Women admissions to federal custody: 1995-96 to 2020-21

Research Highlights: Over the past quarter century, admissions of Indigenous and Non-Indigenous women to federal custody have risen.

In Canada, persons sentenced to serve two years or more by the courts are admitted to federal custody. While at year-end 2020-21 women represented 5.0% (618/12,396) of the federal custody population, the representation of Indigenous women at 43.2% (267/618) is concerning.

Over a twenty-five year period (1995-96 to 2020-21) there has been of a total of 10,438 women admissions; 67.2% (7,010) admitted on a new warrant of committal, 30.1% (3,147) for a revocation of conditional release and 2.7% (281) for other reasons. Indigenous women accounted for 33.6% (3,504) and Non-Indigenous for 66.4% (6,934) of total women admissions from 1995-96
to 2020-21.

Among Indigenous women admissions, 60.0% (2,103) were admitted on a warrant of committal, 38.7% (1,356) were for a revocation of conditional release and 1.3% (45) for other reasons. With respect to Non-Indigenous women admissions; 70.8% (4,907) were admitted on a warrant of committal, 25.8% (1,791) were for revocation of conditional release and 3.4% (236) for other reasons.

As reflected in the Figure 1 below, there has been a steady rise of Indigenous women being newly admitted to federal custody and revoked on conditional release over time.

This figure demonstrates the number of Indigenous Women over a twenty-five year period (1995-96 to 2020-21) that were admitted on a new warrant of committal, admitted for a revocation of conditional release, or admitted for other reasons. The figure shows a steady rise of Indigenous women being newly admitted to federal custody and revoked on conditional release over time.

As reflected in the Figure 2 below, there has also been a steady rise in the number of Non-Indigenous women newly admitted to federal custody. However, it appears that the number returned to federal custody on a revocation has plateaued over the past decade.

This figure demonstrates the number of Non-Indigenous Women over a twenty-five year period (1995-96 to 2020-21) that were admitted on a new warrant of committal, admitted for a revocation of conditional release, or admitted for other reasons. The figure shows a steady rise in the number of Non-Indigenous women newly admitted to federal custody, however the number of Non-Indigenous women returning to federal custody on a revocation appears to have plateaud in the last decade.

The increasing numbers and proportions of Indigenous women being sentenced to federal custody over time point to the need for concerted upstream intervention efforts in the criminal justice system to break this trend line and reduce disproportionate representation. As well, the relatively higher percentage of Indigenous women being revoked on conditional release (38.7% versus 25.8%) suggests continuing to enhance community release supports.

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Prepared by: Larry Motiuk