Ensuring the quality, credibility, and relevance of U.S. justice statistics / Panel to Review the Programs of the Bureau of Justice Statistics ; Robert M. Groves and Daniel L. Cork, editors ; Committee on National Statistics, Committee on Law and Justice, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences and Education, National Research Council of the National Academies.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

National Research Council (U.S.). Panel to Review the Programs of the Bureau of Justice Statistics.

Contributor:

Groves, Robert M.

Cork, Daniel L.

National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on National Statistics.

National Research Council (U.S.). Committee on Law and Justice.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

United States. Bureau of Justice Statistics.

United States.

United States--Statistics--Quality control.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (377 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Washington, DC : National Academies Press, c2009.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) of the U.S. Department of Justice is one of the smallest of the U.S. principal statistical agencies but shoulders one of the most expansive and detailed legal mandates among those agencies. Ensuring the Quality, Credibility, and Relevance of U.S. Justice Statistics examines the full range of BJS programs and suggests priorities for data collection. BJS's data collection portfolio is a solid body of work, well justified by public information needs or legal requirements and a commendable effort to meet its broad mandate given less-than-commensurate fiscal resources. The book identifies some major gaps in the substantive coverage of BJS data, but notes that filling those gaps would require increased and sustained support in terms of staff and fiscal resources. In suggesting strategic goals for BJS, the book argues that the bureau's foremost goal should be to establish and maintain a strong position of independence. To avoid structural or political interference in BJS work, the report suggests changing the administrative placement of BJS within the Justice Department and making the BJS directorship a fixed-term appointment. In its thirtieth year, BJS can look back on a solid body of accomplishment; this book suggests further directions for improvement to give the nation the justice statistics-and the BJS-that it deserves.

Contents:

Intro

Acknowledgments

Contents

List of Figures

List of Tables

List of Boxes

Acronyms and Abbreviations

Abstract

Summary

1 ntroduction

2 Measurement in the Justice System

3 Overview of Bureau of Justice Statistics Data Series

4 State and Local Partnerships

5 Principles and Practices: BJS as a Principal U.S. Federal Statistical Agency

6 Strategic Goals for the Bureau of Justice Statistics

References

Appendixes

Appendix A: Findings and Recommendations

Appendix B: Summary of Surveying Victims: Options for Conducting the National Crime Victimization Survey

Appendix C: Biographical Sketches of Panel Members and Staff

COMMITTEE ON NATIONAL STATISTICS.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

9780309144568

0309144566

9780309139113

0309139112

OCLC:

483821781