Compendium of Federal Justice Statistics, 1997 October 1999, NCJ 176328 This report is one in a series. More recent editions may be available. To view a list of all in the series go to http://www.ojb.usdoj.gov/bjs/pubalp2.htm#cfjs The data tables for this report are not presented here. Spreadsheets of the data tables are available at http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/cfjs97.htm U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs Bureau of Justice Statistics Jan M. Chaiken, Ph.D. Director, BJS This Bureau of Justice Statistics Report was prepared by the Urban Institute under the supervision of Steven K. Smith and John Scalia, Jr., of the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS). The project is supported by BJS grant number 98-BJ-CX-K015. Principal staff for the project at the Urban Institute were William J. Sabol, Ph.D., William Adams, David Kirk, Barbara Parthasarathy, Harvey Meyerson, Yan Yuan, and Christine Arriola. Layout and design were by David Williams. Tom Hester of BJS provided editorial review. This report is made possible through the cooperation of the following Federal agencies and their staffs: The Administrative Office of the United States Courts (AOUSC), the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys (EOUSA), the U.S. Bureau of Prisons (BOP), the United States Sentencing Commission (USSC), and the Federal Judicial Center (FJC). The staff who provided expert advice about the source records include: Steven Schlesinger, Catherine Whitaker, and Pragati Patrick (AOUSC); Barbara Tone (EOUSA); Gerald Gaes and Christopher Innes (BOP); Richard McNeil (USSC); and David Rauma and George Cort (FJC). The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Bureau of Justice Statistics or the U.S. Department of Justice. BJS authorizes any person to reproduce, publish, translate, or otherwise use all or any part of the copyrighted material in this publication; citation to source, however, is appreciated. An electronic version of this report and the data analyzed in the report may be found on the Internet at the following address: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/. Or visit the BJS-sponsored Federal Justice Statistics Resource Center (FJSRC) web site at: http://fjsrc.urban.org/, which provides online access to the FJSP database for conducting interactive tabulations of the FJSP data and downloading datasets. Highlights During 1997 just over 110,000 suspects were investigated by U.S. attorneys for possible violations of the U.S. code, and criminal charges were filed in U.S. district courts against about 70,300 defendants, almost a third of whom were prosecuted for drug offenses. The majority (87%) of the 64,956 defendants whose cases were terminated in U.S. district courts during 1997 were convicted. Among those convicted, 70% were sentenced to prison for an average of 58.9 months. At the end of 1997, the Federal Bureau of Prisons held more than 98,944 prisoners who had been convicted of a Federal offense, an increase of 7% over 1996. Sixty percent of those held by the Bureau of Prisons were convicted and sentenced for drug offenses. Prosecution During 1997 U.S. attorneys initiated criminal investigations of 110,034 suspects, and they concluded their investigations of 99,459 suspects. Thirty-four percent of the suspects were investigated for public-order, 31% for drug, 28% for property, and 7% for violent offenses. Of the suspects in criminal matters concluded, U.S. attorneys prosecuted 60,383 in U.S. district courts (61% of all suspects in matters concluded) and declined to prosecute 29,069 suspects (29%), while U.S. magistrates disposed of another 10,007 suspects (10%). Suspects in criminal matters involving drug or violent offenses were slightly more likely to be prosecuted in a U.S. district court (76% and 63%, respectively) than were the suspects involved in public-order or property offenses (54% and 51%, respectively). Suspects involved in property offenses (such as fraud) or regulatory public-order offenses were more likely to be declined for prosecution (43% and 65%, respectively) than were the suspects investigated for drug or violent offenses (18% and 31%, respectively). Pretrial release During 1997 about 51% of the 56,041 defendants who terminated pretrial services were released at some time prior to their criminal trial. Defendants charged with property offenses such as embezzlement, fraud, and larceny and those charged with regulatory public-order offenses or tax law violations were more likely to be released prior to trial (between 72% and 95% of these defendants were released) than were defendants charged with violent offenses, drug trafficking, weapons, or immigration offenses (between 11% and 48% of these defendants were released). Defendants having a prior criminal history of serious or violent crimes were less likely to be released than those without a prior criminal history; defendants with more criminal history were less likely to be released than those with less criminal