Bureau of Justice Statistics
The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) is a vital component of the U.S. Department of Justice that focuses on gathering and analyzing data related to crime and the justice system. Established to provide timely and accurate information, BJS compiles data from various justice agencies at municipal, county, state, and federal levels, as well as from its own surveys. This information is essential for informed decision-making by government entities and is publicly accessible through the BJS website, which offers a range of publications and data files on topics such as criminal victimization, law enforcement practices, and the workings of jails and prisons.
BJS plays a crucial role in maintaining national standards for data collection and statistical methods, ensuring that the information remains free from political influence. It is also known for administering the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), which captures data on crimes that may not be reflected in official police reports. Furthermore, the BJS provides funding to states to enhance their crime data collection and maintain accurate criminal history records, thereby contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of crime and justice in the United States.
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Bureau of Justice Statistics
Definition: Branch of the U.S. Department of Justice that collects and disseminates statistical information about crime, criminals, victims, and the operations of the American justice system
Significance: Timely and accurate information about crime is needed for decision-making at all levels of government.
The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) assembles and analyzes data that were originally collected by municipal, county, state, and federal justice agencies. These data, along with information from BJS surveys, are used to prepare publications and data files on topics such as criminal victimization, law enforcement, prosecution and adjudication of crimes, jails and prisons, and capital punishment. BJS publications and data files are freely available on the World Wide Web at www.bjs.gov. The website also helps those who are unfamiliar with the justice system to find key facts in charts and tables or get answers to questions from the BJS staff.
As a member of the Interagency Council on Statistical Policy, which includes the major federal statistics agencies such as the Census Bureau, BJS establishes national standards for data collection, terminology, statistical methods, data quality, and keeping statistics independent from political influence.
National collection of statistical data about crime and justice was originally recommended by the President’s Crime Commission in 1965 and was initially housed in the Census Bureau. The Census Bureau continues to administer BJS principal data collection activity, the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS). Crime statistics from the NCVS include some crimes not counted in the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reports, which are prepared from police records. BJS also administers funds for states to improve their crime statistics keeping and criminal history records.
Bibliography
“About the Bureau of Justice Statistics.” Bureau of Justice Statistics. Office of Justice Programs, US Dept. of Justice, n.d. Web. 24 May. 2016.
Committee on National Statistics. Principles and Practices for a Federal Statistical Agency. Washington, D.C.: National Academy Press, 2001.
Federal Bureau of Investigation. “The Nation’s Two Crime Measures.” Crime in the United States, 2002. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Justice, 2003.
Meuchel Wilson, Meagan. “Hate Crime Victimization, 2004-2012 - Statistical Tables.” Journal of Current Issues in Crime, Law & Law Enforcement 8.1 (2015): 217–235. Criminal Justice Abstracts with Full Text. Web. 24 May 2016.
“U.S. Prison Population Reverses Three-Year Decline, Up Slightly in Latest Census.” Corrections Managers’ Report 21.1 (2015): 9–11. Criminal Justice Abstracts with Full Text. Web. 24 May 2016.