NCJ Number
121978
Date Published
1989
Length
17 pages
Annotation
Population aging and declining birth rates in Canada, the changing racial and ethnic structure, and changes in family structure and composition will all affect policing in the nation of the future.
Abstract
The declining fertility rate in Canada will result in gradual aging of the population as well as a decline in numbers, although immigration will make up for the population decline. These changes should both reduce crime and make recruiting new police more difficult. The growing diversity of the nation's racial and ethnic composition may result in increases in crimes in some areas unless the effects of racism combined with the social and economic deprivation of some minority groups are addressed. In addition, police will need to provide services to more people who do not speak English or French. The rising numbers of single-parent families and women working outside the home may reduce the supervision of some children and increase the numbers of residences that are empty during the day and therefore vulnerable to crime. In addition, shiftwork and transfers may become problems for police agencies when both spouses work. Police leaders need to consider these factors in planning for the future. Figures and 21 references.