NCJ Number
207772
Editor(s)
Jodi-Anne Brzozowski
Date Published
July 2004
Length
91 pages
Annotation
This seventh annual report presents statistical data concerning family violence in Canada.
Abstract
Each year this report presents the most recent data on the nature and extent of family violence in Canada; this year the focus is on sentencing in cases of family violence cases compared to non-family violence cases. The role of the victim-offender relationship on sentencing outcomes is considered and information is offered concerning spousal violence, violence against children and youth, and violence against older adults. Following the highlights section and introduction, chapter 1 offers information about spousal violence. In 2002, approximately 7 percent of all victims of violence were victims of family violence; females accounted for 85 percent of all spousal violence victims. Chapter 2 presents information about family violence directed against children and youth. While children and youth made up only 23 percent of the Canadian population in 2002, they made up 61 percent of sexual assault victims and 20 percent of physical assault victims. Chapter 3 explores family violence directed against older adults, who were far more likely in 2002 to be victimized by non-family members (70 percent) than by family members (30 percent). Chapter 4 moves into a discussion of family homicide where it is explained that women were far more likely to be victims of spousal homicide than were men between 1993 and 2002. Finally, chapter 5 focuses on sentencing outcomes in cases of family homicide. Data from police and court records between 1997 and 2001 revealed that spouses were the most common type of offender in family violence cases. Among single-conviction cases, perpetrators of family violence were less likely than other violent offenders to receive a custodial sentence. The most common sanction for family violence was probation. Tables, figures, references