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Violent Crime in Canada

NCJ Number
163777
Journal
Juristat Volume: 16 Issue: 6 Dated: (June 1996) Pages: complete issue
Author(s)
H Johnson
Date Published
1996
Length
25 pages
Annotation
This report examines available statistics on violent crime in Canada over the past two decades, emphasizing both longer and shorter term trends.
Abstract
It compares rates of violent crime among Provinces and Territories, and contrasts Canada with other countries. In this report, violent crime includes homicide and attempted murder, assault, sexual assault and other sexual offenses, robbery, and abduction. General trends in violent crime are first presented, and then individual crime types are examined. Findings show that the violent crime rate recorded by the police increased significantly over the past two decades; however, the rate has fallen over the past 2 years. Minor assaults account for 60 percent of all violent crimes and most of the increase in the overall violent crime rate over the past decade. The rate of level I sexual assaults reported to the police has also increased significantly, although these offenses account for a much smaller fraction of all violent crimes. Sharp increases in both assault and sexual assault follow major legal changes to these offenses in 1983, as well as changes in the way police have responded to cases of spousal assault. The more serious assaults and robberies have shown more modest increases, and homicide rates have declined; the 1994 homicide rate is the lowest in 25 years. Women have higher rates of violent victimization than do men. Men are most likely to be victimized by acquaintances and strangers in locations outside the home; violence against women, on the other hand, occurs most often in their own homes by someone they know. Young single people and those who are active in social activities in the evenings also report above-average rates of violent victimization. 8 figures, 4 tables, and 11 selected readings

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