Forty-seven years of daily counts
The line is the average number of adults in provincial custody on any given day of the year. Dotted lines mark years the province did not report.
In custody: sentenced, or waiting
An adult in a provincial correctional centre is either serving a sentence, held on remand while a case is decided, or held for another reason. The province did not report 2022/2023 or 2023/2024 to the survey; those years are gaps in every line and table on this page.
On remand
Held while waiting for a trial or a sentence.
Serving a sentence
Sentenced to provincial custody, which covers sentences under two years.
Other statuses
Held for another reason: immigration holds, parole suspensions, and the like.
On the books
The survey's on-register count: everyone in the centre's care, including people temporarily out on a pass or in hospital.
Custody counts year by year
| Year | In custody | Sentenced | Remand | Other | Remand share | Per 100,000 adults |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024/2025 | 333 | 75 | 236 | 22 | 71 in 100 | 73.3 |
| 2023/2024 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2022/2023 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2021/2022 | 308 | 173 | 106 | 30 | 34 in 100 | 70.6 |
| 2020/2021 | 307 | 160 | 147 | 0 | 48 in 100 | 70.3 |
| 2019/2020 | 335 | 182 | 153 | 0 | 46 in 100 | 76.7 |
| 2018/2019 | 342 | 185 | 157 | 0 | 46 in 100 | 78.2 |
| 2017/2018 | 345 | 182 | 162 | 0 | 47 in 100 | 78.6 |
| 2016/2017 | 359 | 210 | 149 | 0 | 41 in 100 | 82.1 |
| 2015/2016 | 314 | 213 | 100 | — | 32 in 100 | 71.9 |
| 2014/2015 | 286 | 196 | 91 | — | 32 in 100 | 65.8 |
| 2013/2014 | 278 | 208 | 70 | — | 25 in 100 | 64.2 |
| 2012/2013 | 283 | 213 | 70 | — | 25 in 100 | 65.8 |
| 2011/2012 | 315 | 233 | 81 | — | 26 in 100 | 73.7 |
| 2010/2011 | 312 | 220 | 92 | — | 30 in 100 | 74.2 |
| 2009/2010 | 282 | 186 | 96 | — | 34 in 100 | 67.8 |
| 2008/2009 | 280 | 200 | 80 | — | 29 in 100 | 68.1 |
| 2007/2008 | 279 | 202 | 77 | — | 28 in 100 | 67.7 |
| 2006/2007 | 280 | 208 | 72 | — | 26 in 100 | 67.8 |
| 2005/2006 | 280 | 210 | 56 | 14 | 20 in 100 | 67.8 |
| 2004/2005 | 270 | 210 | 50 | 11 | 18 in 100 | 65.5 |
| 2003/2004 | 294 | 232 | 51 | 11 | 17 in 100 | 71.7 |
| 2002/2003 | 317 | 256 | 51 | 10 | 16 in 100 | 77.5 |
| 2001/2002 | 288 | 225 | 54 | 10 | 19 in 100 | 70.2 |
| 2000/2001 | 278 | 222 | 44 | 12 | 16 in 100 | 67.4 |
| 1999/2000 | 315 | 258 | 44 | 13 | 14 in 100 | 76.1 |
| 1998/1999 | 302 | 248 | 40 | 14 | 13 in 100 | 72.0 |
| 1997/1998 | 313 | 275 | 32 | 6 | 10 in 100 | 74.0 |
| 1996/1997 | 355 | 319 | 36 | — | 10 in 100 | 83.6 |
| 1995/1996 | 393 | 354 | 39 | — | 10 in 100 | 92.1 |
| 1994/1995 | 380 | 346 | 34 | — | 9 in 100 | 89.0 |
| 1993/1994 | 410 | 373 | 37 | — | 9 in 100 | 96.9 |
| 1992/1993 | 354 | 323 | 31 | — | 9 in 100 | 84.6 |
| 1991/1992 | 294 | 263 | 31 | — | 11 in 100 | 71.2 |
| 1990/1991 | 304 | 277 | 27 | — | 9 in 100 | 74.6 |
| 1989/1990 | 300 | 275 | 24 | 1 | 8 in 100 | 74.7 |
| 1988/1989 | 272 | 253 | 18 | 1 | 7 in 100 | 68.5 |
| 1987/1988 | 266 | 245 | 20 | 1 | 8 in 100 | 67.6 |
| 1986/1987 | 295 | 273 | 21 | 1 | 7 in 100 | 75.5 |
| 1985/1986 | 299 | 281 | 17 | 1 | 6 in 100 | 77.3 |
| 1984/1985 | 241 | 225 | 15 | 1 | 6 in 100 | 63.2 |
| 1983/1984 | 308 | 280 | 9 | 19 | 3 in 100 | 82.7 |
| 1982/1983 | 269 | 253 | 8 | 8 | 3 in 100 | 73.4 |
| 1981/1982 | 238 | 229 | 9 | — | 4 in 100 | 66.0 |
| 1980/1981 | 234 | 224 | 10 | — | 4 in 100 | 66.1 |
| 1979/1980 | 219 | 208 | 11 | — | 5 in 100 | 63.0 |
| 1978/1979 | — | — | — | — | — | — |
In the community
Most adults under correctional supervision are not in custody. On an average day in 2024/2025, 957 were supervised in the community against 333 in custody.
