ONTARIO WOMEN IN CONFLICT WITH THE LAW
Survey of Women Under Community Supervision in Ontario
Margaret Shaw and colleagues interviewed 288 adult women in community settings across Ontario in 1991 and 1992. About 80% were on probation only, 11% were on probation following a provincial prison sentence and 6% were on parole also following a provincial prison sentence. Some in the last group would go on to serve probation terms once their parole periods expired. More than one third (39%) were serving probation terms of less than 12 months. The most common conditions of the probation were community service work (22%), restitution (18%) and counseling (18%).
Who are these women? The average Ontario probationer was:
30 years old
75% were under 35
Caucasian
78% identified themselves as Caucasian while 12% were Aboriginal and 6% Black
born in Canada
84% were born in Canada
others were born most frequently in Europe, the Caribbean or South America
single
43% were single
30% were separated/divorced
26% were married or living common law
a mother
73% had children (one-third of who were five or under)
the average age at the birth of their first child was 19
80% had been a single parent for part of all of the time
convicted of her first offence
57% do not have prior offences at the time of conviction for this offence
among those with prior records, their age at first conviction was likely over 20
a person who has never been incarcerated before
77% had never served a prison term
on probation for a property offence
57% were convicted of theft, fraud etc. but 19% were convicted of interpersonal offences
from a family where other relatives have been in conflict with the law
likely to have left home at a young age
the average age at leaving home had been 16 or 17
one third had theft by age 15, in some cases to enter a residential program or custody
a victim of physical or sexual abuse
71% reported prior physical abuse
45% sexual abuse in family or origin or in relationships
someone who self-reports a mental health concern
52% felt they were depressed
40% felt they had problems with anxiety
one third had received some mental health treatment in the past
not well off financially
58% had annual incomes of less than $12,000 and another 25% had incomes of $12-15,000
58% were supported by social assistance
only 40% were employed
a high school drop out
49% had not gone beyond grade 10
When asked what they needed to help them stay out of trouble with the criminal justice system, most focused on practical matters such as help with emotional problems (39%), employment (38%), work training (38%), housing (30%) and child-related assistance (30%).
This information was summarized from:
Shaw, M. with S. Hargreaves (1994). Ontario Women in Conflict with the Law: A Survey of Women in Institutions and Under Community Supervision in Ontario. Toronto: Ministry of the Solicitor General and Correctional Services.
Shaw, M. (1994). Ontario Women in Conflict with the Law Subsidiary Report: Community Programmes and Regional Issues. Toronto: Ministry of Solicitor General and Correctional Services.
We have a copy of the Executive Summary of the full report on our web site.
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