history. Twenty-six percent of the defendants with a prior violent felony conviction were released before trial, while 61% of the defendants with no prior convictions were released. Fifty-four percent of defendants with one prior conviction were released, as compared to 41% of defendants having two to four prior convictions and 29% of defendants having five or more prior convictions. About 84% of the defendants released prior to trial completed their periods of release without violating the conditions of their release. About 16% of defendants released violated the conditions of their release, and 6% of defendants had their release revoked. Defendants charged with drug and violent offenses were more likely to commit at least one violation of their conditions of release (26% and 18%, respectively) and to have their release revoked (10% and 8%, respectively) than were other defendants. Adjudication Criminal charges were filed in U.S. district courts against 69,351 defendants during 1997, about 82% of whom were charged with felonies. Of the defendants charged with felonies, 41% were prosecuted for drug trafficking offenses, 26% for public-order offenses, 24% for property offenses, and 6% for violent offenses. Criminal cases were concluded against 64,956 defendants during 1997, 82% of whom had been charged with felonies. Eighty-seven percent (or 56,570) of all defendants were convicted; 84% of these were felony convictions. Ninety percent of defendants charged with felonies were convicted. This conviction rate was about the same for all major offense categories: 91% of public-order offenders, 90% of violent and property offenders, and 89% of drug offenders. Most felony convictions were obtained by guilty plea (93%). Drug defendants comprised 42% of felony convictions; both property and public-order defendants comprised 26% of the felony convictions, and defendants charged with violent offenses comprised the remaining 6% of felony convictions. Sentencing Of the 56,570 offenders sentenced during 1997, about 70% were incarcerated, another 23% were placed on probation (either alone or with some incarceration), and 6% were ordered to pay a fine. About 92% of felony drug offenders and 91% of violent felony offenders received prison sentences, as did 81% of felony public-order offenders and 59% of felony property offenders. The 39,431 offenders sentenced to prison received, on average, 58.9 months of imprisonment, while the 12,801 offenders sentenced to probation received, on average, 33.8 months of probation. Offenders sentenced for violent felony offenses and felony drug offenses received longer average prison terms (85.7 and 80.6 months, respectively) than those convicted of felony property and public-order offenses (24.4 and 47.5 months, respectively). Average length of sentences imposed, by offense, October 1, 1996- September 30, 1997 Most serious offense Average of conviction sentence length All offenses 58.9 mo Felonies 61.2 Violent offenses 85.7 Property offenses 24.4 Drug offenses 80.6 Public-order offenses 47.5 Misdemeanors 9.9 Appeals During 1997 the U.S. Courts of Appeals received 10,521 criminal appeals. Forty-six percent of the appeals filed challenged both the conviction and sentence imposed. Only 4% of appeals were filed by the Government. Of the 10,466 appeals terminated during 1997, 78% (or 8,178) were terminated on the merits. In 86% of the appeals terminated on the merits, the district court ruling was affirmed, at least in part. Corrections At the end of 1997, there were 90,751 offenders under supervision. About 56% were serving terms of supervised release; another 36% were on probation; and 8% were on parole. Drug offenders comprised 52% of offenders under terms of supervised release, 54% of offenders on parole, and 11% of offenders on probation. Property offenders comprised 39% of offenders on probation, 28% of offenders serving terms of supervised release, and 11% of offenders on parole. A total of 16,748 offenders completed their terms of probation during 1997. Most of these offenders (83%) completed their terms of probation successfully. Ten percent of probationers committed technical violations; 5% committed new crimes. A total of 17,896 offenders completed terms of supervised release during 1997. Of these offenders, 65% successfully completed their terms without violating conditions of release; 21% committed technical violations; and 12% committed new crimes. A total of 3,859 offenders completed terms of parole during 1997. Of these offenders, 60% successfully completed their terms without violating conditions of release; 23% committed technical violations; and 13% committed new crimes. Regardless of the type of supervision, violent offenders were less likely than others to successfully complete a term of supervision. The Federal prison population increased by 6,565 offenders during 1997 to reach 98,944 persons. During 1997, 38,375 prisoners were received by the Bureau of Prisons from U.S. district court commitments. An additional 13,217 prisoners