Youth correctional services: Key indicators

The number of young people in sentenced custody decreased by half, and the numbers on remand and probation have been reduced considerably since the introduction of the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

On average, 1,340 young persons were in sentenced custody on any given day in Canada in 2003/04. This included 720 young persons in secure custody and 620 in open custody.

In contrast, during the previous fiscal year, about 2,720 young persons, on average, were in sentenced custody on any given day, 1,260 in secure custody and 1,460 in open custody.

Average daily counts of young persons in sentenced custody declined as fewer young persons were given custody sentences by the courts. Sentenced custody includes all young persons who have been sentenced to incarceration by a court and who are serving that sentence in custody, either secure or open. Sentenced custody does not include young persons sentenced to Deferred Custody and Supervision or those serving the last portion of their custody sentence in the community under the new provisions of the YCJA.

Decline in numbers on remand, probation

The average number of young persons aged 12 to 17 held on remand and supervised on probation also declined since the introduction of the YCJA, but to a lesser extent than sentenced custody.

In 2003/04 there was an average of 740 young persons held on remand on any given day in Canada. Compared to 2002/03, remand counts were down 8%.

Remand custody includes all persons who have not yet been sentenced, but who are being held in custody while awaiting trial or sentencing.

On any given day in 2003/04, there were about 21,330 young persons on probation. Compared to 2002/03, probation counts were down almost 20%.

Incarceration down in all provinces and territories

All jurisdictions experienced large declines in their average daily sentenced custody counts during 2003/04.

Decreases in sentenced custody ranged from a 68% decline in Ontario to a 24% decline in Saskatchewan.

Remand counts also fell in nine jurisdictions, but to a lesser extent than sentenced custody. Of these, the largest declines were in Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island, where remands fell 33% in both provinces. The smallest decline was in British Columbia (-8%).

The decline in the number of young persons on probation occurred in all jurisdictions, ranging from a 29% decrease in British Columbia to an 8% decrease in Nova Scotia.

The YCJA's emphasis on pre-court diversion and the reduced use of incarceration has had an impact on the use of youth corrections, with its focus on community alternatives, either pre- or post-court.

Incarceration, probation rates decline

The incarceration rate is the average daily number of young persons in custody per 10,000 youths aged 12 to 17 in the population, while the probation rate is the number of young persons on probation per 10,000 youths. These statistics describe the level of incarceration or probation supervision in relation to the number of young persons in the population, and permit comparisons over time by taking into account changes in the size of the Canadian population of young persons.

During the previous decade, the incarceration and probation rates have been declining as the rates of young persons being charged by police and convicted by the courts were dropping.

The incarceration rate of young persons was 8.2 in 2003/04. With the large decline in the number of young persons in custody, the incarceration rate fell 29% from the previous year.

In 2003/04 the probation rate was 84.4 young persons on probation per 10,000 young persons in the population. Compared to 2002/03, the probation rate was 20% lower.

Expanded community supervision under the YCJA

The YCJA introduced a number of new sentences, including Deferred Custody and Supervision and the Intensive Support and Supervision Programs (ISSPs). Although the new sentences began to be used soon after the implementation of the YCJA, the last three months (January to March 2004) of the 2003/04 fiscal year are more reflective of the frequency of their actual use in the correctional system.

These new sentences, which place emphasis on community supervision, will have had an effect on the number of young persons in sentenced custody. Some young persons who previously would have been in sentenced custody are now being supervised in the community.

Deferred Custody and Supervision allows a young person to serve a custody sentence in the community under a number of strict conditions. As in the case of conditional sentences for adults, any breach of conditions may result in the young person being sent to custody. All jurisdictions except Nova Scotia, Nunavut and the Northwest Territories were able to report on Deferred Custody and Supervision in 2003/04.

During the last three months of the fiscal year 2003/04 (January to March 2004), there were on average, about 400 young persons being supervised in the community on Deferred Custody and Supervision.

The ISSP provides closer monitoring and support than traditional probation. This is an optional program currently used in Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Quebec, Alberta, British Columbia, Yukon and the Northwest Territories. Newfoundland and Labrador, Quebec, Alberta, British Columbia and the Yukon were able to report on ISSP for 2003/04. During the last three months of the fiscal year 2003/04, there were 190 young people on ISSPs on any given day in these jurisdictions.

The YCJA also introduced a mandatory final community supervision portion to all custody sentences. All jurisdictions except Nova Scotia and the Northwest Territories were able to report on the community portion of a custody sentence in 2003/04.

During the last three months of 2003/04, there were 300 young persons in the community on any given day, serving the community portion of their custody sentence.

The implementation of the YCJA has resulted in a large decline in the number of youth supervised in correctional services, particularly in custody but also in the community. Remands now represent a larger proportion of young persons in custody, while community sentences now include more intensive supervision.

Available on CANSIM: table 251-0008.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 3313.

For more information, or to enquire about the concepts, methods or data quality of this release, please contact Information and Client Services (1-800-387-2231; 613-951-9023; fax: 613-951-6615), Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics.