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Descriptive Comparison of Demographic and Family Characteristics of the Canadian and Offender Populations

NCJ Number
155597
Journal
Forum on Corrections Research Volume: 7 Issue: 2 Dated: May 1995 Pages: 3-5
Author(s)
T. Foran
Date Published
May 1995
Length
3 pages
Annotation
This article provides a descriptive comparison of several demographic and family characteristics of the Canadian and Federal offender populations to generate a general picture of how offender demographic and family characteristics differ from those of the general Canadian population.
Abstract
Data on the offender population were obtained from the Correctional Service of Canada's Family Violence Incidence Study. This study was based on file reviews of 935 offenders admitted to Federal institutions between June and November of 1992. Data on the general Canadian population were taken from the 1991 Census of Population. The author advises that this study relies on two independent data sources, so findings should not be generalized beyond the scope of this study. Variables relate to gender, age, ethnocultural group, religion, and family structure. Based on data for the key demographic and family variables, there were clearly several differences between offender and general Canadian family structures. A greater proportion of the offender population was single. Further, the offender population was less likely to be married (12 percent versus 43.2 percent) and more likely to be living in a common-law relationship (32.6 percent versus 12.4 percent); however, a greater overall proportion of the general population was married or living in a common-law relationship. The two groups had similar divorce rates and a high occurrence of multiple past marriages; however, the offender population was more likely to be currently separated from their partner (6.4 percent compared to 2.6 percent). 1 table and 5 footnotes