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The Sixth United Nations Survey on Crime Trends and the Operations of Criminal Justice Systems (1995 - 1997) This Survey questionnaire consists of a series of questions that ask for data, primarily statistical, on the main components of the criminal justice system, for the years 1995 to 1997. The following paragraphs include the instructions given to Government respondents. The central responding office was asked to review partial replies to ascertain that the data collected in the official return cover clearly defined jurisdictions (such as
national or federal) and are statistically valid. In this connection, the importance of reviewing all parts of the survey for consistency was encouraged. The questionnaire is compiled in such a way that it can be broken down and sent to separate agencies, and reassembled in the central responding office before it is returned. The experience of past surveys showed that in some replies there were: (a) the same figures given in two parts of the questionnaire; (b) figures
representing criminal justice operations of agencies further down the system that were higher than corresponding figures of preceding agencies; and (c) no explanations given in cases of significant statistical changes. In these cases, the Secretariat sent requests for validation of data. This process was very time-consuming for all those involved in the provision and analysis of the data and considerably delayed completion of the project. In order to promptly complete the Sixth Survey
and to initiate preparation for the Seventh Survey, respondents were requested, therefore, to take those factors into account. In completing the tables, respondents were asked to keep the following in mind: If figures provided in one table differ significantly from one year to the next, please explain the discrepancy in notes to the table. If it is not possible to supply the figures as classified or defined in the tables, please try to adjust data as far as possible and
describe the steps involved in notes to the table or on the facing pages. Where figures are not yet available, provisional data or estimates, if possible, should be inserted and noted accordingly. If a table can be completed only in part, please note in the appropriate section that the rest of the data are "not available". If no figures at all are available, please indicate by writing across the space for reply "not yet available", "not
tabulated" or "not collected", as the case may be. In most cases, the data requested use the calendar year as the recording period. Where some other annual period, such as a fiscal year not corresponding to the calendar year, is used, this should be noted Statistics on such matters as criminal justice personnel, court actions and prison population should extend to all levels of government, that is, central government as well as national, state and local
authorities. The Sixth Survey is not yet completed. To date, the following | |||||
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