On probation
Supervised in the community under a probation order.
Conditional sentence
A custody sentence served in the community under conditions.
Provincial parole
Released early from a provincial sentence under supervision. The province has had no provincial parole board since 2007.
Community supervision year by year
| Year | Under supervision | Probation | Conditional sentence | Provincial parole | Probation per 100,000 adults |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024/2025 | 957 | 818 | 139 | 0 | 180.1 |
| 2023/2024 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2022/2023 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2021/2022 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2020/2021 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2019/2020 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2018/2019 | 1,552 | 1,452 | 100 | 0 | 331.5 |
| 2017/2018 | 1,562 | 1,459 | 103 | 0 | 332.5 |
| 2016/2017 | 1,610 | 1,485 | 124 | 0 | 340.0 |
| 2015/2016 | 1,647 | 1,491 | 156 | — | 341.9 |
| 2014/2015 | 1,736 | 1,578 | 158 | — | 362.9 |
| 2013/2014 | 1,836 | 1,651 | 186 | — | 381.6 |
| 2012/2013 | 1,967 | 1,742 | 224 | — | 405.1 |
| 2011/2012 | 1,889 | 1,703 | 186 | — | 399.3 |
| 2010/2011 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2009/2010 | 1,842 | 1,672 | 170 | — | 402.3 |
| 2008/2009 | 1,760 | 1,620 | 140 | — | 393.3 |
| 2007/2008 | 1,695 | 1,569 | 126 | — | 381.0 |
| 2006/2007 | 1,944 | 1,807 | 137 | — | 437.6 |
| 2005/2006 | 2,087 | 1,948 | 138 | — | 471.2 |
| 2004/2005 | 2,218 | 2,069 | 149 | — | 502.3 |
| 2003/2004 | 2,345 | 2,235 | 110 | — | 545.1 |
| 2002/2003 | 2,332 | 2,238 | 94 | — | 547.2 |
| 2001/2002 | 2,462 | 2,338 | 124 | — | 569.3 |
| 2000/2001 | 2,440 | 2,260 | 180 | — | 548.5 |
| 1999/2000 | 2,465 | 2,337 | 128 | — | 564.4 |
| 1998/1999 | 2,497 | 2,389 | 108 | — | 569.5 |
| 1997/1998 | 2,318 | 2,264 | 54 | — | 535.7 |
| 1996/1997 | 2,229 | 2,229 | — | — | 524.7 |
| 1995/1996 | 2,620 | 2,620 | — | — | 614.0 |
| 1994/1995 | 2,499 | 2,499 | — | — | 585.3 |
| 1993/1994 | 2,119 | 2,119 | — | — | 500.9 |
| 1992/1993 | 1,949 | 1,949 | — | — | 465.6 |
| 1991/1992 | 1,434 | 1,434 | — | — | 347.4 |
| 1990/1991 | 995 | 995 | — | — | 244.3 |
| 1989/1990 | 981 | 981 | — | — | 244.4 |
| 1988/1989 | 916 | 916 | — | — | 230.6 |
| 1987/1988 | 1,003 | 1,003 | — | — | 255.0 |
| 1986/1987 | 920 | 920 | — | — | 235.3 |
| 1985/1986 | 1,151 | 1,151 | — | — | 297.5 |
| 1984/1985 | 1,517 | 1,517 | — | — | 397.8 |
| 1983/1984 | 1,305 | 1,305 | — | — | 350.6 |
| 1982/1983 | 710 | 710 | — | — | 193.6 |
| 1981/1982 | 663 | 663 | — | — | 183.9 |
| 1980/1981 | 445 | 445 | — | — | 125.6 |
| 1979/1980 | 285 | 285 | — | — | 82.0 |
| 1978/1979 | — | — | — | — | — |
Who is admitted
Admissions count entries into custody over the year, not people: one person admitted three times is three admissions. In 2024/2025 there were 1,897 admissions to provincial custody, and 21 in 100 were of people who identified as Indigenous.