were returned to Federal prison for violating conditions of probation, parole, or supervised release, or were admitted to Federal prison from elsewhere than a U.S. district court. During 1997, 31,894 prisoners were released for the first time from Federal prison after commitment by a U.S. district court. Of these, 29,080 were released by standard methods and 2,814 were released by extraordinary means (death, treaty transfer, sentence commutation, or drug treatment). The standard "first releases" served, on average, 28.8 months before their release, or about 91% of the sentence imposed. Drug offenders served an average of 42.5 months before first release, while property offenders served an average of 15.3 months before first release. Average time to first release, standard releases, by offense, October 1, 1995 - September 30, 1996 Most serious original offense of conviction Mean time served All offenses 28.8 mo Violent offenses 53.8 Property offenses 15.3 Drug offenses 42.5 Public-order offenses 17.9 An additional 13,133 prisoners were released from subsequent commitments to Federal prison. Drug offenders -- who comprised about 42% of persons admitted into Federal prison -- comprised the largest percentage of persons in prison (59%) at the end of 1997. Admissions to Federal Bureau of Prisons, releases, and prisoners at yearend, by offense, October 1, 1995 - September 30, 1996 Most serious offense All All Population of conviction admissions releases at yearend All offenses 51,592 45,027 98,944 Violent offenses 9.1% 9.6% 11.8% Property offenses 19.2 21.4 8.2 Drug offenses 41.5 38.9 59.2 Public-order offenses 28.9 29.0 19.4 Introduction This Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) report presents an overview of case processing in the Federal criminal justice system. The data presented are compiled from the BJS Federal Justice Statistics Program (FJSP) database. The FJSP database includes data provided by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, the Executive Office for the U.S. Attorneys, the Federal Bureau of Prisons, and the U.S. Sentencing Commission. The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, in addition to providing data describing defendants in cases processed by the Federal judiciary, provides data describing defendants processed by the Federal pretrial services agencies and the Federal probation and supervision service. The BJS Federal Justice Statistics database is archived on CD-ROM, copies of which are available from the BJS Clearinghouse. The data can be downloaded from the Federal Justice Statistics Resource Center located at http://fjsrc.urban.org. Each agency reports on those defendants it processed during a given year in an annual statistical report. These agency reports are often incomparable due to the varying methods the agencies use to report case processing activities. As reported by an interagency working group, headed by BJS, the differences in the case processing statistics are attributable, in part, to the differing needs and missions of the agencies. The working group found the following differences in reported statistics: * the universe of cases reported during a given period — some agencies report on those case processing events that occurred during a particular period, whereas others report on those events recorded during a particular period; and * many of the commonly used case processing statistics -- suspect/defendant processed, offense committed, disposition, and sentence imposed -- are defined differently across agencies. BJS, through FJSP, has recognized the incomparability of these annual statistical reports and has attempted to reconcile many of the differences identified by the working group. For instance, by combining databases from several years, BJS is able to report on those cases that actually occurred during the reporting period. Additionally, commonly used case processing statistics are made comparable across stages by applying uniform definitions to data obtained from each agency. Because definitions in the FJSP are consistent with those categories in BJS programs describing State defendants convicted, sentenced, or imprisoned, the comparison of Federal and State case processing statistics is facilitated. The 1997 Compendium, 12th in a series which includes 1984, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, and 1996 describes defendants processed at each stage of the Federal justice system -- investigation and prosecution by the U.S. attorneys (chapter 1), pretrial release or detention (chapter 2), adjudication in the U.S. district courts (chapter 3), sentencing (chapter 4), appeal of the conviction and/or sentence imposed (chapter 5), and corrections (chapter 6) -- for the 12-month period ending September 30, 1997 (the Federal fiscal year). Prior to 1994, the Compendium was reported on a calendar-year basis. The tables presented report events that occurred during the Federal fiscal year -- October 1, 1996 - September 30, 1997. Generally, the tables include both individual