Community Safety and Crime Information Data Sources

Description:

This is a collection of police reported incidents of crime developed by the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics (CCJS) in cooperation with the policing community. The data is collected through the Uniform Crime Reporting Survey (UCR) to measure the incidence of crime in Canadian society and its characteristics. The most serious offence occurring in a reported incident is the basis for counting reported crime in the UCR survey.

Variables Include:

• type of incident (violent, property, traffic, other criminal code, drug and federal statutes)
• characteristics of offender (gender, adult or youth)
• clearance of the incident (cleared by charge, cleared otherwise)
• rate per 1000 population 

Advantages

• provides data for national comparisons
• data is available at a sub-provincial level

Disadvantages

• because only the most serious offence is recorded for any incident, less serious offences may be underestimated
• only measures crime that is reported to police

Description:

The Quality of School Life Survey is completed each year by the Department of Education up to 2004. It is a mandatory survey that offers insight into school relationships, self esteem, and school safety.

Variables Include:

• satisfaction / dissatisfaction
• relationship with other students, teachers
• self-esteem
• stress of workload

Advantages

• provide data on unreported school bullying
• provides data at a sub-provincial level

Disadvantages

• not possible to make national comparisons
• was only conducted up to 2004 

Description:

The purpose of this survey was to evaluate the attitudes of residents of Newfoundland and Labrador with regards to violence and abuse in the province. This was a telephone survey from a random sample of residents, over the age of 18, throughout the province. The survey tool was adapted from a survey conducted by the Prince Albert and Area Communities against Violence in 2001.

Variables Include:

• feeling of safety
• concern about violence or abuse
• attitude toward violent/abusive behaviors
• responsibility for violent/abusive behaviors

Advantages

• provides insight into public perceptions and fears around violence in Newfoundland and Labrador 
• provides data at a sub-provincial level

Disadvantages

• not possible to make national comparisons 
• survey only completed one year thus far (the survey is currently being conducted again)

Description:

School districts offer a wide range of services in a variety of settings determined to be most appropriate to student needs. This information is gathered on all students who receive special education services

Variables Include:

• age
• gender
• area and degree of exceptionality

Advantages

• provides an estimate of students with special education needs 
• provides data at a sub-provincial level
• data are available by age

Disadvantages

• not possible to make national comparisons 

Description:

The Provincial Court of Newfoundland and Labrador handles the majority of cases requiring judicial intervention in the province. 

Variables Include:

• Provincial Court Cases by Age Group and Gender
• Investigating Court Cases by Number of Offenders
• Investigating Court Cases by Adjudication (outcomes) and Disposition (Sentencing)
  

Advantages

• provides data at a sub-provincial level
• provides data on provincial statutes and provincial traffic/collision

Disadvantages

• not possible to make national comparisons
• only measures those crimes entering the court system

Description:
Police reported incidents of crime from the RCMP in Newfoundland and Labrador.

Variables Include:

• type of incident (violent, property, traffic, other criminal code, drug, federal statutes, provincial statutes, provincial traffic and collisions)
• clearance of the incident (cleared by charge, cleared otherwise)
• Gender breakdowns
  

Advantages

• provides data at a sub-provincial level
• provides greater detail than that provided by Centre for Justice Statistics for Newfoundland and Labrador
• provides data on provincial statutes and provincial traffic/collision incidents

Disadvantages

• not possible to make national comparisons
• due to inconsistancies in reporting methods RCMP data will not be comparable to RNC data
• only measures crime that is reported to police

Description:

A national survey which provides regular and timely cross-sectional estimates of health determinants, health status and health system utilization.

Variables Include:

• demographics
• alcohol use, dependence and abuse
• injuries
• drug use
• self-esteem
• social support
• suicidal thoughts and attempts
• use of protective equipment

Advantages

• provides data for national comparisons
• provides data at a sub-provincial level and for provincial comparisons

Disadvantages

Description:

National Survey designed to gather data with a degree of regularity on social trends in order to monitor changes in Canadian society over time, and secondly, to provide information on specific policy issues of current or emerging interest.

Variables Include:

• demographics
• health
• time use
• personal risk
• family and friends
• social support

Advantages

• provides data for national comparisons
• provide data on unreported crime and victimization

Disadvantages

• data is not available at a sub-provincial level 

Description:

The Newfoundland and Larador Student Drug Use Survey has been conducted every other year since 1996 in partnership with Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick. This is a province-wide survey of students in the public school system from grade 7, grade 9, level 1 and level 3. 

