Study: Criminal victimization in the territories

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In 2009, 34% of residents of the three territories aged 15 and over reported to the General Social Survey (GSS) on Victimization that they had been the victim of at least one criminal incident in the 12 months preceding the survey.

Nearly half (46%) of the 38,000 self-reported incidents in the territories were violent, with assault being the most common crime reported. The remainder of reported incidents were crimes against the household (35%) or thefts of personal property (19%). In contrast, the vast majority (70%) of self-reported criminal incidents in the provinces were non-violent.

About 1 in every 5 violent incidents in the territories was reported to have been committed by a current or former spouse or partner. Rates of spousal violence were highest for young adults aged 15 to 34, Aboriginal people and those living in a low income household.

For non-spousal violent incidents in the territories, most victims (66%) said they knew the perpetrator, and 78% said the incident could be related to the offender's alcohol or drug use. A weapon was present in close to one-quarter (24%) of all non-spousal violent incidents, and more than one-third (36%) of violent incidents resulted in physical injury.

About 13,400 crimes against households were reported in the territories in 2009, or 379 incidents per 1,000 households. Higher rates of household victimization were found among those who reported problems in their neighbourhood with noisy neighbours and loud parties (657 per 1,000), people hanging around on the streets (608 per 1,000) or people using or selling drugs (523 per 1,000). Among all household crimes, theft of household property was the most common, accounting for 41% of self-reported household incidents.

About 30% of violent and household victimizations in the territories reported on the GSS had been reported to police. This rate was virtually identical to the rate of reporting to police in the provinces. Non-violent crimes in the territories were more likely to be reported to police when there was a police detachment in the community.

More than 9 in 10 residents of the territories reported being satisfied with their personal safety. The majority of residents (88%) of the territories believed the police were doing an average or good job in ensuring the safety of citizens.

Note: Criminal victimization data in Canada are collected via the General Social Survey (GSS) on Victimization, a sample survey that is representative of the non-institutionalized population aged 15 years and over. In 2009, the GSS on Victimization included both a provincial and a territorial component. While the questions were generally the same, the sampling and collection methods used for each component were slightly different. As such, comparisons between provincial and territorial findings should be made with caution.

Rates of self-reported violent and household victimization were generally similar across the three territories in 2009. There was also little variation in the rates of victimization between the capital cities and other areas within the territories.

Definitions, data sources and methods: survey number 4504.

The Juristat article "Criminal victimization in the territories, 2009" (85-002-X, free), is now available. From the Key resource module of our website under Publications, choose All subjects, then Crime and justice, and Juristat.

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