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British Columbia - The Best Place on Earth -

Just ask our criminals…

By Gerry Wickstead

Investigating Crime and Issuing Criminal Charges in Canada

22 Crime Categories over seven years (1997-2003)

Solving SEXUAL ASSAULT (1997-2003) British Columbia

Source: Statistics Canada – Catalogue no. 85-205

2003 3^rd place among 10 provinces

43.5% charge rate

1,933 reported Sexual assaults without criminal charges

ABOVE Canadian average (42.3%)

2002 1^st place among 10 provinces

47.7% charge rate

1,790 reported Sexual assaults without criminal charges

ABOVE Canadian average (43.7%)

2001 5^th place among 10 provinces

44.6% charge rate

2,021 reported Sexual assaults without criminal charges

BELOW Canadian average (45.5%)

2000 4^th place among 10 provinces

46.9% charge rate

1,980 reported Sexual assaults without criminal charges

ABOVE Canadian average (46.3%)

1999 5^th place among 10 provinces

46.9% charge rate

2,074 reported Sexual assaults without criminal charges

ABOVE Canadian average (45.4%)

1998 3^rd place among 10 provinces

43.7% charge rate

2,472 reported Sexual assaults without criminal charges

ABOVE Canadian average (43.4%)

1997 5^th place among 10 provinces

47.3% charge rate

2,441 reported Sexual assaults without criminal charges

ABOVE Canadian average (45.0%)

Solving Crime in Canada (2003) SEXUAL ASSAULT

(Includes: Sexual assault, Sexual assault with weapon, Aggravated sexual assault)

Police reported incidents – in order of Highest to Lowest Charge Rates

PROVINCE

(population)

Incidents reported

CRIME

RATE

CLEARED

BY CHARGE

% of reported incidents

cleared by charge

1^st	Ontario 12,238,300	7,682	63	3,550	46.2%
2^nd	Manitoba 1,162,776	1,504	129	683	45.4%
3^rd	British Columbia 4,146,580	3,424	83	1,491	43.5% *
	CANADA 31,629,677	23,425	74	9,909	Canadian average 42.3%
4^th	Newfoundland 519,570	496	95	208	41.9%
5^th	Saskatchewan 994,843	1,381	139	532	38.5%
6^th	Alberta 3,153,723	2,405	76	927	38.5%
7^th	New Brunswick 750,594	645	86	248	38.4%
8^th	Nova Scotia 936,025	889	95	324	36.4%
9^th	Quebec 7,487,169	4,326	58	1,572	36.3%
10^th	Prince Edward Island 137,781	142	103	42	29.6%

*Note: The total number of Incidents Cleared by Charge in British Columbia is actually lower than indicated. Criminal Charges initiated by Police in BC may have been Stayed / dropped by Crown Counsel causing the actual number of incidents cleared by charges to be lower. New Brunswick and Quebec have a similar prosecutor-based system. However these two provinces alter their Charge clearance numbers when Crown prosecutors drop charges while British Columbia does not.

“In New Brunswick and Quebec (for the Surete du Quebec only), the initial clearance status recommended by the police (e.g., cleared by a specific charge) is subject to approval by the Crown. Should the Crown find insufficient evidence to proceed with the charge, the police revise their records to take into account the recommendation by the Crown. According to the data element definition, a charge is cleared only if there is sufficient evidence to proceed. However, other jurisdictions, including British Columbia which has a system similar to Quebec, do not revise their internal records when the Crown disagrees with the police assessment of the evidence. For this reason, caution should be taken in making comparisons between jurisdictions for this data element. “

Source: Statistics Canada – Crime Statistics 2003 Catalogue no 85-205 Page 79

Those responsible for 1,933 Sexual Assaults in British Columbia were never criminally charged.

Solving Crime in Canada (2002) SEXUAL ASSAULT

PROVINCE

(population)

Incidents reported

CRIME

RATE

CLEARED

BY CHARGE

% of reported incidents

cleared by charge

1^st	British Columbia 4,141,272	3,421	83	1,631	47.7%
2^nd	Newfoundland 531,595	552	104	260	47.1%
3^rd	Ontario 12,068,301	8,282	69	3,895	47.0%
	CANADA 31,629,677	24,350	78	10,644	Canadian average 43.7%
4^th	Manitoba 1,150,848	1,488	129	647	43.5%
5^th	Saskatchewan 1,011,808	1,491	147	639	42.8%
6^th	Nova Scotia 944,765	892	94	373	41.8%
7^th	Prince Edward Island 139,913	147	105	60	40.8%
8^th	Alberta 3,113,586	2,591	83	1,054	40.7%
9^th	Quebec 7,455,208	4,190	56	1,547	36.9%
10^th	New Brunswick 756,652	744	98	252	33.9%

Those responsible for 1,790 Sex Assault in British Columbia were never criminally charged.

