NCJ Number
83443
Journal
Canadian Journal of Criminology Volume: 24 Issue: 2 Dated: (April 1982) Pages: 121-131
Date Published
1982
Length
11 pages
Annotation
Data on crime patterns among the native Indians of Saskatchewan, Canada suggest that traditional crime prevention programs emphasizing manipulation of the environment and target hardening fail to attack social and economic inequities that are the primary causes of Indian crime.
Abstract
In 1976-77, persons of Indian ancestry composed 63.7 percent of all male admissions to Saskatchewan's correctional centers and 85.1 percent of all female admissions. Further analysis indicates that this overrepresentation of Indians in the correctional population is due partly to a greater chance of being admitted to a correctional institution at least once and a greater chance of being readmitted. Most Indian involvement with the criminal justice system was for minor offenses, such as drinking. Because the Indian population, in contrast to the non-Indians, has experienced an increasing birth rate over the last 15 years, there is no reason to believe the situation will improve. Indians also have been disproportionately involved in social service and welfare programs, another symptom of underlying social and economic inequities. Statistics demonstrate the serious problems faced by Indians in housing, health, education, and employment. For example, Indian mortality rates are higher than for non-Indians, one in three families live in overcrowded housing, enrollment in educational programs beyond the primary level has been declining steadily, and only one-third of the working population is employed. Prevention programs emphasizing on physical protection of property have no impact on these problems, but promote a siege mentality that perpetuates social and economic inequities. The paper includes 16 references.