboriginal offenders have had a federal day parole violent recidivism rate of between 0.8% and 2.6% and a federal day parole total recidivism rate of between 5.4% and 11.5%. In 2000/01, Asian offenders had a federal day parole total recidivism rate of 0.0%. Since 1996/97, Asian offenders have had a federal day parole violent recidivism rate of 0.0% and a federal day parole total recidivism rate of between 0.0% and 1.4%. In 2000/01, Black offenders had a federal day parole total recidivism rate of 1.8%. Since 1996/97, Black offenders have had a federal day parole violent recidivism rate of between 0.0% and 3.7% and a federal day parole total recidivism rate of between 1.8% and 8.9%. In 2000/01, Caucasian offenders had a federal day parole total recidivism rate of 5.7%. Since 1996/97, Caucasian offenders have had a federal day parole violent recidivism rate of between 0.6% and 1.3% and a federal day parole total recidivism rate of between 5.1% and 7.1%. Table 63 Source: CRIMS
Table 64 Source: CRIMS
Table 65 Source: CRIMS
Note : Caution should be used when drawing conclusions based on the full parole violent recidivism rate because of the small numbers involved.Table 66 Source: CRIMS
Note : Caution should be used when drawing conclusions based on the full parole total recidivism rate because of the small numbers involved.In 2000/01, Asian offenders had the highest full parole successful completion rate at 83.6%, followed by Black offenders at 79.8%, Caucasian offenders at 72.3% and Aboriginal offenders at 58.1%. A review of the 2000/01 full parole successful completion rates by offence profile revealed that Aboriginal offenders had the lowest successful completion rates in the schedule II offence and non-scheduled offence categories. Black offenders had the lowest successful completion rate in the schedule I-non-sex offence category and Asian offenders had the lowest successful completion rate in the schedule I-sex offence category. In 2000/01, Black offenders had the highest full parole successful completion rates in the schedule I-sex offence and schedule II offence categories and Asian offenders had the highest successful completion rates in the schedule I-non-sex offence and non-scheduled offence categories. In 2000/01, Asian offenders had the lowest federal full parole revocation for breach of condition rate at 11.2%, followed by Black (11.3%), Caucasian (17.7%) and Aboriginal (22.5%) offenders. In 2000/01, Aboriginal offenders had a federal full parole total recidivism rate of 19.4%. Since 1996/97, Aboriginal offenders have had a federal full parole violent recidivism rate of between 2.0% and 7.8% and a federal full parole total recidivism rate of between 19.4% and 26.1%. In 2000/01, Asian offenders had a federal full parole total recidivism rate of 5.2%. Since 1996/97, Asian offenders have had a federal full parole violent recidivism rate of between 0.0% and 1.7% and a federal full parole total recidivism rate of between 5.2% and 15.6%. In 2000/01, Black offenders had a federal full parole total recidivism rate of 8.9%. Since 1996/97, Black offenders have had a federal full parole violent recidivism rate of between 0.6% and 2.9% and a federal full parole total recidivism rate of between 4.6% and 13.0%. In 2000/01, Caucasian offenders had a federal full parole total recidivism rate of 10.1%. Since 1996/97, Caucasian offenders have had a federal full parole violent recidivism rate of between 1.5% and 2.7% and a federal full parole total recidivism rate of between 10.1% and 16.2%. Table 67 Source: CRIMS
Table 68 Source: CRIMS
Table 69 Source: CRIMS
Note : Caution should be used when drawing conclusions based on the statutory release violent recidivism rate because of the small numbers involved.Table 70 Source: CRIMS
In 2000/01, Asian offenders had the highest statutory release successful completion rate at 75.5%, followed by Black offenders at 61.8%, Caucasian offenders at 58.9% and Aboriginal offenders at 55.1%. A review of the 2000/01 statutory release successful completion rates by offence profile revealed that Aboriginal offenders had the lowest successful completion rates in the schedule I-sex offence and schedule I-non-sex offence categories and Black offenders had the lowest successful completion rates in the schedule II offence and non-scheduled offence categories. In 2000/01, Asian offenders had the highest statutory release successful completion rates in all offence categories except for the non-scheduled offence category in which Caucasian offenders had the highest statutory release successful completion rate. In 2000/01, Asian offenders had the lowest statutory release revocation for breach of condition rate at 16.0%, followed by Caucasian (25.9%), Black (28.6%) and Aboriginal (31.0%) offenders. In 2000/01, Aboriginal offenders had a statutory release total recidivism rate of 13.9%. Since 1996/97, Aboriginal offenders have had a statutory release violent recidivism rate of between 2.4% and 3.6% and a statutory release total recidivism rate of between 13.9% and 17.1%. In 2000/01, Asian offenders had a statutory release total recidivism rate of 8.5%. Since 1996/97, Asian offenders have had a statutory release violent recidivism rate of between 0.0% and 1.8% and a statutory release total recidivism rate of between 2.0% and 15.8%. In 2000/01, Black offenders had a statutory release total recidivism rate of 9.5%. Since 1996/97, Black offenders have had a statutory release violent recidivism rate of between 1.7% and 2.8% and a statutory release total recidivism rate of between 8.5% and 11.5%. In 2000/01, Caucasian offenders had a statutory release total recidivism rate of 15.3%. Since 1996/97, Caucasian offenders have had a statutory release violent recidivism rate of between 2.7% and 3.3% and a statutory release total recidivism rate of between 15.0% and 16.2%. CONCLUSION While both Aboriginal and Black offenders have been over-represented within the federal offender population since March 31, 1997, only Aboriginal offenders have been consistently under-represented in both the day and full parole populations and they have been the least successful of all the offender groups while on conditional release. The Board has acknowledged the serious challenges involving Aboriginal offenders and in partnership with communities is developing innovative models for parole decision-making which are sensitive to the needs and circumstances of Aboriginal offenders. The profile of the other offender groups within the federal offender population was compared to the profile of the Canadian population as it was in 1996. As this profile will undoubtedly change once the results from the 2001 Canadian census become available, the Board should review the federal offender profile at that time to ensure that policies and training for parole decision-making are sensitive to the needs and circumstances of this diverse population. |
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