Indigenous share of admissions, 2001/2002 to 2024/2025
The line is the number of admissions in a year of people who identified as Indigenous.
Admissions year by year
| Year | Admissions | Indigenous | Non-Indigenous | Unknown | Indigenous share |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024/2025 | 1,897 | 389 | 1,508 | 0 | 21 in 100 |
| 2023/2024 | 1,727 | 341 | 1,386 | 0 | 20 in 100 |
| 2022/2023 | 1,489 | 326 | 1,163 | 0 | 22 in 100 |
| 2021/2022 | 1,390 | 321 | 1,069 | 0 | 23 in 100 |
| 2020/2021 | 1,673 | 412 | 1,261 | 0 | 25 in 100 |
| 2019/2020 | 1,776 | 372 | 1,404 | 0 | 21 in 100 |
| 2018/2019 | 1,931 | 405 | 1,526 | 0 | 21 in 100 |
| 2017/2018 | 2,050 | 519 | 1,531 | 0 | 25 in 100 |
| 2016/2017 | 2,030 | 524 | 1,506 | 0 | 26 in 100 |
| 2015/2016 | 1,981 | 598 | 1,383 | 0 | 30 in 100 |
| 2014/2015 | 1,901 | 473 | 1,428 | 0 | 25 in 100 |
| 2013/2014 | 1,896 | 427 | 1,469 | 0 | 23 in 100 |
| 2012/2013 | 1,909 | 363 | 1,546 | 0 | 19 in 100 |
| 2011/2012 | 2,030 | 375 | 1,655 | 0 | 18 in 100 |
| 2010/2011 | 1,978 | 316 | 1,662 | 0 | 16 in 100 |
| 2009/2010 | 1,655 | 300 | 1,355 | 0 | 18 in 100 |
| 2008/2009 | 1,677 | 348 | 1,329 | 0 | 21 in 100 |
| 2007/2008 | 1,647 | 351 | 1,296 | 0 | 21 in 100 |
| 2006/2007 | 1,626 | 241 | 1,385 | 0 | 15 in 100 |
| 2005/2006 | 1,680 | 231 | 1,449 | 0 | 14 in 100 |
| 2004/2005 | 1,746 | 196 | 1,550 | 0 | 11 in 100 |
| 2003/2004 | 1,675 | 115 | 1,560 | 0 | 7 in 100 |
| 2002/2003 | 1,750 | 33 | 1,717 | 0 | 2 in 100 |
| 2001/2002 | 1,332 | 148 | 1,184 | 0 | 11 in 100 |
Federal custody, Atlantic region
Sentences of two years or more are served in federal penitentiaries, run by Correctional Service Canada. Statistics Canada publishes federal counts by region, not by province, so these figures cover the four Atlantic provinces together. On an average day in 2024/2025, 1,324 adults were in federal custody in the region, 61.1 per 100,000 adults.
