Bosnia Statistical Training

Prosecution / Courts Session 9, November 24 2010

Overview of the Criminal Justice System and Statistics – Publication of results, Analysis,

interpretation and use

With funding from the European Union

DEVELOPMENT OF MONITORING INSTRUMENTS FOR JUDICIAL AND LAW ENFORCEMENT INSTITUTIONS IN THE WESTERN BALKANS 2009-2011 Phase three – Training

Publications, Analysis and Interpretation

1. Some general notions2. A description of the Dutch

situation3. A description of the English

situation4. Discussion on the situation in

Bosnia & Herzegovina

Importance of publicising statistics

The key principles of publishing statistics are that:

• Consider the data user and what they need to do their job better

• Published statistics must be trusted by their readers

• They also need to be understood clearly

• These principles are not technology or output dependent

• Therefore the statistician must be prepared to repeat messages and to explain from first principles what the figures mean

Avoiding political interference

• Justice Statistics should be free from political interference, this means:o Statistics should be released to everybody at the same time to avoid

political misuse of the figures or their suppressiono There is a need for a list of contact points where people can ask

further questions about the statisticso A policy is needed for more detailed release on request: eg to

academics for research including making data anonymous.

• If this is not the case, it is important to work towards this and build agreements that work towards statistical independence.

Publications, Analysis and interpretation

A description of the Dutch situation• Key is the yearly publication with statistics on every part

of the Criminal Justice System• The publication is both by Statistics Netherlands and the

Ministry of Justice Research Department (WODC)• The publication consists of data and ample explanations,

but NO interpretations• The publication is NOT subject to permission of the

Minister of Justice or any other political influence• The publication is available as pdf on Internet (but not

in English)

Publications, analysis and interpretation

A description of the Dutch situation (2)• Tables with statistical data (more than in the book

publication) are available on both Statistics Netherlands and the WODC website

• There is an ‘Information Desk’ where specific questions (by policy makers, media and general public) are answered

• Raw data for research are available on request (provided certain conditions regarding privacy are met). This is extensively used by research institutes, both commercial and university institutes and the WODC itself.

A description of the English System

• Statistics are collected by the various agencies: Police: Prosecution: Courts: Probation, Prisons

• Different ministries supervise the different agencies and have different priorities for uses and publication of statistics:– Home Office (Police, Immigration)– Ministry of Justice (Courts, Probation, Prisons)– Attorney General (Prosecution)

• The National Statistics Office plays no real part in Crime & Justice statistics.

Types of publication - I

• Summary annual document: Criminal Statistics– http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/criminalannual.htm

– Gives information from each agency and victims surveys

• Topic bulletins:– Crime Statistics (quarterly and annual)– Courts Statistics (quarterly and annual)

http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/courtstatisticsquarterly.htm– http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/courtstatisticsquarterly.htm

– Sentencing Statistics (quarterly and annual)– http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/sentencingannual.htm– http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/sentencingquarterly.htm

– Probation Statistics

– Prison Statistics

Annual reports

• National and 43 individual areas)– Police areas – Prosecution case outcomes

http://www.cps.gov.uk/publications/performance/case_outcomes/

– Conditional cautioning outcomes

– http://www.cps.gov.uk/publications/performance/conditional_cautioning/conditional_cautioning_data_Q1_10_11.pdf

– Summary CPS case work statistics (annual rfeport)

– http://www.cps.gov.uk/publications/reports/2009/ar_annex_c.html

Special analyses for policy work• Police powers and arrests• http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/arrestsfornotibleoffences.htm

• Prosecutions for Hate Crime (Race, Religion, etc)• http://www.cps.gov.uk/publications/docs/CPS_hate_crime_report_2008.pdf

• Prosecutions for violence against women• http://www.cps.gov.uk/publications/docs/CPS_VAW_report_2009.pdf

• Racists incidents monitoring• http://www.cps.gov.uk/publications/docs/rims06-07.pdf

• Public confidence in the courts• http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/hmcsusersurvey.htm

• Delays at court• http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/timeintervals.htm

Special analyses for policy work

• Prison population forecasts• http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/prisonpopulation.htm

• Reconviction Studies• http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/compendium-reoffending.htm

• Multi-agency work for serious offenders• http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/mappa-annual-reports.htm

• Youth Justice Statistics• http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/youth-justice-statistics.htm

• Safety in Custody• http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/safer-custody.htm

Research into justice system

• Efficiency of a prison CBT programme to reduce offending

• http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/docs/eval-enhanced-thinking-skills-prog.pdf

• Fine payment work study

• http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/docs/fine-payment-work-process-study-8-10.pdf

• Focus on Resettlement a randomised control trial

• http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/focus-on-resettlement.htm

• Dedicated Drug Courts: Impact evaluation

• http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/ddc-feasibility-impact-evaluation.htm

• Study of Court Sentencing and its outcomes

• http://www.justice.gov.uk/publications/docs/study-sentencing-outcomes-pilot.pdf

Publications, analysis and interpretation

Specific remarks and recommendations• A general statistical (book)publication is generally the

best way to disseminate basic information on crime and criminal justice

– We know from customer surveys that paper publication is still the desired form

• There is / should be a clear distinction between ‘giving the figures’ and ‘interpretation of the results’. A general statistical publication should not do any interpreation

• Avoid different agencies reporting on the same subjects. There will always be differences, thus having a negative effect on the credibility

Publications, analysis and interpretation

Specific remarks and recommendations (2)• A general publication should be restricted to simple, well

understood indicators. For Prosecution and Courts this could be:

– Prosecution input– Prosecution decisions– Court input– Court decisions– Sanctions imposed– Number of Prosecutors, judges, other personnel

Preferably by crime type, sex / age group of offender and if this makes sense also by geographic area

Publications, analysis and interpretation

Specific remarks and recommendations (3)

• In presenting data over time, changes in the time series could be attributed to system changes. This should be clearly commented upon.

• Publication should be in the language used by most users of statistics.

• There should be a good commentary on the statistics• A shorter publication in English could be very useful for

other countries to be able to read, but:– Translation is not easy: More explanation is needed

Publications, analysis and interpretation

Specific remarks and recommendations (4)

• Dissemination can take the following forms:1. Regular publications on paper2. Regular publications on Internet3. Answering specific requests4. Providing raw, individual data5. Providing specific analyses of specific policy areas

and problems

• The last three need personnel with a good knowledge of both the Criminal Justice field and Statistics

Publications, analysis and interpretation

Specific remarks and recommendations (5)About Publication on Internet:• It is very time consuming:– Maintaining the web-site– Answering questions that will be asked via the web-

site

• In my view it should be used in addition to a paper publication by:– Electronic access to the data (e.g. Excel)– Providing more data