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1 The Bureau of Justice Statistics. 2 Mission and Organization Statistical arm of the Department of Justice Statistical arm of the Department of Justice.

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Presentation on theme: "1 The Bureau of Justice Statistics. 2 Mission and Organization Statistical arm of the Department of Justice Statistical arm of the Department of Justice."— Presentation transcript:

1 1 The Bureau of Justice Statistics

2 2 Mission and Organization Statistical arm of the Department of Justice Statistical arm of the Department of Justice Staffed by about 40 statisticians (grades 9-15) and 20 other support staff Staffed by about 40 statisticians (grades 9-15) and 20 other support staff Report data on the life-cycle of a crime from when it occurs through post-correctional outcomes Report data on the life-cycle of a crime from when it occurs through post-correctional outcomes Five major units: Five major units: Victimization Victimization Law Enforcement Law Enforcement Prosecution and Adjudication Prosecution and Adjudication Corrections Corrections Special Projects and Recidivism Special Projects and Recidivism

3 3

4 4 The National Crime Victimization Survey Flagship Program Flagship Program Measures national yearly rate of reported and unreported crime victimization and property thief, and moreover characteristics and consequences of these crimes. Measures national yearly rate of reported and unreported crime victimization and property thief, and moreover characteristics and consequences of these crimes. Rotating panel survey - Rotating panel survey - Households interviewed twice a year for about three years. Households interviewed twice a year for about three years. Completes about 40,000 households interviews / 60,000 person interviews every six months Completes about 40,000 households interviews / 60,000 person interviews every six months

5 5 Challenges and Research Ongoing challenges: Ongoing challenges: Very low incidence rate of crimes (21.1 violent crimes committed per 1,000 persons) => massive screening required to obtain data on crimes. Very low incidence rate of crimes (21.1 violent crimes committed per 1,000 persons) => massive screening required to obtain data on crimes. Currently only provides yearly national estimates Currently only provides yearly national estimates Given sensitivity, precise change estimates required Given sensitivity, precise change estimates required New directions New directions Desire for survey to produce sub-national estimates Desire for survey to produce sub-national estimates Reduce survey costs to enable expansion Reduce survey costs to enable expansion

6 6 Example Data Analysis Activities Goal: Measure impact of various factors on the occurrence of motions for post-trial relief in civil tort and contract trials Goal: Measure impact of various factors on the occurrence of motions for post-trial relief in civil tort and contract trials Challenges: Challenges: Factor effects varied by case-type Factor effects varied by case-type Factors heavy correlated with each other Factors heavy correlated with each other County climate suspected to highly influence rates County climate suspected to highly influence rates Questions: Questions: How to transform factors to eliminate multicollinearity How to transform factors to eliminate multicollinearity How to disentangle county effects from respective case profiles How to disentangle county effects from respective case profiles

7 7 Simple Data Analysis, Significant Impacts Violent crime by juvenile offenders peaks in the afternoon; violent crime by adults peaks in the late evening Juvenile Offenders and Victims: 2006 National Report

8 8 Simple Data Analysis, Significant Impacts

9 9 Some Big Ideas for BJS Better linkage of data criminal justice data to understand flow through system and reasons behind progression Better linkage of data criminal justice data to understand flow through system and reasons behind progression Establish a set of special recidivism studies capturing the behaviors of various populations Establish a set of special recidivism studies capturing the behaviors of various populations Examine the prosecution of juveniles in adult criminal courts to asses the variability across states in waiver statues and practices Examine the prosecution of juveniles in adult criminal courts to asses the variability across states in waiver statues and practices Examine feasibility and utility of conducting officer surveys to examine: Examine feasibility and utility of conducting officer surveys to examine: Recruitment, retention, barriers to cross-agency transfer and promotion, and other career opportunity issues Recruitment, retention, barriers to cross-agency transfer and promotion, and other career opportunity issues Interactions with citizen groups, victims, and advocacy groups Interactions with citizen groups, victims, and advocacy groups Expand the collection and reporting of data on inmate health conditions. Expand the collection and reporting of data on inmate health conditions.

10 10 Is Federal Career Is it Right for You?

11 11 Strengths Greater opportunity to explore issues in more depth, and to conduct primary research Greater opportunity to explore issues in more depth, and to conduct primary research Greater opportunity and value placed on attending and presenting at professional conferences and working on peer-reviewed journals. Greater opportunity and value placed on attending and presenting at professional conferences and working on peer-reviewed journals. Surrounded by peer professionals Surrounded by peer professionals Part of the mission rather than being viewed among the support staff. Part of the mission rather than being viewed among the support staff. Projects affect real differences in peoples lives Projects affect real differences in peoples lives

12 12 Considerations Government, non-profit and social science work still falls short of other industries in pay rates (but gaps have narrowed) Government, non-profit and social science work still falls short of other industries in pay rates (but gaps have narrowed) Slow to change, less ability to try new things Slow to change, less ability to try new things Swinging budgets – need patience Swinging budgets – need patience May need to move around to work on new things, and for advancement. May need to move around to work on new things, and for advancement.

13 13 Recommendations Coursework is directly applicable to real-world problems Coursework is directly applicable to real-world problems Dont discount the theory Dont discount the theory Look for opportunities to work on difficult data issues Look for opportunities to work on difficult data issues Invest in a survey methods class Invest in a survey methods class Be prepared to start with the grunt work Be prepared to start with the grunt work Look to enhance interpersonal, management, leadership skills Look to enhance interpersonal, management, leadership skills Take as many writing/presentation classes as possible Take as many writing/presentation classes as possible


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