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The Bureau of Justice StatisticsThe Bureau of Justice Statistics

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Mission and OrganizationMission and Organization

Statistical arm of the Department of JusticeStatistical arm of the Department of Justice Staffed by about 40 statisticians (grades 9-15) and Staffed by about 40 statisticians (grades 9-15) and

20 other support staff 20 other support staff Report data on the life-cycle of a crime from when Report data on the life-cycle of a crime from when

it occurs through post-correctional outcomesit occurs through post-correctional outcomes Five major units:Five major units:

Victimization Victimization Law Enforcement Law Enforcement Prosecution and AdjudicationProsecution and Adjudication CorrectionsCorrections Special Projects and RecidivismSpecial Projects and Recidivism

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The National Crime Victimization The National Crime Victimization SurveySurvey

Flagship ProgramFlagship Program Measures national yearly rate of reported Measures national yearly rate of reported

and unreported crime victimization and and unreported crime victimization and property thief, and moreover property thief, and moreover characteristics and consequences of these characteristics and consequences of these crimes.crimes.

Rotating panel survey - Rotating panel survey - Households interviewed twice a year for about Households interviewed twice a year for about

three years.three years. Completes about 40,000 households interviews / Completes about 40,000 households interviews /

60,000 person interviews every six months60,000 person interviews every six months

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Challenges and ResearchChallenges and Research Ongoing challenges:Ongoing challenges:

Very low incidence rate of crimes (21.1 violent Very low incidence rate of crimes (21.1 violent crimes committed per 1,000 persons) => massive crimes committed per 1,000 persons) => massive screening required to obtain data on crimes.screening required to obtain data on crimes.

Currently only provides yearly national estimatesCurrently only provides yearly national estimates Given sensitivity, precise change estimates Given sensitivity, precise change estimates

required required New directionsNew directions

Desire for survey to produce sub-national estimatesDesire for survey to produce sub-national estimates Reduce survey costs to enable expansionReduce survey costs to enable expansion

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Example Data Analysis ActivitiesExample Data Analysis Activities

Goal: Measure impact of various factors on the Goal: Measure impact of various factors on the occurrence of motions for post-trial relief in occurrence of motions for post-trial relief in civil tort and contract trialscivil tort and contract trials

Challenges:Challenges: Factor effects varied by case-typeFactor effects varied by case-type Factors heavy correlated with each otherFactors heavy correlated with each other County “climate” suspected to highly influence ratesCounty “climate” suspected to highly influence rates

Questions:Questions: How to transform factors to eliminate How to transform factors to eliminate

multicollinearitymulticollinearity How to disentangle county effects from respective How to disentangle county effects from respective

case profiles case profiles

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Simple Data Analysis, Significant Simple Data Analysis, Significant ImpactsImpacts

Violent crime by juvenile offenders peaks in the afternoon; Violent crime by juvenile offenders peaks in the afternoon; violent crime by adults peaks in the late eveningviolent crime by adults peaks in the late evening

Juvenile Offenders and Victims: 2006 National Report

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Simple Data Analysis, Significant Simple Data Analysis, Significant ImpactsImpacts

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Some Big Ideas for BJSSome Big Ideas for BJS

Better linkage of data criminal justice data to Better linkage of data criminal justice data to understand flow through system and reasons behind understand flow through system and reasons behind progressionprogression

Establish a set of special recidivism studies Establish a set of special recidivism studies capturing the behaviors of various populationscapturing the behaviors of various populations

Examine the prosecution of juveniles in adult Examine the prosecution of juveniles in adult criminal courts to asses the variability across states criminal courts to asses the variability across states in waiver statues and practices in waiver statues and practices

Examine feasibility and utility of conducting officer Examine feasibility and utility of conducting officer surveys to examine:surveys to examine: Recruitment, retention, barriers to cross-agency transfer Recruitment, retention, barriers to cross-agency transfer

and promotion, and other career opportunity issuesand promotion, and other career opportunity issues Interactions with citizen groups, victims, and advocacy Interactions with citizen groups, victims, and advocacy

groupsgroups Expand the collection and reporting of data on Expand the collection and reporting of data on

inmate health conditions. inmate health conditions.

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Is Federal Career Is it Is Federal Career Is it Right for You?Right for You?

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StrengthsStrengths

Greater opportunity to explore issues in more Greater opportunity to explore issues in more depth, and to conduct primary researchdepth, and to conduct primary research

Greater opportunity and value placed on Greater opportunity and value placed on attending and presenting at professional attending and presenting at professional conferences and working on peer-reviewed conferences and working on peer-reviewed journals.journals.

Surrounded by peer professionalsSurrounded by peer professionals Part of the mission rather than being viewed Part of the mission rather than being viewed

among the “support staff.”among the “support staff.” Projects affect real differences in people’s livesProjects affect real differences in people’s lives

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ConsiderationsConsiderations

Government, non-profit and social science Government, non-profit and social science work still falls short of other industries in work still falls short of other industries in pay rates (but gaps have narrowed)pay rates (but gaps have narrowed)

Slow to change, less ability to try new Slow to change, less ability to try new thingsthings

Swinging budgets – need patienceSwinging budgets – need patience May need to move around to work on new May need to move around to work on new

things, and for advancement.things, and for advancement.

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RecommendationsRecommendations

Coursework is directly applicable to real-world Coursework is directly applicable to real-world problemsproblems

Don’t discount the theoryDon’t discount the theory Look for opportunities to work on difficult data Look for opportunities to work on difficult data

issuesissues Invest in a survey methods classInvest 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, Look to enhance interpersonal, management,

leadership skills leadership skills Take as many writing/presentation classes as Take as many writing/presentation classes as

possiblepossible