NCJ Number
217142
Journal
Forum on Corrections Research Volume: 18 Issue: 1 Dated: June 2006 Pages: 24-29
Date Published
June 2006
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This article presents the characteristics of Federal drug offenders under the supervision of the Correctional Service of Canada during 2005.
Abstract
Comparisons of the criminal histories of male and female Federal drug offenders indicated that male drug offenders had more extensive criminal histories than their female counterparts and were also more likely to have adult offender histories. Significant differences were also noted between male and female drug offenders in the areas of employment, marital/family relations, associates, and attitudes. Male offenders were more likely to have deficits in the areas of associates and attitudes while females were more likely to have deficits in the areas of employment and marital/family relations. Overall, drug offenders on conditional release were most likely to have needs in areas of employment, associates, substance abuse, and personal/emotional orientation. According to the Correctional Service of Canada’s Offender Management System (OMS), on December 31, 2005, there were 5,588 drug offenders under Federal jurisdiction in Canada, which represented 26 percent of the total Federal offender population. Drug offenses included trafficking (11 percent), importation (2 percent), cultivation (2 percent), and possession (18 percent). Of the 5,588 Federal drug offenders, 2,654 were in Federal correctional institutions, which represented 22.6 percent of the overall institutional population. During 2005, the absolute number of drug offenders in Federal institutions declined by 0.3 percent. Another 2,934 (30.5 percent) drug offenders were on conditional release at the end of 2005, representing an increase of 1.4 percent from the previous year. OMS data also revealed that drug offenders who were serving Federal sentences for drug trafficking and possession were also likely to have been sentenced for other offenses, particularly robbery. At the close of 2005, the average time served for Federal drug offenders was 2.2 years. Drug offenders on conditional release had accumulated an average of 3.9 years of time served. The findings offer guidance for targeting programs and services for Federal drug offenders. 8 tables, 4 notes