They said they were good fiscal managers...

Some inconvenient financial facts relating to the cost of criminal justice in Canada, have been released by the Parliamentary Budget Officer.

report: http://www.pbo-dpb.gc.ca/files/files/Crime_Cost_EN.pdf
.pdf presentation: http://www.pbo-dpb.gc.ca/files/files...20EN%20PDF.pdf

The facts:
Since 2002, the amount of money spent per capita on criminal justice in Canada has climbed 23 per cent, while the overall crime rate has fallen by as much.

The spending on criminal justice now rivals national defence.

Provinces and municipalities bare the brunt, at nearly 73%.

In terms of nominal GDP, the spend on criminal justice had been declining from 2002 to 2006, and has jumped sharply since then.

Policing costs rose by $2.3 billion in the provinces, and by $600 million in Ottawa; court costs rose by $800 million in the provinces, and finally corrections rose in Ottawa by $700 million.

Why are criminals getting justice?

"Since 2002, the amount of money spent per capita on criminal justice in Canada has climbed 23 per cent, while the overall crime rate has fallen by as much." Means the population is growing or cops, courts, n cans are costing lots more. Or both.

23% in 11 years (or call it 10 years)? That's 2.3% per year. About the pace of inflation and budget growth.

Sounds like the cost is steady in real dollars (or loonies. Is there such a concept as "real loonies"?).

The problem is the crime rate is going down and the money being spent is not required.
As for criminals getting justice, there are two choices justice or revenge and justice still
has a better face than revenge.

Besides if they stopped the silly stuff like a war on pot we really would see a drop
in crime

Criminals shouldn't be getting justice.

Sigh. OK, I'll ask. What should they be getting?

And, just for grins, if they don't get justice, how do you know they're criminals?

Punishment.

Punishment for the guilty isn't part of justice? (The other parts being exoneration of the innocent and proof that the accused actually are guilty.)

From the OP...In terms of nominal GDP, the spend on criminal justice had been declining from 2002 to 2006, and has jumped sharply since then.

Not inflationary. If you look at the actual report you can see the figures for yourselves. Doesn't match the chart for inflation for the same period.

Interesting. I note that the decline in crime was pretty much the same when spending on criminal justice was rising as it was when CJ spending was declining.

Not much correlation between CJ spending and crime.

Somebody's getting PAID!

Getting convicted and sentenced is getting justice for them.

If 26% inflation in 10 year is ok then we have a much bigger problem then the cost of our criminal system on our hands.

1$ will soon be the new 1cent. Screw fazeing out the penny. Wee can get ride of everything under the dollar.

There are legions of social workers that universities pumped out during many years of mismanagement by government and they all need jobs. Far too many wind up in invented programs dealing with "criminals" with little or no benefit to taxpayers. Or criminals. We should be spending more money on trades training and less on social work.