NCJ Number
66233
Date Published
1979
Length
57 pages
Annotation
THE AGGREGATE EXPERIENCES OF ADULTS ARRESTED IN CALIFORNIA FOR FELONY OFFENSES, FROM POLICE ENCOUNTER THROUGH FINAL DISPOSITION, AS REPORTED DURING 1978, ARE PRESENTED PRIMARILY IN STATISTICAL TABULAR FORM.
Abstract
IN 1978 ALL 58 CALIFORNIA COUNTIES REPORTED OFFENDER BASED TRANSACTION STATISTICS (OBTS) SYSTEM DATA FOR THE FIRST TIME. THE DATA IS USEFUL TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE COMMUNITY BECAUSE IT PROVIDES AN OVERVIEW OF THE CALIFORNIA SYSTEM AND ESTABLISHES BASELINE DATA FOR FURTHER STUDIES. THIS REPORT IS BASED ON INFORMATION REPORTED TO THE BUREAU OF CRIMINAL STATISTICS BY STATE AND LOCAL CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES ON THE DISPOSITION OF ARREST AND COURT ACTION FORM USED THROUGHOUT THE STATE. DURING 1978, 150,004 DISPOSITIONS OF ADULT FELONY ARRESTS WERE REPORTED. OF THAT NUMBER 56.6 PERCENT WERE CONVICTED IN EITHER LOWER OR SUPERIOR COURT AND 6.1 PERCENT WERE SENTENCED TO STATE INSTITUTIONS. THE REMAINING 43.4 PERCENT OF THE ADULT FELONY ARRESTEES WERE NOT CONVICTED; 9.7 PERCENT WERE RELEASED AT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT LEVEL, 14 PERCENT WERE RELEASED AT THE PROSECUTOR LEVEL, AND 19.7 PERCENT WERE DISMISSED OR ACQUITTED BY THE COURTS. ADULTS ARRESTED FOR DRUG LAW VIOLATIONS WERE MORE LIKELY TO RECEIVE A PROBATION SENTENCE THAN WERE THOSE ARRESTED FOR CRIMES AGAINST PERSONS. ADULTS ARRESTED FOR CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY WERE MORE LIKELY TO RECEIVE A JAIL SENTENCE THAN WERE THOSE ARRESTED FOR CRIMES AGAINST PERSONS OR FOR DRUG LAW VIOLATIONS. THE PROPORTION OF ADULTS ARRESTED FOR CRIMES AGAINST PERSONS AND SENTENCED TO STATE INSTITUTIONS WAS ALMOST TWICE AS HIGH AT THAT OF THOSE ARRESTED FOR CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY AND OVER THREE TIMES AS HIGH AS THAT OF ADULTS ARRESTED FOR DRUG LAW VIOLATIONS. OF THOSE OFFENDERS WHO WERE NOT CONVICTED, A SMALLER PROPORTION OF FEMALES WERE RELEASED AT THE LAW ENFORCEMENT LEVEL THAN MALES. GRAPHS, CHARTS, AND TABLES PROVIDE THE BULK OF THE REPORT. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--LWM).