Fact sheet: Saskatchewan

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Victims of police-reported violent crime in Saskatchewan, 2023

• In 2023, police services across Saskatchewan reported 26,881 victims of violent crime and traffic offences causing death or bodily harm (Table 9.1). This represented 2,236 victims per 100,000 population, almost double the national rate (1,207 per 100,000).^{Footnote 69}
• Most (82%) victims were adults aged 18 and older;^{Footnote 70} almost half (45%) of all victims were aged 25 to 44 years, representing the largest proportion of any age group (Table 9.1). Meanwhile, 13% of victims were youth aged 12 to 17 years, and 5% were children 11 years and younger. The rate of victims was highest among young adults aged 18 to 24 years (4,580 per 100,000 population), followed by youth aged 12 to 17 years (3,851 per 100,000) and adults aged 25 to 44 years (3,607 per 100,000).^{Footnote 71}
• Three in four (75%) of victims of police-reported violent crime in 2023 were victims of assault.^{Footnote 72} Assault victims accounted for the vast majority (79%) of adult victims aged 18 years and older, and 59% of child and youth victims aged 17 years and younger.
• The second most commonly reported offence was “other violent violations” which accounted for 16% of victims.^{Footnote 73} This category includes offences such as robbery, extortion, and uttering threats, among other violent crimes.
• Overall, 6% of police-reported victims of violent crime in Saskatchewan in 2023 were victims of sexual assault.^{Footnote 74} Most (58%) sexual assault victims were adults aged 18 years and older, and 29% were youth aged 12 to 17 years. A smaller number (13%) were children aged 11 years and younger (Table 9.1).
• Half (50%) of victims of sexual violations against children were youth aged 12 to 17 years, and the other half (49%) were children aged 11 years and younger (Table 9.1).
• While more than half (56%) of all police-reported victims were female, they represented much larger proportions of victims of sexual assault (91%) and sexual violations against children (86%) (Table 9.2).
• Most (71%) of victims of homicide, attempted murder and other violations causing death were male, and more than half (53%) of victims of other violent violations (Table 9.2).
• Male and female victims of police-reported sexual assault differed notably by age. Most (59%) female sexual assault victims were adults aged 18 years and older, while four in ten (41%) male sexual assault victims were adults.^{Footnote 75}
• Compared to female victims, sexual offences were less common among male children and youth aged 17 years and younger, as 4% were victims of sexual assault and 4% were victims of sexual violations against children (20% and 14%, respectively, among female victims).^{Footnote 76} However, assault was more commonly reported among male child and youth victims (70%) than female child and youth victims (52%).

Victim services in Saskatchewan

In Saskatchewan, a range of programs and services are available to assist victims of crime immediately after they have been victimized, and throughout the criminal justice process. Saskatchewan’s Ministry of Justice and Victims Services of the Community Safety and Well-Being (CSWB) Branch provides a range of direct services to victims of crime including a Victim/Witness Services Program, Victims Compensation Program, and Victim Impact Statement Program. In addition, funded police-based victim services are delivered through municipal police services and community-based organizations that partner with RCMP detachments. The Ministry also funds specialized community-based services available to specific types of victims, including victims of sexual assault and domestic violence, children and youth, and Indigenous victims. Such services include Domestic Violence Victim Services, Children Exposed to Violence programs, Victim Services Responders working in Child and Youth Advocacy Centres, Indigenous Resource Officer Programs, the Family Information Liaison Unit, and services for families of missing persons.

The information provided here reflects data reported by the police-based victim services program, Indigenous Resource Officer program, Victim Services Responder program, Missing Persons Liaison program, and Domestic Violence Victim Services programs funded by the Ministry of Justice. Some individuals who are victims in repeat incidents (e.g., domestic violence victims) may be counted once if they are served by the same victim services program. Victims assisted more than once, but in different locations, may be counted more than once.

• In 2023, victim services programs in Saskatchewan assisted 21,850 victims of crime referred in the same year. Children and youth accounted for 15% of victims assisted by the programs. Over two-thirds (67%) of victims served were female.
• Most victims who received assistance (65%) were victims of violent crime. Over one-third (37%) were victims of physical assault, and another 8% were victims of sexual assault. For victims of physical assault, 61% reported being the victim of intra-familial violence and 39% the victim of extra-familial violence (perpetrated by anyone outside the family, including both acquaintances and strangers). Almost half (49%) of sexual assault victims were under age 18 years (816 victims), and another 276 individuals were victims of other sexual offences against children/youth.
• Almost three-quarters (74%) of victim clients used police-based services, compared to 27% who accessed Domestic Violence programs and 9% who accessed the Indigenous Resource Officer program.
• Victims who accessed Domestic Violence programs were overwhelmingly female (83%), and over half (52%) were under 18 years old.
• Over two-thirds (67%) of victims who accessed the Indigenous Resource Officer program were female, and 15% were under 18 years old.
• In 2023, victim services programs in Saskatchewan assisted with the preparation and filing of 4,396 Victim Impact Statements to the courts.

Detailed data tables

Table 9.1: Number and percentage of victims of police-reported violent crime and traffic violations causing death or bodily harm, by type of violation and age group, Saskatchewan, 2023

Table 9.2: Number and percentage of victims of police-reported violent crime and traffic violations causing death or bodily harm, by type of violation and sex, Saskatchewan, 2023

Table 9.3: Number and percentage of female victims of police-reported violent crime and traffic violations causing death or bodily harm, by type of violation and age group, Saskatchewan, 2023

Table 9.4: Number and percentage of male victims of police-reported violent crime and traffic violations causing death or bodily harm, by type of violation and age group, Saskatchewan, 2023

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