NCJ Number
157150
Date Published
1994
Length
83 pages
Annotation
A census of all adult and youth provincial correctional facilities in British Columbia, Canada, was undertaken in 1993 to gather descriptive information on ethnocultural issues.
Abstract
Specific census objectives were to develop an ethnocultural profile of British Columbia's adult prison and youth detention center populations, to identify problems in the facilities that involved ethnicity, and to devise problem solutions. Of 1,952 people incarcerated on the census date, 529 inmates were interviewed. Most inmates were male and were born in Canada. The majority of inmates were Caucasian, followed by Aboriginal. Nonaboriginal ethnocultural groups (Asians, Blacks, Indo- Canadians, and Hispanics) were significantly underrepresented in British Columbia's correctional facilities. The total representation of immigrant inmates was 11 percent, compared to 22.3 percent in the general population of British Columbia. Recommendations to improve services and programs for ethnocultural inmates are offered. Additional information and forms related to the correctional facility census are appended. 7 tables and 3 figures