June 21, 2012 by Anita Grace 1 Comment. The Supreme Court of Canada stated s. 718.2(e) is more than simply a reaffirmation of existing sentencing principles but in fact gives," . 85-002-X, vol. Criminal sentencing in Canada is governed by the Canadian Criminal Code. Source: Statistics Canada, Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics, Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR2) Survey. The bar graphs show the percentage of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal prisoners (left vertical axis). Figures for 2007/2008 from Statistics Canada show that Aboriginal adults accounted for 22% of admissions to sentenced custody even though they represent only 3% of the population – and one in three federally sentenced women is Aboriginal. . Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal population sizes for each province were obtained from the 2011 National House-hold Survey and used as the population denominator [8]. According to Statistics Canada, the likelihood of being a homicide victim is six times higher for aboriginal Canadians than for non-aboriginal Canadians. As the chart above shows Aboriginal people represent on average 17% of the prison population except in Western Australia and the Northern Territory where they … No single factor explains these … Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander over-incarceration cost the Australian economy an estimated A$7.9 billion in 2016. As a result, the true rate of Aboriginal incarceration is higher than the official statistics indicate. The study did not count the number of non-Aboriginal youth, however, which precluded the comparison of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal incarceration rates. Aboriginal incarceration in context. Nearly half of Canada's incarcerated young are Indigenous P rogram that keeps offenders from going back to jail gets $ 900K Spence, 40, has been involved in Manitoba's justice system since he was 15. Data released by Statistics Canada shows aboriginal youth made up 46 per cent of admissions to correctional services in 2016-17 while making up only 8 per cent of the youth population. Statistics Canada is the national statistical office. The incarceration of Aboriginal people . [ Return to text] Statistics Canada, “Aboriginal peoples in Canada: Key results from the 2016 Census,” The Daily, 25 October 2017. Aboriginal Legal Services, Gladue (Aboriginal Persons) Court: Ontario Court of Justice – Old City Hall (78 KB, 3 pages), Fact sheet, 3 October 2001. In 2010, nearly 153,000 youths were accused of committing a crime: 42% were charged (or recommended for charging) by police; and; 58% were dealt with by means other than the formal laying of a charge (e.g. In 1965, 22% of the prisoners at Stony Mountain were Aboriginal; in 1984 the figure was 33%. Overrepresentation of Indigenous Peoples in B.C. This crisis is especially profound in the youth context. Aboriginal people continue to be incarcerated at truly alarming rates. Aboriginal people constitute only four percent of Canada’s population but make up nearly a quarter of inmates in federal, provincial and territorial jails and prisons. According to Statistics Canada, in 2015–2016 there were a total of 40,147 adult offenders incarcerated in Canadian federal and provincial prisons on an average day for an incarceration rate of 139 per 100,000 population. 29, no. The Criminal Code, along with the Supreme Court of Canada, have distinguished the treatment of Indigenous individuals within the Canadian Criminal Sentencing Regime.. Less sympathetic views on general aboriginal issues, as expressed by Quebec respondents in an Angus Reid poll in 1994, also do not translate into increased aboriginal incarceration levels. corrections system rising, says Statistics Canada report Restorative justice programs could help reduce Indigenous incarceration rates, says chief One of the key themes of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody was that imprisonment should be a sanction of last resort.5 Although this principle is enshrined in legislation in most states, it is highly questionable whether it is followed in practice. [ Return to text] R. v. Gladue, para. The agency ensures Canadians have the key information on Canada's economy, society and environment that they require to function effectively as citizens and decision makers. Defined by the ABS as a household in which at least one person identified as Aboriginal or Torres To this end, Statistics Canada has developed standards of service that its employees observe. average for year to 31.3.2019 (Statistics Canada - comprising 37,854 adult prisoners and 716 persons under 18 in youth custody. Aboriginal Incarceration in Canada a National Shame. Aboriginal prisoners. While the Youth Criminal Justice Act (YCJA) has reduced Canada’s overall youth incarceration rate in recent years, the relative proportion of detained Aboriginal youth has actually increased. 3 Juristat Article—The incarceration of Aboriginal people in adult correctional services 6 The incarceration of Aboriginal people in adult correctional services By Samuel Perreault The over representation of Aboriginal people in correctional services is an issue that has been known for many years. Tuesday, July 21, 2009 In 2007/2008, Aboriginal adults accounted for 22% of admissions to sentenced custody, while representing 3% of the Canadian population. While the statistics concerning the disproportionate incarceration of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are alarming, it is important to bear in mind that the majority of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people never commit a criminal offence. Statistics Canada—Catalogue no. Incarceration of youth generally across Canada has declined slightly each year since 2012. “The over-incarceration of First Nations, Metis, and Inuit people in corrections is among the most pressing social justice and human rights issues in Canada today.”4 - Ivan Zinger, Correctional Investigator of Canada Incarceration and Indigenous Women Despite accounting for less than 4% of the female population, Indigenous women make This article documents current and historical trends in levels of Aboriginal incarceration at the provincial/territorial and federal levels since 1978. Approximately 20% of Canada's Aboriginal population is located in Ontario and the majority of these individuals live off reserve in urban areas. This article documents current and historical trends in levels of Aboriginal incarceration at the provincial/territorial and federal levels since 1978. Statistics, National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey 2002, op.cit., p28, Table 4. 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