One key indicator of safety in a community is the amount of crime in a given area. Children living in communities with high crime rates are more likely to have problems in school and use substances.[1] These children are also more likely to experience emotional and behavioural problems, such as anxiety, depression, and aggression.[1]
Crime Severity Index |
About the MeasureThe Crime Severity Index measures the amount of crime reported by police in a jurisdiction and the level of seriousness of these crimes.[2] More serious crimes are assigned higher weights, and less serious crimes have lower weights. The Crime Severity Index is adjusted to equal 100 in the base year (2006). Key FindingsIn 2017, the Crime Severity Index was highest for the Guelph Police detachment (64.25) and lowest for the Amaranth OPP detachment (17.15). Data for the previous 5 years can be found in the downloadable Excel file at the bottom of this page.
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Source: Statistics Canada, 2017. Table: 35-10-0188-01 (formerly CANSIM 252-0085) Crime severity index and weighted clearance rates, police services in Ontario. (accessed: October 1, 2018) LimitationsData from police detachments with populations less than 5,000 should be used with caution. Additionally, some victims decide against notifying the police of a crime so there is no record of the crime. As a result, this measure likely does not include all crime occurrences in a community.
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[1] Cooley-Strickland, M., Quille, T. J., Griffin, R. S., Stuart, E. A., Bradshaw, C. P., & Furr-Holden, D. (2009). Community violence and youth: Affect, behavior, substance use, and academics. Clinical child and family psychology review, 12(2), 127-156.
[2] Statistics Canada. (2015). The crime severity index. Ottawa, ON: Statistics Canada. Available at: http://www.statcan.gc.ca/pub/85-004-x/2009001/part-partie1-eng.htm