Civil Court Survey (CCS)

Detailed information for 2013-2014

Status:

Active

Frequency:

Annual

Record number:

5052

This survey collects statistical information on civil court events and cases at both the superior and provincial/territorial court levels.

Data release - March 4, 2015

Description

The primary objective of the Civil Court Survey (CCS) is to develop and maintain a national civil court database of statistical information on court events and cases. It is intended to collect comparable, national level baseline data on civil court activity in Canada. Given the complex nature of civil justice procedures, both for family and general civil matters, the survey is designed to measure all activities both inside and outside the courtroom (e.g., document filings as well as hearing and trial events).

The CCS is a census survey and when fully implemented, it will collect data from all civil courts in Canada, including all the superior and provincial-territorial courts hearing civil matters including general civil, family, probate and small claims. Appeal courts, federal courts (e.g., Tax Court of Canada) and the Supreme Court of Canada are not covered by the survey. The collection of data is from administrative records, in which data are derived from records originally kept for non-statistical purposes. In particular, survey data are obtained from case files located in existing civil court automated information systems. Given that the data collection methodology requires the existence of detailed operational information systems that have not yet been developed in all jurisdictions it will take time for the survey to achieve full coverage.

The data are collected to respond to the needs of the provincial, territorial and federal departments of justice and attorneys-general, researchers and policy analysts, academics and the media, as well as to inform the public on how family and general civil matters are dealt with in Canada.

Reference period: The 12-month fiscal period between April 1st and March 31st

Collection period: Data are collected quarterly in the month following the end of the quarter (July, October, January and April).

Subjects

  • Civil courts and family law
  • Crime and justice

Data sources and methodology

Target population

The universe of the Civil Court Survey includes all court events and cases in all civil courts in Canada, including all the superior and provincial-territorial courts hearing civil matters including general civil, family, probate and small claims.

Instrument design

Civil Court Survey data collection tools and data requirements were developed with the assistance of representatives from provincial and territorial departments responsible for civil justice in Canada.

Micro-data are extracted electronically from administrative databases by means of a software interface and submitted to Statistics Canada in an electronic format. Prior to data collection commencing, these interfaces are extensively tested to ensure the required data standards are met.

Sampling

This survey is a census with a cross-sectional design.

Data are collected for all units of the target population, therefore, no sampling is done.

Data sources

Data collection for this reference period: 2013-07-04 to 2014-08-20

Data are extracted from administrative files.

The Civil Court Survey draws on information from the administrative databases in operation in the civil courts in the provinces and territories. The data are collected so as to conform to a set of national definitions, rather than provincial or territorial level definitions.

Computer interfaces are developed that map survey concepts to the information system of each participating province or territory. The data are then electronically pulled off the system as microdata. These data files are forwarded to the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics (CCJS) electronically according to a reporting schedule.

Error detection

A number of tools have been developed for the CCS to minimize or correct errors.

System error may be introduced during the extraction and transcription of provincial or territorial data into CCS format. The CCJS minimized this source of error by implementing a standard interface development methodology that requires a complete testing of the software by both the CCJS and the province or territory prior to implementation.

To ensure system error is not introduced by the CCS data processing systems, the systems were subject to logic testing by the developer, user acceptance testing performed by the CCJS and/or the Methodology Division of Statistics Canada, and volume testing performed by the system developer.

The CCS central processing system contains an automated edit module that examines all incoming data for format and consistency.

Imputation

Field values that do not meet edit specifications or are out of range are deemed to be 'not available' and are recoded accordingly such that processing may continue. Imputations such as donor imputation are not performed.

Records that are missing key fields (province or territory, case identification number, court level, court location, type of court, type of action, event and date of event) are rejected.

Estimation

This methodology type does not apply to this statistical program.

Quality evaluation

The incoming data are assessed for consistency and completeness. Every year, a data quality report and a set of verification tables are sent to reporting jurisdictions for their review and verification prior to release. These reports also highlight problems, if any, that were observed during analysis of the data, and include a historical trend analysis of the main indicators, such as caseload.

The products from this survey are subject to both institutional and peer review (justice departments, etc.).

Disclosure control

Statistics Canada is prohibited by law from releasing any data which would divulge information obtained under the Statistics Act that relates to any identifiable person, business or organization without the prior knowledge or the consent in writing of that person, business or organization. Various confidentiality rules are applied to all data that are released or published to prevent the publication or disclosure of any information deemed confidential. If necessary, data are suppressed to prevent direct or residual disclosure of identifiable data.

The CCS collects microdata, but no names of individuals are collected. Furthermore, sensitive variables which might pose a risk of disclosure are not used in cross-tabulations with other variables which could be used to potentially identify individual cases.

Revisions and seasonal adjustment

This methodology does not apply to this survey.

Data accuracy

The CCS collects census data as extracted and compiled by provincial/territorial ministries of justice responsible for courts. Formal data quality indicators, beyond annual respondent verification and review for accuracy and consistency, are not part of the survey methodology.

Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Alberta, British Columbia, Yukon, Northwest Territories and Nunavut participate in the survey. These nine participating provinces and territories represent about 71% of Canada's population.

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