Ch. 12 - Populations in Focus Flashcards
Who does CSC consider to be “older” offenders?
Those over the age of 50.
What proportion of inmates are older offenders?
Approximately 1 in 5.
Is the proportion of older offenders increasing or decreasing?
Increasing because of the aging population.
What should we expect from an aging population? Why is it not the case?
We would expect a reduction in crime rates, but older offenders are more likely to commit crimes like sexual assault and DUI, so it balances out.
What percentage of older offenders were incarcerated while low? What is their risk for recidivism?
10%, they have a low rate of recidivism.
What percentage of older offenders have been in and out of prison their entire lives?
17%; prison is clearly not a deterrent.
What percentage of older offenders are serving their first prison sentence?
73%
What are some issues for older offenders?
Physical health and social/safety challenges.
What are some physical health concerns for older offenders? (5)
The aging process is accelerated in prison; older offenders are more likely to experience chronic health problems and experience them earlier; mobility issues; sensory impairments; and palliative (end of life) care.
How much older do prison inmates often seem?
10 years older than their actual age.
What are contributing factors to the physical health issues faced by older offenders?
Poor diet, substance use and abuse, etc.
What sort of social/safety challenges might older offenders face?
They may experience stresses of incarceration; may be threatened by younger offenders; there is a lack of appropriate programming.
What are some reasons that older offenders may be targeted by younger offenders?
They can’t or won’t fight back.
What recommendations for older offenders were made by a CSC focus group?
More appropriate programming, appropriately trained staff, a new prison design, development of a strategy.
What has been done to implement the recommendations for older offenders?
Very little.
What percentage of provincial and federal inmates are women?
12% of provincial; 6% of federal.
What is the fastest growing prison population in the world?
Women.
Where were female inmates first housed?
Kingston Penitentiary.
Which women’s prison was opened in 1934 and when did it shut down?
Prison for Women (P4W) closed in 2000.
Prior to P4W, women were what?
Correctional afterthoughts.
What were some issues with P4W?
Women were moved away from their families; they couldn’t really access targeted programs; women were often abused.
What scandal involving P4W occurred in 1994?
There was a violent confrontation between inmates and correctional staff. Cell extraction teams were sent in and strip searched 8 women. The video tape then got leaked.
What did the Creating Choices (1990) report recommend?
The opening of regional, multi-level institutions.
What institutions came out of the Creating Choices report?
Five multi-level institutions and a healing lodge.
What were the key principles of the Creating Choices institutions?
Empowerment, meaningful and responsible choices, respect and dignity, supportive environment, and shared responsibilities.
Female offenders typically commit what types of crimes?
Non-violent, property, and drug offences.
Who are more likely to be unemployed on admission to corrections? Men or women?
Women.
What proportion of provincial and federal inmates have not completed schooling above grade 9?
1/3 of provincial female offenders and 1/2 of federal female offenders.
What proportion of female federal/provincial offenders are aboriginal?
25% of female federal offenders; 30% of provincial federal offenders.
What proportion of federal female inmates are mothers?
2/3.
What percentage of federal female inmates report being physically/sexually abused in the past?
Up to 90%.
What is the estimated percentage of female offenders who abuse substances?
90%.
What is a possible explanation for the high rate of substance abuse among female offenders?
As a coping mechanism for previous abuse.
What are the HIV infection rates for male and female offenders?
1.6% for men, 3.6% for women.
What percentage of female offender engage in self-injurious behaviour?
Almost 25%.
How much more likely are female offenders to be diagnosed with depression?
3 times more likely than men.
What percentage of transgendered inmates have previously worked in the sex trade?
40%
What percentage of transgender inmates are HIV positive?
60-80%
When can inmates be recognized as transgender?
When they have been assessed and diagnosed by an expert in gender identity disorder.
What is the corrections policy on hormone therapy?
Inmates may initiate or continue with HRT and are permitted to cross dress.
Where are pre-operative transgenders incarcerated?
In housing consistent with birth sex.
What is the relationship between offenders and the general population’s substance abuse patterns?
They mirror each other, but offenders’ problems are often more frequent and more serious.
What percentage of crimes are attributed to alcohol or illicit substances?
40-50%.
What percentage of federal offenders have been convicted of a drug offence?
25%
What is considered to be a key predictor of recidivism?
Substance abuse.
What are some issues raised by substance use in prison?
Detoxification on admission, treatment, security, and safety.
Approximately how many dangerous offenders are there in Canada?
500
What percentage of dangerous offenders represent sexual offences?
70%
For which sex is the bar lower for to be considered a sexual offender?
Females.
What are the differences in treatment for offenders held in segregation?
They cannot participate in regular programming; it must take into account the lengthy nature of their sentences.
What percentage of provincial and federal inmates have sexual assault as their most serious offence?
4.3% of provincial inmates; 10.4% of federal inmates.
Why are prison populations not representative of actual sexual assault rates?
Because sexual assault is the most underreported crime.
What percentage of sex offenders are women?
4-5%
Which gendered sex offenders have the lower recidivism rate?
Females.
What does the National Sex Offender Program focus on? How does it do this? (4)
Self-management by addressing cognitive dissertations, deviant arousal and fantasy, anger and emotion management, empathy and victim awareness.
Which class of offenders are the most disliked, both in and out of prison?
Sex offenders; they often request segregation.
Why is reintegration especially challenging for sex offenders?
Stigmatization, employment difficulties, barriers specific to the nature of the offence.
On admission to a federal institution, what percentage of male and female offenders are mentally ill?
13% of male offenders; 29% of female offenders.
How should the numbers on mentally ill offenders be viewed?
As underestimated.
What is federal policy on psychological services?
Assessment and treatment must be provided; all offenders are screened on intake.
What must all prison psychological assessments be?
Gender and culture sensitive.
If treatment for a psychological disorder is warranted, will it definitely happen?
No.
What are particular issues for concern when it comes to mental illness?
Self-injurious behaviour and suicide.
What does the corrections system often do wrong when dealing with self-injurious behaviour?
They treat it as a matter of security, rather than a mental health concern, and the offender ends up being punished rather than helped.
What was deinstitutionalization?
The release of large numbers of institutionalized patients and their subsequent placement and care in the community.
By the mid 1980s, what was the percentage change in institutionalized offenders?
75%
What was the intent of deinstitutionalization?
To put patients in the community and use the money that was being used to upkeep institutions to treat the patients.
What was the ultimate result of deinstitutionalization?
The criminalization of mental illness and the downloading of responsibility for mental illness to courts and corrections.
What percentage of federal offenders are aboriginal? What percentage of the Canadian adult population are aboriginal?
18% of federal offenders; 2.8% of the Canadian adult population.
How are aboriginal offenders treated differently throughout the corrections system?
They are more likely to be classified as high risk and high need; to be released later in their sentences; to serve full sentences; to have their conditional release revoked; or to have a previous sentence.
What did the Gladue decision determine?
That courts must take into account colonialist actions targeting aboriginal peoples.
What did the Corrections and Conditional Release Act (1992) allow for?
For aboriginal involvement in the development of correctional services, policies, and programs.
