NCJ Number
174933
Journal
Forum on Corrections Research Volume: 9 Issue: 2 Dated: May 1997 Pages: 2-7
Date Published
May 1997
Length
6 pages
Annotation
Violent crime in Canada is discussed in terms of trends since 1983, patterns of specific types of violence, comparisons with other countries, and victim and offender characteristics.
Abstract
The violent crime rate recorded by the police has increased significantly since 1983. However, the rate has declined in each of the last 3 years. Minor assaults account for 60 percent of all violent crimes and most of the increase in the overall violent crime rate over the last decade. The rate of level 1 sexual assaults reported to the police has increased the most rapidly since 1983, although these offenses account for a much smaller fraction of all violent crimes. Sharp increases in both assault and sexual assault followed major legal changes to these offenses in 1983 and changes in the way police respond to cases of spousal assault. The more serious assaults, sexual assaults, and robbery incidents have had more modest increases or no increases, while homicide rates have declined since 1983. The 1995 homicide rate was the lowest recorded in 25 years. Eighty-eight percent of identified suspects in violent crimes in 1994 were male. The national rate for assault, sexual assault, and robbery was 100 per 1,000 females and 84 per 1,000 males. In comparison of 11 western countries, Canada's homicide rate was the fourth highest in the mid-1990s. Tables, figures, and 8 reference notes