and organizational defendants. Organizational defendants are not included in tables describing pretrial release and detention or tables showing defendants sentenced to incarceration. Juvenile offenders are included in the reported statistics. Felony and misdemeanor distinctions are provided where possible (see "Offense classifications" in Methodology). Organization of the Compendium Each chapter of the Compendium describes a major stage in the processing of criminal suspects and defendants. Each chapter contains Chapter notes that describe the universes of data used in the tables and information relevant to the interpretation of individual tables. The Compendium contains the following: Chapter 1. This chapter describes decisions made by Federal prosecutors in screening criminal matters and the characteristics of defendants in cases prosecuted or declined for prosecution. Chapter 2. This chapter describes the pretrial release and detention practices of the Federal judiciary, including the characteristics of defendants detained or released pending trial. Chapter 3. This chapter describes actions by the Federal judiciary in adjudicating defendants in cases filed by the U.S. attorneys, including the offense charged and characteristics of defendants convicted. Chapter 4. This chapter describes the sentences imposed by the Federal judiciary on convicted defendants, including the characteristics of defendants sentenced. Chapter 5. This chapter describes appeals of criminal convictions and sentences imposed in the Federal courts, including the original offense charged. Chapter 6. This chapter describes defendants under Federal correctional supervision -- probation, parole, and supervised release -- including the outcome of the supervision (successful completion or violations), admissions to and releases from Federal prison, and time served by Federal inmates. Methodology. This section describes the procedures followed in analyzing data and developing tables. Glossary. This section contains definitions for terms used in the Compendium. Since many terms used in the text and tables have specialized meanings (either because they refer to Federal law or because of reporting procedures by the Federal agencies supplying the data), readers are encouraged to check the glossary for exact definitions of tabulated data. Comparing Case Processing Statistics. This document, prepared by an interagency working group tasked to reconcile differences in Federal criminal case processing statistics, identifies and describes the major differences in the way Federal criminal justice agencies collect, tabulate, and report criminal case processing events. Modifications to the 1997 Compendium The corrections chapter (chapter 6) has been substantially reorganized, as some tables were added, and one table was eliminated. Appearing first are two tables describing Federal offenders under supervision; the second of these, displaying characteristics of the federally supervised population, is a new addition. The table showing characteristics of offenders terminating post-incarceration supervision (parole or supervised release) has been divided into two tables: one showing characteristics of offenders terminating supervised release and one showing characteristics of offenders terminating parole. The table showing supervision outcomes for offenders entering supervision that appeared in previous compendia was deleted. A table showing demographic characteristics of the Federal prison population was added. The incarceration tables were reordered so that the table showing prisoner stocks and flows appears first, followed by the aforementioned new table showing characteristics of the Federal prison population. For the balance of the tables in chapter 6, the order from the previous Compendium is retained. Notes to reader The tables in the Compendium were constructed to permit valid comparisons within each table and to allow the reader to compare percentages (but not raw totals) across tables. It should be understood, however, that the total number of subjects/defendants shown in a particular table may not equal the number of subjects/defendants involved in a particular stage of processing, since some records could not be linked and some data sources did not include information on particular data elements classified in a particular table. Data notes indicate the exact universe for individual tables. The Compendium is a statistical presentation of Federal criminal justice information with limited analyses of trends or explanatory factors underlying the statistics. Analyses of Federal justice statistics may be found in special reports and other publications, some of which are cited in the Compendium. Assessment of changing patterns in the Compendium tabulations may depend on detailed examination of subcategories not shown in the tabulations or may require other sources of information, such as knowledge of legislation or Federal agency procedures. Chapter 1 Prosecution Federal criminal cases may be brought by