Statistics show a steady rise in the Canadian federal inmate population over the last six years.
In 1984, there were an estimated 11,875 federal inmates in Canadian institutions. Although there has been a rise in the total population of federal inmates, the racial composition of this population has not stayed the same, according to a series of Correctional Service of Canada Population Profile reports. Caucasian inmates have been and continue to be the largest single racial group in Canadian federal correctional institutions and, in absolute numbers, they are continuing to grow. However, since 1984 there has been a decline in their representation relative to other racial groups. It is possible, of course, that the statistics reflect factors such as differences in the sentencing patterns among racial groups, in how soon they are released, and in how well they do after release.