A new study finds spouses are less likely than strangers to go to prison for committing almost any type of violent crime.

Statistics Canada says convictions in violent cases involving spouses resulted in prison terms in 19 per cent of cases.

That compares with 29 per cent in cases not involving a spouse. The results come from an analysis of court records from 1997 through 2002 in urban areas in Newfoundland and Labrador, Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta.

The report, entitled Family Violence in Canada, says family members convicted of physical violence against children also received lighter sentences, compared with cases not involving family members.

But the opposite was true in cases of sexual assault. StatsCan says family members convicted of sexually assaulting children received harsher sentences than people who were unrelated to their victims. (source: CFRA Radio)

Family violence: Demonstration study of sentencing outcomes
Statistics Canada's The Daily - July 6, 2004
Family members convicted of most forms of violent crimes against spouses, children and seniors were less likely than other violent offenders to get a prison term, according to a demonstration analysis of police and court records from 1997/98 to 2001/2002 ...

 

Media Coverage

Family violence punished less, Statscan says
The Globe and Mail, Canada by Darren Yourk
Family members convicted of violent crimes against spouses, children and seniors are less likely than other violent ...

 

Spouses less likely to receive prison term for violent crimes
Winnipeg Sun, OTTAWA (CP)
Family members convicted of most forms of violent crimes against spouses, children and seniors were less likely than other violent offenders to ...

Spouses get lighter sentencing on violent crime
CTV, July 6, 2004
According to Statistics Canada, people who assault their relatives are less likely to go to jail than people who perpetrate violent crimes against total ...

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Page last updated July 6, 2004