Criminal Justice Policies and Outcomes Database User's Manual:

Abstract : The Criminal Justice Policies and Outcomes (CJPO) file contains data describing the adjudication of over 2000 criminal cases files in 14 large jurisdictions in the United States. A companion report describes sample selection procedures and the results of some analysis of some of the data. This Guide is intended for analysts and programmers considering or planning to use the CJPO file. It contains technical information enabling a programmer to write computer programs that access the file and perform various statistical procedures. To the extent practicable, we have followed the standards prescribed in Richard Roistacher et al., A Style Manual for Machine Radable Data Files and Their Documentation, U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, Washington, D.C., 1980. A full data dictionary describing the record layout of the file will be found in App. A. For the most part, the file stands in a one- to-one relationship with the instrument used to collect data in the field. A copy of this instrument will be found in App. B. Both analysts and programmers will find it essential for understanding what the file contains and how it can be used.