Solving Crime in Canada (2001) SEXUAL ASSAULT

PROVINCE

(population)

Incidents reported

CRIME

RATE

CLEARED

BY CHARGE

% of reported incidents

cleared by charge

1^st	Newfoundland 533,761	585	110	332	56.7%
2^nd	Manitoba 1,150,034	1,371	119	737	53.8%
3^rd	Ontario 11,874,436	8,790	74	4,155	47.3%
4^th	Saskatchewan 1,015,783	1,423	140	656	46.1%
	CANADA 31,081,887	24419	79	11,112	Canadian average 45.5%
5^th	British Columbia 4,095,934	3,646	89	1,625	44.6%
6^th	Alberta 3,064,249	2,676	87	1,169	43.7%
7^th	Quebec 7,410,504	3,705	50	1,500	40.5%
8^th	Nova Scotia 942,691	851	90	344	40.4%
9^th	Prince Edward Island 138,514	108	78	41	38.0%
10^th	New Brunswick 757,077	819	108	308	37.6%

In British Columbia there were 2,021 reported Sexual Assault incidents without criminal charges.

Solving Crime in Canada (2000) SEXUAL ASSAULT

PROVINCE

(population)

Incidents reported

CRIME

RATE

CLEARED

BY CHARGE

% of reported incidents

cleared by charge

1^st	Newfoundland 538,823	572	106	311	54.4%
2^nd	Manitoba 1,147,880	1,365	119	687	50.3%
3^rd	Ontario 11,669,344	8,825	76	4,344	49.2%
4^th	British Columbia 4,063,760	3,727	92	1,747	46.9%
	CANADA 30,750,087	24,049	78	11,146	Canadian average 46.3%
5^th	Saskatchewan 1,023,636	1,525	149	688	45.1%
6^th	Alberta 2,997,236	2,497	83	688	45.1%
7^th	Nova Scotia 940,996	750	80	313	41.7%
8^th	Quebec 7,372,448	3,424	46	1,377	40.2%
9^th	New Brunswick 756,598	771	102	304	39.4%
10^th	Prince Edward Island 138,928	105	76	38	36.2%

In British Columbia there were 1,980 reported Sexual assault incidents without criminal charges.

Solving Crime in Canada (1999) SEXUAL ASSAULT

PROVINCE

(population)

Incidents reported

CRIME

RATE

CLEARED

BY CHARGE

% of reported incidents

cleared by charge

1^st	Newfoundland 541,000	644	119	362	56.2%
2^nd	Prince Edward Island 137,980	105	76	57	54.3%
3^rd	Manitoba 1,143,509	1,307	114	689	52.7%
4^th	Ontario 11,513,808	8,270	72	3,899	47.1%
5^th	British Columbia 4,023,100	3,907	97	1,833	46.9% *
	CANADA 30,491,294	23,872	78	10,851	Canadian average 45.4%
6^th	Quebec 7,345,390	3,434	47	1,451	42.3%
7^th	Alberta 2,964,689	2,715	92	1,110	40.9%
8^th	Nova Scotia 939,791	844	90	341	40.4%
9^th	Saskatchewan 1,027,780	1,375	134	551	40.1%
10^th	New Brunswick 754,969	775	103	296	38.2%

In British Columbia there were 2,074 reported Sexual Assault incidents without criminal charges.

Solving Crime in Canada (1998) SEXUAL ASSAULT

PROVINCE

(population)

Incidents reported

CRIME

RATE

CLEARED

BY CHARGE

% of reported incidents

cleared by charge

1^st	Manitoba 1,138,872	1,287	113	653	50.7%
2^nd	Ontario 11,411,547	9,012	79	4,004	44.4%
3^rd	British Columbia 4,009,922	4,391	110	1,919	43.7%
	CANADA 30,300,422	25,493	84	11,074	Canadian average 43.3%
4^th	Prince Edward Island 136,388	156	114	66	42.3%
5^th	Nova Scotia 934,587	951	102	398	41.9%
6^th	Alberta 2,914,918	2,911	100	1,216	41.8%
7^th	Quebec 7,333,283	3,236	44	1,387	42.9%
8^th	Saskatchewan 1,024,387	1,505	147	616	40.9%
9^th	New Brunswick 752,999	866	115	338	39.0%
10^th	Newfoundland 544,400	610	112	224	36.7%

In British Columbia there were 2,472 reported Sexual Assaults without criminal charges.

Solving Crime in Canada (1997) SEXUAL ASSAULT

PROVINCE

(population)

Incidents reported

CRIME

RATE

CLEARED

BY CHARGE

% of reported incidents

cleared by charge

1^st	Prince Edward Island 137,100	142	104	81	57.0%
2^nd	Manitoba 1,142,200	1,533	134	784	51.1%
3^rd	Nova Scotia 946,800	1,167	123	570	48.8%
4^th	Newfoundland 562,000	863	154	414	48.0%
5^th	British Columbia 3,921,500	4,636	118	2,195	47.3% *
6^th	Ontario 11,421,600	9,021	79	4,105	45.5%
	CANADA 30,285,800	27,063	89	12,182	Canadian average 45.0%
7^th	Saskatchewan 1,021,700	1,699	166	719	42.3%
8^th	Quebec 7,431,000	3,302	44	1,386	42.0%
9^th	Alberta 2,841,300	3,071	108	1,288	41.9%
10^th	New Brunswick 761,100	933	123	311	33.3%

In British Columbia there were 2,441 reported Sexual Assault incidents without criminal charges.

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