A One Day Snapshot in Canada's Correctional Facilities

Detailed information for October 5, 1996

The purpose of the project was to provide more detailed information on the make-up of inmate populations in Canada in order to answer questions such as who is incarcerated, where, and why.

Data release - June 4, 1998

• Description
• Data sources and methodology

Description

The Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics (CCJS), in collaboration with federal and provincial/territorial corrections authorities, conducted a census of inmates in all adult correctional facilities in Canada on October 5th, 1996. This is the first time that a snapshot of all adult inmates in Canada has been taken. The purpose of the project was to provide more detailed information on the make-up of inmate populations in Canada in order to answer questions such as who is incarcerated, where, and why.

In Canada, the responsibility for housing offenders sentenced to a term of incarceration is shared between the federal and the provincial/territorial governments. Correctional Service Canada is responsible for offenders sentenced to two or more years. Provincial/territorial corrections are responsible for offenders who receive custodial sentences of less than two years and for housing persons charged with offences who have been "remanded" to custody while awaiting trial.

The objectives of the snapshot were to: assess populations in adult federal and provincial/ territorial correctional facilities; answer questions about: who is incarcerated, where, and why; supplement national corrections data currently available; and to look specifically at risk and need profiles of inmates within and across jurisdictions.

The survey covered various aspects of corrections: facilities data - type of facility, operational capacity, security level, special features of facility; characteristics of individual inmates - personal characteristics and background (e.g., age, marital status, level of education); and sentence, offence and criminal history; security issues and accommodation; and risk and needs profile.

Reference period: October 5, 1996

Subjects

• Correctional services
• Crime and justice

Data sources and methodology

Instrument design

This methodology does not apply.

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.

Estimation

This methodology type does not apply to this statistical program.

Disclosure control

Statistics Canada is prohibited by law from releasing any information it collects that could identify any person, business, or organization, unless consent has been given by the respondent or as permitted by the Statistics Act. 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.

Revisions and seasonal adjustment

This methodology does not apply to this survey.