Variables Include:

• demographics
• drug use (alcohol, tobacco, other drugs)
• drug related problems
• multiple drug use
• gambling behavior 
• offender information (gender, relationship to victim)

Advantages

• provides a measure of adolescent drug use and gambeling behaviors
• provides data at a sub-provincial level and for provincial comparisons

Disadvantages

• not possible to make national comparisons 

Description:

A national long-term survey of children and youth that follows their development from youth to early adulthood. The survey is designed to collect information about factors influencing a child's social, emotional and behavioral development and to monitor the impact of these factors on the child's development over time.

Variables Include:

• demographics
• social, emotional and physical development
• social support
• social relationships
• behavior
• education
• health

Advantages

• provides data for national comparisons
• longitudinal data provides the ability to look at development over time 

Disadvantages

• data is not available at a sub-provincial level 

Description:

A support service for victims of crime providing general information about the criminal justice system, pre-court preparation, referral to community resources, and emotional support

Variables Include:

• number of referrals
• client information (age, gender, address)
• incident information (type of offence, relationship to offender)

Advantages

• provides data at a sub-provincial level
• provide data specifically around relationship between victims and offenders 

Disadvantages

• not possible to make national comparisons

Description:

The Department of Justice in Newfoundland and Labrador is responsible for policing (RNC & RCMP), adult custody and community corrections, secure youth justice, victims services, and administration support for the courts.

Variables Include:

• detailed information on offenders (age, gender, ethnicity, address)
• risk assessments: Primary, Suicide, Sex Offender, Domestic Abuse, Security
• personal history: partner abuse, sexual abuse, gambling, assault on staff, stalking, suicide

Advantages

• provides data at a sub-provincial level
• a rich source of data on young offender characteristics

Disadvantages

• not possible to make national comparisons

Description:

The Department of Justice in Newfoundland and Labrador is responsible for policing (RNC & RCMP), adult custody and community corrections, secure youth justice, victims services, and administration support for the courts.

Variables Include:

• detailed information on offenders (age, gender, ethnicity, address)
• risk assessments: Primary, Suicide, Sex Offender, Domestic Abuse, Security
• personal history: partner abuse, sexual abuse, gambling, assault on staff, stalking, suicide

Advantages

• provides data at a sub-provincial level
• a rich source of data on offender characteristics

Disadvantages

• not possible to make national comparisons

Description: 

A national survey that collects data on the application of youth dispositions under the Young Offenders Act (YOA) on an annual basis (fiscal year) and on youth placed in remand facilities. The purpose of these data is to provide corrections-based data on youth admissions to custodial facilities and to probation across the country. These data provide important indicators as to the nature and characteristics of youth corrections.

Variables Include:

• nature of offence (violent, property, traffic, other criminal code, drug and federal statutes)
• characteristics of offender (gender, age, ethnicity)
• length of sentence/probation 
• type of disposition (remand, secure custody, open custody, probation)

Advantages

• provides data for national comparisons

Disadvantages

• data is not available at a sub-provincial level 

Description: 

A national survey that is intended to be a census of federal statute charges heard in provincial and superior courts in Canada. The objective of this survey is to develop and maintain a national adult criminal court database of statistical information on appearances, charges, and cases in adult criminal courts.  

Variables Include:

• nature of offence (violent, property, traffic, other criminal code, drug and federal statutes)
• characteristics of offender (gender, age, ethnicity)
• length of sentence/probation 
• type of sentence (guilty, aquittal, withdrawn)

Advantages

• provides data for national comparisons

Disadvantages

• data is not available at a sub-provincial level 

Description:

Social workers work with families & communities to develop, provide, evaluate and link services to children, youth and their families. These services are aimed at preventing, reducing and/or resolving risks to child safety, health and well being. 

Variables Include:

• number of referrals
• client information (age, gender, address)
• incident information (details of incident and persons involved)
• services provided 

Advantages

• provides data at a sub-provincial level
• provides data specifically around young victims of abuse
• data is independent of "criminal" system

Disadvantages

• not possible to make national comparisons

Description:

The NL Sexual Assault Crisis & Prevention Centre is a non-profit organization that exists to provide support and essential services to anyone impacted by sexual violence. Provides public education and awareness campaignes as well as a 24 hour provincial crisis line.

Variables Include:

• number of calls
• nature of call (type of assault)
• caller information (gender, seeking counselling) 
• offender information (gender, relationship to victim)

Advantages

• provide data on unreported crime and victimization

Disadvantages

• data is not available at a sub-provincial level 
• not possible to make national comparisons 
• limited to what the caller provides  

Description:

Alternative measures programs give youth who have been accused of committing an offence an alternative to going to court. The young person must be between 12-18, must admit responsibility for the alleged offence and must voluntarily agree to participate. A young person will not have a criminal record when the Alternative Measures program is completed.

Variables Include:

• number of referrals
• client information (age, gender, address)
• program completion

Advantages

• provides data at a sub-provincial level
• a rich source of data on young offender characteristics

Disadvantages

• not possible to make national comparisons