the U. S. Attorney s Office, by the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, or by other authorized agencies. The 93 U.S. attorneys serve as the chief Federal law enforcement officers within their respective districts. Investigations are most commonly referred to a U.S. attorney by a Federal investigative agency (primarily the Drug Enforcement Administration; the Federal Bureau of Investigation; the Postal Inspection Service; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms; and the Secret Service), by the Criminal Division, or by a State or local investigative agency. Investigations may also be initiated -- and cases brought directly -- by U.S. attorneys or by the Criminal Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. This chapter reports only on suspects that were at least partially investigated by U.S. attorneys. U.S. attorneys' decisions After criminal investigations are initiated and criminal suspects are referred to them, U.S. attorneys may file charges against defendants in a U.S. district court, or they may decline to file these charges for reasons such as weak or insufficient evidence, minimal Federal interest, lack of resources, or lack of criminal intent. Matters that are declined may be referred to another authority for prosecution or be settled through alternative resolution procedures. U.S. attorneys may also file cases before U.S. magistrates, who have the authority to adjudicate misdemeanor offenses (18 U.S.C.3401). U.S. attorneys consider these cases to be criminal matters because of their relatively less serious nature and because they are handled by magistrates. The decision to prosecute a suspect in a criminal matter depends upon many factors, including the Attorney General s priorities, U.S. attorney priorities and resources, laws governing each type of offense, and the strength of evidence in each case. During 1997, 61% of suspects in all offense categories were prosecuted. Suspects were prosecuted at different rates depending on their offense. Suspects involved in violent and drug offenses were more likely to be prosecuted before U.S. district court judges than were those involved in property and public-order offenses (figure 1.1 Drug and violent suspects were more likely to be prosecuted before a district court judge than property and public-order suspects. Source: Suspects in matters concluded: Percentage of suspects that were prosecuted, declined, referred to other authorities for disposition, or disposed by U.S. magistrate, October 1, 1996 - September 30, 1997) Suspects involved in drug offenses were the most likely (76%) to be prosecuted. Suspects involved in property offenses were the least likely to be prosecuted (51%). However, suspects involved in property offenses were more likely to have their matter declined and not referred to other authorities for prosecution than were suspects involved in other types of criminal matters (34%). These cases were resolved by other means, including restitution, civil/administrative procedures, and pretrial diversion. Suspects in matters received (table 1.1) During 1997 there were 110,034 suspects in new matters received for investigation by U.S. attorneys.*** Footnote 1: See Chapter notes, item 1, p. 20. The 1997 data are not directly comparable to the 1993 and prior compendia.*** Of these suspects, about 34% were investigated for public-order offenses, 31% for drug offenses, and 28% for property offenses. Just under 7% of all suspects were investigated for violent crimes. Relative percentages of offenses reflect criminal activity as well as Federal investigative, prosecutorial, and statutory priorities. For example, during 1997 priority areas for U.S. attorneys included international and domestic terrorism, violent crimes (including firearms prosecutions and violent street gangs), narcotics prosecutions, immigration, organized crime, official corruption, labor management offenses, white collar crime, government regulatory offenses, child support recovery, and civil rights prosecutions (including the Church Arson Task Force).*** Footnote 2: Statistical Report, United States Attorneys’ Offices, Fiscal Year 1997. U.S. Department of Justice, Executive Office for United States Attorneys, Washington, DC.*** Suspects in matters concluded (tables 1.2-1.5) Upon receiving a matter, a U.S. attorney will either immediately decline it for prosecution or investigate further. Upon conclusion of the investigation, a matter may be filed as a criminal case in a U.S. district court, referred to a U.S. magistrate, or declined for prosecution. Of the 99,459 suspects in criminal matters concluded during 1997, 61% were prosecuted in U.S. district court, 29% were declined for prosecution, and 10% were referred to U.S. magistrates.***Footnote 3: The number of suspects in criminal matters concluded is not comparable to the 1993 and prior compendia. See Chapter notes, item 2, p. 20, for details.