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Ensuring the Quality, Credibility, and Relevance of U.S. Justice Statistics
Contributor(s): National Research Council (Author), Division of Behavioral and Social Scienc (Author), Committee on Law and Justice (Author)
ISBN: 0309139104     ISBN-13: 9780309139106
Publisher: National Academies Press
OUR PRICE:   $76.00  
Product Type: Paperback - Other Formats
Published: December 2009
Qty:
Temporarily out of stock - Will ship within 2 to 5 weeks
Additional Information
BISAC Categories:
- Law
Dewey: 364.973
Physical Information: 1" H x 6" W x 9" (1.50 lbs) 352 pages
 
Descriptions, Reviews, Etc.
Publisher Description:

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.