NCJ Number
175191
Journal
Journal of Criminal Justice Volume: 26 Issue: 6 Dated: December 1998 Pages: 503-511
Date Published
1998
Length
9 pages
Annotation
Felony and misdemeanor filings in Federal courts from 1990 to 1995 were analyzed separately to determine the factors that influence the caseload size of each offense level.
Abstract
The annual number of criminal defendants increased by less than 1,000 during the study period, from 63,093 in 1990 to 63,986 in 1995. Results revealed that the number of Federal felony filings is strongly linked to staffing levels within the 94 United States attorneys' offices, while the types of filings are a reflection of prosecution priorities. As a result, the magnitude of the felony caseload in the Federal courts does not mirror either local or national crime rates. In contrast, misdemeanor filings are dependent on enforcement practices of local authorities at military bases, national parks, or both, and are concentrated within a few Federal courts. The number of misdemeanor filings and traffic violations in particular were susceptible to dramatic changes when these local authorities modified their enforcement procedures. Findings indicated that the overall number of defendant filings in United States district courts can be misleading, and that felony and misdemeanor defendants differ from each other. Figures, table, notes, and 24 references (Author abstract modified)