Escapes from Federal Custody: fiscal year 2021 to 2022 and 2023 to 2024
Research in brief highlights: Escapes from federal custody typically occurred at minimum security facilities. Most incidents occurred in the Prairie region, involved Indigenous offenders, and occurred soon after the offender’s arrival to the institution.
Number: RIB 24-14
Date: 2025
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Why we did this study
Escapes from federal institutions are relatively uncommon events, though are a key indicator of correctional performance, with implications for public safety and public confidence. The Correctional Service of Canada (CSC) regularly reviews details surrounding escapes and the profiles of offenders involved.
What we did
Information pertaining to escape incidents Footnote 1 in fiscal years 2021 to 2022 and 2023 to 2024 was examined, including incident details and characteristics of the individual(s) involved. Information sources included Incident Reports, Warden Situation Reports, and case documents located in the Offender Management System.
What we found
Between fiscal year 2021 to 2022 and fiscal year 2023 to 2024, there were 25 escapes (this included 5 in fiscal 2021 to 2022, 11 in fiscal year 2022 to 2023, and 9 in fiscal year 2023 to 2024. Regarding these incidents:
- 80% occurred in the Prairie region
- 72% occurred at a Healing Lodge
- 72% occurred at a men’s institution
- 92% involved minimum security offenders
- 76% involved Indigenous offenders, and
- The average age of instigators was 37
In 40% of cases, the offender’s security level classification at the time of the escape represented a decrease from the results of the most recent assessment tool score Footnote 2 use to inform security level decision-making. In 48% of cases, the offender’s security level represented their initial security classification on their current federal sentence.
Most (80%) incidents occurred within six months of the offender’s arrival to the institution of escape (the average time at the institution was 4.1 months). All offenders who escaped in the three-year period were apprehended, with 44% being recaptured within one day. Proximal risk factors that may have contributed to motivations for escape varied (for example; recent negative news, family conflict/crisis, interpersonal conflict, escalating stress).
Most offenders (84%) involved in escapes were serving a determinate sentence. Among those serving a determinate sentence, a majority (62%) were within one year of their Statutory Release date (average time to Statutory Release was 10.5 months). Although offence profiles varied, 60% were serving time for a violent major index offence.
| Facility type | Fiscal year 2018 to 2019 |
Fiscal year 2019 to 2020 |
Fiscal year 2020 to 2021 |
Fiscal year 2021 to 2022 |
Fiscal year 2022 to 2023 |
Fiscal year 2023 to 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Healing Lodge | 8 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 7 |
| Other CSC | 8 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 2 |
| Total | 16 | 12 | 11 | 5 | 11 | 9 |
| Counts include the total number of unique individuals involved in escape incidents. | ||||||
What it means
Minimum security settings serve as an integral component of gradual reintegration, whereby offenders are sequentially granted more freedoms in line with safe and structured release planning. CSC monitors, tracks, and investigates all escape incidents to inform preventative measures and to ensure public safety is at the core of gradual and structured reintegration strategies. Multi-pronged mitigation strategies are in place to prevent escapes, including structured assessments of escape risk, static and dynamic security systems, and case management and programs intended to address risk factors, including culturally-responsive interventions.
For more information
Please email the Research Branch. You can also visit the Research Publications section for a full list of reports and one-page summaries.
Prepared by: Laura McKendy and Stephanie Biro