NCJ Number
163902
Journal
Forum on Corrections Research Volume: 7 Issue: 1 Dated: January 1995 Pages: 6-9
Date Published
January 1995
Length
4 pages
Annotation
Facts and figures on the extent of youth crime in Canada indicate that approximately 211,700 youths were arrested by the police in 1992, 140,000 were charged, and 71,000 were dealt with informally.
Abstract
The 1992 total of 211,700 arrested youths represented an 18 percent increase over 1986 when approximately 179,000 youths were arrested. In 1986, the youths charge rate for all offenses was 51 per 1,000 youths, 2.2 times the adult rate of 23. By 1992, the youth charge rate increased to 63 per 1,000 youths, 2.5 times the adult rate of 25. Young people between 18 and 24 years of age accounted for just 10 percent of the Canadian population in 1992 but they were involved in 22 percent of all violent incidents. Males committed about 80 percent of all youth crime, 60 percent of youths were charged with property offenses, and 14 percent of youths were charged with violent offenses. The 1992 charge rate for male youths was 98 per 1,000, more than twice the male adult rate of 44 per 1,000. The charge rate for female youths was much lower but was still three times the female adult rate of 9 per 1,000. Although only 14 percent of youths were charged with violent offenses, violent crime types committed by young people were comparable to those committed by adults. In 1992, an average of 4,700 young offenders were held in custody on a daily basis, up from 4,000 in 1988, and the overall custodial rate was 21 per 10,000 youths. Also in 1992, 42 young people were transferred to adult court. Slightly more than half of youth court cases involved first-time offenders. Recidivism and offender age were clearly related; about 75 percent of youths 12 and 13 years of age were first-time offenders, whereas 58 percent of youths 14 and 15 years of age and 50 percent of youths 16 and 17 years of age had no prior convictions. Recidivists received more severe sentences than offenders with no prior convictions. Despite increases in youth crime in Canada, most offenses remained nonviolent and the youth homicide rate steadily decreased between 1974 and 1992. 8 references and 3 tables