NCJ Number
77803
Date Published
1980
Length
35 pages
Annotation
This paper describes how a set of criminal justice statistics for Australia were compiled, using Uniform Crime data for each Australian State and territory for fiscal year 1964 to fiscal year 1976. The statistics should provide a sounder basis for analysis than officially published estimates.
Abstract
The paper is devoted to describing the criminal justice data used in this project. Each variable is fully defined, its units of measurement are made clear, sources are cited, and adjustments explained. The description of sources and methods will permit any user to evaluate the usefulness of these estimates for their own purposes. However, care should be exercised in relying upon the exact value of any particular figures in this set of estimates. Police force strength, police department civilian strength, probationary constable applicants, cadet applicants, probationary constable enlistments, cadet enlistments, total wastage from police force (through death, invalidity, dismissals, resignations and retirements) are reported. Wages for new constables and experienced first constables are presented. Police expenditures on services and on new fixed assets are included in the section on police statistics. Crime statistics for homicide, robbery, rape, motor vehicle theft, fraud, forgery and false pretenses are presented. Court and prison statistics reflect the number of committals, convictions by higher courts, and convicted prisoners serving sentences in Australian prisons.