Criminal Justice Indicators

The report Criminal Justice Indicators, 2005 presents indicators that can be used to measure the workload and activity of the criminal justice system, as well as indicators on a number of related socio-demographic and economic factors.

Workload and volume measures focus on the work of the police, courts, corrections, diversion programs and victim services. Examples of indicators presented include the number of criminal incidents reported to police; the number of people involved in alternative measures; the number of cases dealt with in court; average counts in correctional institutions and; the number of persons assisted by victim service agencies.

In addition, the report presents indicators on other aspects of the criminal justice system such as the type and length of sentences ordered in court; public perceptions of police, courts, and the correctional and parole systems; and, the number and types of services for victims of crime.

The report also presents a number of socio-demographic and economic indicators that provide a context to criminality. Examples of these indicators include age and sex distributions of the population; income levels and labour force participation; levels of social engagement; family structures; amounts of child support; levels of education; literacy rates, and; the rate of alcohol and drug abuse among the adult and youth population.

Definitions, data sources and methods: 3301, 3302, 3306, 3308, 3309, 3312, 3313, 3315, 3323, 3324, 3325, 3328, 3896, 4504, 5035 and 5037

The publication Criminal Justice Indicators, 2005 (85-227-XIE, $38) is now available.

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