Detailed data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics Federal justice database are provided on the processing of cases by the Federal criminal justice system for the years 1982 and 1986-1991; some tables also contain data for 1992.
The database is constructed from source files provided by the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, and other Federal agencies. The data describe initial prosecution decisions, referrals to magistrates, court dispositions, sentencing outcomes, sentence lengths imposed, and length of time served in prison. Both the number of defendants and the percentage rates are presented for each stage of the criminal justice process. Data are also tabulated for number of suspects, number prosecuted in U.S. district courts, released prisoners with U.S. district court sentences, and average time served until first release. In addition, data provided on violent, property, drug, and public order offenses show that the total number of suspects in criminal matters concluded rose from 77,794 in 1982 to 113,940 in 1991. A glossary of terms is included. 18 tables