U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

Crime and Justice in the United States and in England and Wales, 1981-96

NCJ Number
169284
Date Published
October 1998
Annotation
Compares crime in the United States and England with respect to crime rates (as measured both by victimization surveys and police statistics), conviction rates, incarceration rates, and length of sentences.
Abstract

Compares crime in the United States and England with respect to crime rates (as measured both by victimization surveys and police statistics), conviction rates, incarceration rates, and length of sentences. Crime rates as measured in victim surveys are all higher in England than the United States. Crime rates as measured in police statistics are higher in England for half of the measured crime types. A person committing serious crime in the United States is generally more likely than one in England to be caught, convicted, and incarcerated. Incarceration sentences are also generally longer in the United States than England.

Appendix tables 26 and 27 were revised on 7/11/00.

Date Published: October 4, 1998