Click on the headings below for details on BJS’s activities in April 2024.
New report describes new method of estimating prevalence for the NCVS
BJS released A New Measure of Prevalence for the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS). Prevalence is a measure of crime that reflects the number or percentage of unique persons who were victims of crime, or of unique households that were victimized, at least once during a given period. This report describes a new method of estimating prevalence to be implemented starting with the forthcoming Criminal Victimization, 2023 report. It discusses the limitations of the old prevalence estimation method, describes the new method, and compares estimates produced using the two different methods.
New report presents data on fatal and nonfatal crimes involving juveniles
BJS released Crimes Involving Juveniles, 1993–2022. This report presents the rates of nonfatal violent victimization by age, the number of deaths of juveniles due to homicide, the percentage of nonfatal violent incidents in which the offender was perceived to be a juvenile, and the percentage of persons arrested who were juveniles. The data in the report come from BJS’s National Crime Victimization Survey, the FBI’s Supplementary Homicide Reports, and the FBI’s National Incident-Based Reporting System.
BJS explores new strategies for meeting its mission, modernizing operations, and empowering staff
BJS released its Strategic Plan for fiscal years 2024–2029. The goals and initiatives identified in this plan will enhance the collection, production, and dissemination of critical, timely, and high-impact statistical information necessary for development and implementation of criminal justice policies and programs. It also highlights leadership’s commitment to continuous improvement, employee engagement, and effective communication.
BJS released report on methods of estimating prevalence for the NCVS
National Crime Victimization Survey: Prevalence Estimation Methods is a third-party report produced by RTI International and funded by BJS. It evaluates the current method for estimating prevalence rates using the NCVS. Because the NCVS was designed to produce victimization rates and uses a rotating panel, its data structure contributes to challenges with estimating prevalence rates. RTI compared several alternative methods to determine whether any would overcome the limitations of the current method. Additionally, RTI developed detailed examples to illustrate how each method could be operationalized and what the resulting estimates would look like.
BJS adds data files to the Federal Justice Statistics Program collection
BJS released eight new data files with documentation to the Federal Justice Statistics Program (FJSP) collection at the National Archive of Criminal Justice Data (NACJD). These include data for Criminal Appeals Filed in Courts of Appeals (FY 2009–FY 2013) and Criminal Appeals Terminated in Courts of Appeals (FY 2011–FY 2013). This release includes data from prior years that are being released to fill gaps in the existing FJSP Data Series at NACJD. With the addition of these files, the FJSP has a complete Administrative Office of the United States Courts appeals series for the years FY 1994 to FY 2022.
Local-Area Crime Survey, 2015 and 2016
BJS released data files from the field test of the Local-Area Crime Survey (LACS). The LACS was adapted from the National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) as part of BJS’s efforts to build a program to estimate victimization at subnational levels. The survey was administered in 2015 and 2016 to residents in the 40 largest metropolitan areas in the United States. It collected data on residents’ experience with victimization and on their perceptions of police and community safety.
Access the Datasets Learn more about the Subnational Estimates Program
FY 2024 Census of Jails, 2025 and 2026 solicitation
BJS is accepting applications for funding to administer the FY 2024 Census of Jails (COJ), 2025 and 2026 data collections to approximately 2,900 jails. The selected applicant will be responsible for developing a web version of the survey instruments; updating jail status and contact information; and collecting, processing, and delivering the annual COJ data. Additional funding may be provided for 2027, 2028, and 2029, contingent on funding availability and project performance.
Applications will be submitted in a two-step process, each step with its own deadline:
- Step 1: Submit an SF-424 and an SF-LLL in Grants.gov. Grants.gov forms are due on June 13, 2024, by 5:00 p.m. ET.
- Step 2: Submit the full application including attachments in JustGrants.usdoj.gov. The full JustGrants application is due on June 20, 2024, by 5:00 p.m. ET.
Juvenile crime and victimization trends in the United States
BJS released two infographics: Juvenile Crime and Juvenile Victimization Trends in the United States along with the Crimes Involving Juveniles, 1993–2022 report.
BJS and federal partners talk about 2024 tribal justice data collections
BJS hosted the fourth webinar to discuss the development and implementation of the 2024 Census of Tribal Law Enforcement Agencies (CTLEA) and the 2024 Census of Tribal Court Systems (CTCS). After hearing from tribal leaders, tribal law enforcement, and tribal court system stakeholders in previous webinars, BJS wanted to hear from federal colleagues who may work with tribal justice systems or justice issues.
The goal of this listening session was to create a space for federal partners to highlight—
- gaps in data collections that focus on tribal crime and justice
- data needs that will inform federal programs and operations that support tribes
- areas for improvement in tribal justice data analysis, reporting, and dissemination.
Revision of OMB’s Statistical Policy Directive No. 15: Race and Ethnicity Data Standards
The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) has published a set of updates to Statistical Policy Directive 15: Standards for Maintaining, Collecting, and Presenting Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity. These updates will improve the quality and usefulness of the race and ethnicity data that agencies across the federal government collect, publish, and use to evaluate equitable program delivery and outcomes, monitor and enforce civil rights laws, and describe the demographic makeup of the United States and report trends.
BJS experts present on BJS dynamic data dashboards
To help make criminal justice data more accessible to the public, BJS has developed several modern interactive data visualization tools. On March 13, 2024, BJS hosted a webinar to describe and present a few of these tools including:
- Justice Expenditure and Employment Tool (JEET)
- National Crime Victimization Survey Data Dashboard (N-DASH)
- Corrections Statistical Analysis Tool (CSAT)–Prisoners
- Survey of Prison Inmates Data Analysis Tool (SPI DAT)
- Federal Criminal Case Processing Statistics (FCCPS) Data Tool.
This webinar was the first in a series of quarterly webinars BJS plans to host in 2024.
Upcoming BJS webinar on NCVS and NIBRS crime data
On May 16, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. ET, BJS statisticians will host the Nation’s Two Crime Measures webinar. This webinar will provide an overview of BJS’s National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) and the FBI’s National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS). Participants will learn about the similarities and differences between the NCVS and NIBRS, the data each collects, and how these data are collected. This presentation will also demonstrate how data from these collections can be used to address questions about crime.
This webinar is the second in a series of quarterly webinars BJS plans to host in 2024. Subscribe to JUSTSTATS to receive announcements for future webinars and other BJS events and activities.
Celebrating 15 Years of the Second Chance Act
The U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Justice Programs celebrates Second Chance Month to recognize the importance of helping individuals, communities, and agencies across the country appreciate their role in supporting the safe and successful reentry of millions of people returning from incarceration each year. Second Chance Month aims to inform and highlight the many opportunities for state, local, and Tribal governments and community-based service providers to build meaningful second chances for our returning community members.
- American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors Symposium
- 2024 National Corrections Reporting and Prisoner Statistics Program Meeting
- 2024 DOJ Historically Black Colleges and Universities Forum
- Federal Computer Assisted Survey Information Collection Workshops
- Spring 2024 Meeting of the Uniform Crime Reporting Program Subcommittee
- 2nd Annual National Prosecutorial Data Summit
- Academic Consortium on Criminal Justice Health