*** Suspects prosecuted (table 1.2) -- The likelihood of prosecution in U.S. district court varied widely across offense categories. Drug and violent offenders were more likely to be prosecuted than those involved in property and public-order offenses. U.S. attorneys prosecuted approximately 76% of suspects involved in drug offenses, 63% of those in violent offenses, 54% of those in public-order offenses, and 51% of those in property offenses. Differences in rates of prosecution within major categories were substantial. For example, among violent offenders, 80% of robbery suspects were prosecuted, while 56% of murder, 52% of assault, and 40% of rape suspects were prosecuted. Among property offenders, suspects investigated for counterfeiting were prosecuted at a higher rate than those involved in fraud (70% compared with 49%), and among suspects involved in public-order offenses, immigration (83%), weapons (69%), and tax law violators (67%) were much more likely to be prosecuted than suspects in communications (33%) and civil rights (7%) offenses. Suspects in matters declined (tables 1.3-1.4) Suspects in matters involving violent offenses were less likely to be declined for prosecution (31%) than those involved in property offenses (43%) but more likely than those in drug offenses (18%). Suspects in public-order offenses were slightly less likely to be declined for prosecution than those involved in violent offenses (28% compared to 31%). The decision to decline prosecution is based on a number of factors, including the lack of prosecutable offense, alternative resolution, or case- and suspect-related reasons (table 1.3). Of the 29,069 declinations during 1997, 28% occurred because of case-related reasons, mostly due to weak evidence (24%); 23% occurred because there was no crime or criminal intent was lacking; and 18% occurred for other reasons, such as agency requests (6%) and minimal Federal interest (4%). Not all suspects whose matters were declined for prosecution avoided prosecution. Twenty-two percent of the suspects in matters declined were referred to another authority for prosecution (table 1.4). An additional 6% were settled through alternative resolution procedures. While suspects involved in property offenses constituted the largest number of suspects who were referred by U.S. attorneys to other authorities for prosecution or resolution, suspects involved in drug offense were the most likely of suspects whose matters were declined to be referred to other authorities for prosecution or alternative resolution (figure 1.2 Of matters declined for prosecution, suspects in drug offenses were more likely than others to be referred to other authorities for prosecution or to have their case settled through alternative resolution Source: Of suspects in matters declined, percent referred or handled in other prosecutions, or settled through alternative resolution, October 1, 1996 - September 30, 1997) Thirty-seven percent of the drug suspects whose matters were declined prosecution by U.S. attorneys were referred for other prosecution or resolution, as were 27% of the public-order, 27% of violent, and 26% of the property offense suspects. Within major offense categories, the likelihood that suspects in matters declined for prosecution were referred to other authorities for prosecution or alternative resolution varied among specific offenses. Within property offenses, referral occurred with 43% of persons involved in motor vehicle theft, compared to 20% of suspects in arson and explosives cases. Within public-order offenses, referral occurred with 33% of weapons suspects were referred to other authorities or had their case settled through alternative procedures, compared to 8% of suspects in civil rights cases. Defendants in cases concluded by U.S. magistrates (table 1.2) Cases concluded by U.S. magistrates are, by statute, misdemeanors.*** Footnote 4: At the time that U.S. attorneys receive them, matters may not be classifiable as felonies or misdemeanors. If a U.S. magistrate disposes of a case — or what the U.S. attorneys call a “matter” — its offense level has been determined, by statute, to be a misdemeanor. Overall, U.S. magistrates disposed of 10% of all criminal matters investigated by U.S. attorneys. For most offenses, the likelihood that a U.S. magistrate concluded the matter was also relatively low. The most notable exception was escape, for which 58% of matters were concluded by U.S. magistrates. The escape offense category accounted for 17% of all cases concluded by U.S. magistrates. Most of the 2,933 escape violations were against defendants who absconded to avoid prosecution in State courts, the so-called "unlawful flight to avoid prosecution." Upon apprehension of the fugitive, these cases are normally dismissed by U.S. magistrates and turned over to the State for prosecution on the original warrant. Other types of offenses having comparably high rates of disposal by U.S. magistrates included postal law violations (25%); conspiracy, aiding and abetting, traffic, and jurisdictional offenses (61%); and other property violations (44%). Processing