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Edmonton has more former federal prisoners per capita than any other big city in Canada.

The large population of former inmates, including parolees, has been blamed over the years for contributing to the city’s crime rate and tying up police resources. Edmonton’s been called a “dumping ground” for violent criminals from other parts of the country.

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Criminologists who study prisons and parole say the link between crime and former prisoners is more complicated. But there’s no arguing that Edmonton has a high number of former inmates.

Across Canada, 8,712 offenders were under supervision in communities in the most recent fiscal year of 2016-17, according to internal statistics Postmedia obtained from Correctional Service Canada through an access to information request.

Edmonton had 623 of those, including full parolees, people on day parole, offenders under long-term supervision and people on statutory release.