NCJ Number
96384
Journal
Impact Issue: 2 Dated: (1984) Pages: 4-12
Date Published
1984
Length
9 pages
Annotation
This paper describes recent trends in public sector spending for criminal justice in Canada, identifies factors associated with the rise in these expenditures, and speculates on future developments.
Abstract
Data reveal that the Federal, provincial/territorial, and local governments exhibited remarkably similar criminal justice spending patterns during the 1960's and 1970's. At each level of government, gross expenditures for police protection, correctional services, and courts of law rose uninterruptedly, with the annual rate of growth becoming particularly pronounced in the mid-1970's. Between 1961 and 1980, each level of government increased its spending for criminal justice purposes by approximately $1 billion. Little variation is shown in the proportional distribution of Federal expenditures for justice services; police-related costs accounted for the largest portion of the annual criminal justice budget. By comparison, provincial/territorial expenditures were divided more evenly among the major criminal justice components. Locally, almost all of the expenditures for crime control were allocated to law enforcement; local governments spent as much on policing as the Federal and provincial sectors combined. Growth in spending for criminal justice purposes is attributed to inflation (75 percent) and to the expansion and diversification of criminal justice personnel, facilities, and services. However, soon the criminal justice system will be required to do more with less resources. Seven tables, seven references, and a glossary are included.