NCJ Number
139259
Journal
Forum on Corrections Research Volume: 4 Issue: 3 Dated: September 1992 Pages: 3-5
Editor(s)
F. J. Porporino,
T. M. Nouwens
Date Published
September 1992
Length
3 pages
Annotation
The Correctional Service of Canada collects statistics on violent incidents in its correctional facilities including major assaults on inmates and staff, murders of staff and inmates, and inmate suicides.
Abstract
The rate of major assaults on inmates has increased steadily since 1989 following several periods of decline. In 1991-1992, there were 63 major assaults on inmates; most were stabbings or physical assaults involving kicking and punching. The assaults were largely motivated by drugs, retaliation for a previous incident of physical or verbal abuse, or revenge on an inmate informer. Most occurred in medium-security facilities, in or near the inmate's cell. During the reporting period, four inmates were murdered in Canadian Federal facilities, and two staff members suffered major assaults. Despite a steady decline in the number of inmate suicides during the late 1980's, there was a 39.4 percent increase in 1990-1991, to a rate of 13.6 per 10,000 inmates. All 16 inmates who committed suicide that year were male, with an average age of 32; most were single and Caucasian. The most common major offenses of these 16 were robbery and murder. Half were serving their first Federal term. All the suicides hanged themselves in their own cells. The data indicated that the inmates who committed suicide were either serving very long or relatively short sentences and had either served a very short or very long portion of their sentences. 2 figures