Federal counts year by year
| Year | In federal custody | Per 100,000 adults | Under supervision | Day parole | Full parole | Statutory release |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024/2025 | 1,324 | 61.1 | — | — | — | — |
| 2023/2024 | 1,116 | 53.0 | 793 | 133 | 454 | 192 |
| 2022/2023 | 1,053 | 51.4 | 853 | 138 | 491 | 208 |
| 2021/2022 | 1,162 | 57.4 | 895 | 152 | 517 | 210 |
| 2020/2021 | 1,286 | 64.0 | 906 | 177 | 500 | 218 |
| 2019/2020 | 1,298 | 65.2 | 908 | 190 | 485 | 218 |
| 2018/2019 | 1,324 | 67.0 | 884 | 181 | 454 | 233 |
| 2017/2018 | 1,331 | 67.6 | 851 | 181 | 406 | 250 |
| 2016/2017 | 1,389 | 71.1 | 860 | 169 | 385 | 294 |
| 2015/2016 | 1,561 | 79.9 | 809 | 145 | 366 | 284 |
| 2014/2015 | 1,533 | 78.8 | 784 | 138 | 358 | 272 |
| 2013/2014 | 1,351 | 69.5 | 872 | 150 | 387 | 319 |
| 2012/2013 | 1,271 | 65.7 | 938 | 130 | 452 | 339 |
| 2011/2012 | 1,269 | 66.2 | 967 | 148 | 498 | 305 |
| 2010/2011 | 1,293 | 68.0 | 815 | 128 | 419 | 255 |
| 2009/2010 | 1,351 | 71.7 | 793 | 126 | 414 | 241 |
| 2008/2009 | 1,362 | 72.8 | 773 | 127 | 423 | 213 |
| 2007/2008 | 1,329 | 71.2 | 736 | 116 | 422 | 187 |
| 2006/2007 | 1,274 | 68.3 | 755 | 119 | 441 | 185 |
| 2005/2006 | 1,211 | 65.1 | 749 | 126 | 435 | 182 |
| 2004/2005 | 1,215 | 65.6 | 744 | 119 | 436 | 184 |
| 2003/2004 | 1,203 | 65.4 | 749 | 125 | 433 | 191 |
| 2002/2003 | 1,210 | 66.2 | 763 | 122 | 468 | 173 |
| 2001/2002 | 1,176 | 64.5 | 826 | 152 | 506 | 168 |
| 2000/2001 | 1,185 | 65.1 | 868 | 169 | 516 | 183 |
| 1999/2000 | 1,224 | 67.5 | 835 | 160 | 463 | 212 |
| 1998/1999 | 1,272 | 70.1 | 825 | 126 | 465 | 234 |
| 1997/1998 | 1,373 | 75.9 | 867 | 121 | 513 | 233 |
| 1996/1997 | 1,416 | 78.6 | 1,009 | 155 | 574 | 280 |
| 1995/1996 | 1,409 | 78.4 | 1,084 | 201 | 678 | 205 |
| 1994/1995 | 1,419 | 79.3 | 1,230 | 202 | 837 | 191 |
| 1993/1994 | 1,173 | 66.1 | 1,213 | 226 | 824 | 163 |
| 1992/1993 | 1,058 | 60.1 | 1,133 | 219 | 708 | 206 |
| 1991/1992 | 978 | 56.2 | 1,060 | 180 | 676 | 204 |
| 1990/1991 | 1,019 | 59.2 | 1,097 | 202 | 667 | 228 |
| 1989/1990 | 962 | 56.6 | 1,068 | 195 | 688 | 185 |
| 1988/1989 | 937 | 55.7 | 1,219 | 241 | 773 | 205 |
| 1987/1988 | 1,100 | 65.9 | 1,161 | 251 | 659 | 251 |
| 1986/1987 | 1,118 | 67.6 | 1,072 | 227 | 595 | 250 |
| 1985/1986 | 1,133 | 69.4 | 1,023 | 206 | 592 | 225 |
| 1984/1985 | 1,119 | 69.7 | 1,059 | 215 | 643 | 201 |
| 1983/1984 | 1,015 | 64.7 | 960 | 139 | 644 | 177 |
| 1982/1983 | 921 | 59.6 | 860 | 141 | 573 | 146 |
| 1981/1982 | 894 | 58.7 | 783 | 120 | 537 | 126 |
| 1980/1981 | 853 | 56.9 | 792 | 145 | 477 | 170 |
| 1979/1980 | 862 | 58.6 | 718 | 123 | 436 | 159 |
Ask a question about this data
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What to know about these figures
Custody and community counts are averages: the number of adults on the books each day, averaged over the fiscal year, April to March. An actual-in count is people physically present; an on-register count also includes people temporarily absent, on a pass or in hospital. Because they are averages of daily counts, they carry decimals in the source and are rounded here.
Newfoundland and Labrador did not report to the Adult Correctional Services Survey for 2022-23 or 2023-24. Statistics Canada publishes those years as not available, and this page holds them as gaps in every line and table rather than drawing them as zero or filling them in.
Admissions count events, not people. A person admitted to custody three times in a year is three admissions. Indigenous identity is as recorded at admission; where it was not recorded the admission is counted as unknown.
Sentences of two years or more are served in federal penitentiaries, run by Correctional Service Canada. Statistics Canada publishes federal counts by region, not by province, so the federal figures here are for the Atlantic region as a whole. A Newfoundland and Labrador figure would have to come from Correctional Service Canada directly.