NCJ Number
127217
Date Published
1986
Length
23 pages
Annotation
This study provides a descriptive profile of those persons declared to be "dangerous offenders" in Canada under Part XXI Criminal Code provisions enacted in 1977.
Abstract
At the time of the survey (1986), 50 persons had been declared "dangerous offenders." All but one were male, and most (47) were given indeterminate sentences and remain incarcerated. In most cases (78 percent), a violent sexual offense had been committed. Offenders' average age at sentencing was 32 years old, and the mean age at the time of their first adult conviction was 21. All but four of the offenders had been previously incarcerated. A total of 38 percent were under community supervision at the time of the offense. Although a number of the offenders were in protective custody, they were not considered to pose prison management problems. Although few of the offenders suffered from overt mental illness, psychotic symptoms, mental retardation, and deafness were apparent in a few cases. Most were diagnosed as having personality disorders. There were some inconsistencies in the application of the dangerous offender provisions across jurisdictions. The report concludes with a summary of additional issues that should be examined in monitoring the application of the dangerous-offender legislation and in the treatment of such offenders. 1 figure, 5 tables, and 14 references