Revocations Among Male Ethnocultural Offenders
Research Highlights: After accounting for risk-relevant differences, Indigenous men were more likely to return to custody during their first release compared to White men, whereas Black and Other ethnocultural men were less likely.
Why we did this study
Previous CSC research examining community supervision indicators for ethnocultural offenders relied upon a 2-year release cohort, an 8-month fixed follow-up period, and risk relevant differences (other than release type) were not considered.Footnote 1 As a result, the present report extended the analysis of community outcomes across various ethnocultural groups by identifying a five-year release cohort, expanding the follow-up period, and accounting for pre-existing differences and in-custody experiences (e.g., risk and need level, release type, participation in correctional programs).
Publication
R-478_M
2024
ISBN: 978-0-660-73035-6
Cat. No.: PS83-3/478E-PDF
A full PDF is also available for download on the Government of Canada Publications
Research at a Glance
Revocations Among Male Ethnocultural Offenders [PDF - .175 MB]
What we did
A cohort of individuals released on their first term from a federal institution between April 1, 2017, and March 31, 2022 was identified for this study. Only those released on either day parole (DP), full parole (FP), or statutory release were included (N = 20,166, Nmen = 18,587). The most common ethnocultural group among men was White (56%), followed by Indigenous (27%), Black (9%), and Other (1.3%).Footnote 2
What we found
The findings revealed differences in sentence and risk characteristics across ethnocultural groups for men. For instance, a greater proportion of White and Indigenous men (71.6% and 70.7%, respectively) had a sentence of two to four years, relative to Other ethnocultural (63.0%) and Black men (57.9%). On average, Indigenous men had the greatest number of domains on the Dynamic Factor Identification and Analysis, Revised (DFIA-R) requiring intervention (M = 4.8, SD = 1.7). Additionally, a greater proportion of Indigenous men were serving a sentence for a serious or violent offence (73.7%) compared to White (60.1%), Black (68.1%), and Other ethnocultural men (53.9%). The most common release type for Indigenous men was statutory release (63.6%), whereas statutory releases were lower among Black (50.0%), White (44.6%), and Other ethnocultural men (38.2%).
Results from a descriptive analysis of community outcomes as well as survival analyses that accounted for risk-relevant covariatesFootnote 3 indicated that there was a relationship between ethnocultural group and outcomes on first release. After accounting for risk-relevant covariates, Indigenous men had a 17% increase in the likelihood of any return to custody relative to White men. Conversely, Black and Other ethnocultural men had significantly lower likelihoods of a return to custody (35%, and 34%) compared to White men. Findings were similar when examining returns to custody without an offence and returns with a new offence.
What it means
Poorer community outcomes among Indigenous men compared to other ethnocultural groups underscore that further rehabilitative support is required. Future research is needed to understand why differences may exist, as they were not fully explained by differences in risk and need levels or sentence characteristics. Such future research would be informative for identifying what supports are in place that contribute to improved outcomes for certain ethnocultural groups, while also identifying the barriers faced by others.
For more information
Chadwick, N., Wilton, G., Mahboob, W., & Coles, G. (2023). Revocations Among Ethnocultural Offenders. (Research Report R-478). Ottawa, Ontario: Correctional Service of Canada.
To obtain a PDF version of the full report, or for other inquiries, please e-mail the Research Branch.
You can also visit the Research Publications section for a full list of reports and one-page summaries.
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