NCJ Number
203292
Journal
Forum on Corrections Research Volume: 15 Issue: 1 Dated: May 2003 Pages: 12-15
Date Published
May 2003
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article provides data about Canadian Federal offenders serving time in the community under some form of conditional release.
Abstract
On any given day there are approximately 9,200 Federal offenders serving time in the community under some form of release from a Federal correctional facility. Data are provided concerning these offenders in order to illustrate differences between offenders serving time in the community and those incarcerated in Federal facilities. Overall, there are more similarities than differences between the two groups. Some differences that emerged from the data include the fact that more women, but fewer Aboriginal offenders, serve Federal sentences in the community. Those who serve time in the community are more likely to have been arrested for drug and property-related offenses, to have less extensive criminal histories, and are thought to be at a lower risk for reoffending. Most importantly, those offenders serving time in the community generally have less extensive needs at the time of their conditional release than they did at the time of first intake. The article speculates that programs and services utilized by these offenders during their incarceration may be responsible for lessening their supervision needs. The article also offers an assessment of offender needs upon release and identifies personal/emotional, social interaction/associates, and substance abuse as the areas of highest need for offenders at the time of their release.