The table below contains more information regarding the indicator.
Indicator name |
Crime severity index |
---|---|
Target |
No specific target |
Indicator description |
The Crime Severity Index (CSI) measures changes in the level of severity of police-reported crime in Canada from year to year. The crime severity index includes all Criminal Code violations including traffic, as well as drug violations and all Federal Statutes. |
Geographical coverage |
Canada, provinces and territories |
Unit of measurement |
Index 2006=100 |
Calculations |
In the index, all crimes are assigned a weight based on their seriousness. The level of seriousness is based on actual sentences handed down by the courts in all provinces and territories. More serious crimes are assigned higher weights, less serious offences lower weights. As a result, more serious offences have a greater impact on changes in the index. The PRCSI is standardized to 100 in base year 2006. |
Comments and limitations |
The Crime Severity Index is not available for police services or detachments with populations less than 1,000. Data for police services or detachments with populations less than 5,000 should be used with caution. |