times (table 1.5) For matters concluded during 1997, the average number of months from receipt of a matter to its conclusion by a U.S. attorney as a case filing or declination or its disposal by a U.S. magistrate was 9.2 months. However, the time to process matters varied with the outcome of the matter. Matters concluded by U.S. magistrates in which the suspect was convicted took the least amount of time an average of 3.1 months, and at least 50% of these convictions occurred in about 40 days. Similarly, 50% of the matters declined for prosecution were declined within 12.5 months. Overall, suspects in violent and drug offenses were processed more quickly than suspects in other offenses. For key decisions, such as whether to file a case or decline a matter for prosecution, violent offenses were concluded more quickly than drug offenses. At an average of 15.2 months, fraudulent property offenses took longer to conclude than other offenses. Chapter Notes 1) Tables 1.1-1.5 were created from the Central System data files of the EOUSA. For table 1.1, only records which showed a matter received during 1997 were selected. For tables 1.2-1.5, only records which show a matter terminated by reason of declination, disposition by a U.S. magistrate, or filed as a case in U.S. district court from October 1, 1996, through September 30, 1997, were selected. In all of these tables, matters declined immediately -- those cases in which the U.S. attorney spent less than 1 hour investigating were excluded. 2) The number of suspects in matters investigated in table 1.1, and the number of suspects in matters concluded in tables 1.2 and 1.5 are not directly comparable to counts in the 1993 and prior compendia. In those years, these statistics included appellants in appeals filed or appeals terminated. In table 1.1 of this Compendium and the 1994 and subsequent compendia, the number of suspects in matters received is limited to suspects in criminal matters that were filed as cases in U.S. district courts, handled by U.S. magistrates, or declined for prosecution. In the 1993 and prior compendia, the number of suspects in criminal matters received included criminal appeals. To obtain a number of suspects comparable to the statistic reported in the 1993 and prior compendia, add to the data in table 1.1 of this Compendium, the number of appellants in appeals that were handled by U.S. attorneys. The table below shows these data for major offense categories. Number of Nature of the appellants in appeals underlying offense filed and handled by U.S. attorneys All offenses 11,698 Violent offenses 1,045 Property offenses 2,206 Fraudulent property 1,839 Other property 367 Drug offenses 5,517 Public-order offenses 2,930 Regulatory public order 200 Other public order 2,730 Unknown or indeterminable offenses 118 In tables 1.2 and 1.5 of this Compendium and in the 1994 and subsequent compendia, the number of suspects in matters concluded also is limited to those suspects whose matters were concluded by a case filing in a U.S. district court, by declination, or by disposition by a U.S. magistrate. In the 1993 and prior compendia, this number included appellants in criminal appeals terminated. To obtain a number that is comparable to the number reported in the 1993 and prior compendia, the number of appellants in appeals terminated and handled by U.S. attorneys needs to be added to the totals in table 1.2. The table below shows the number of appellants in appeals cases terminated during fiscal 1997. Nature of the Number of appellants underlying offense in appeals concluded by U.S. attorneys All offenses 9,209 Violent offenses 719 Property offenses 1,807 Fraudulent property 1,543 Other property 264 Drug offenses 4,408 Public-order offenses 2,275 Regulatory public order 132 Other public order 2,143 Unknown or indeterminable offenses 92 3) Offenses in the Central System data files are classified by the title and section of the United States Code for the most serious offense investigated, as determined by the assistant U.S. attorney responsible for the matter. For tables in this Compendium, these citations were translated into the corresponding four-digit offense codes used by the Administrative Office of the United States Courts (AOUSC). These four-digit codes were then aggregated into the categories shown in the tables. U.S. Code citations often do not permit detailed classification of drug offenses by the type of criminal activity involved. A person charged with conspiracy is classified under the substantive offense alleged (for example, conspiracy to defraud is classified as fraud) unless type of conspiracy cannot be determined from the U.S. Code citation. Unclassified conspiracies are included among conspiracy, aiding and abetting, traffic, and jurisdictional offenses in tables 1.1, 1.2, 1.4, and 1.5. The most serious offense investigated is based on the criminal lead charge as determined by the assistant U.S. attorney responsible for the criminal matter. 4) In the tables in this chapter, the all offenses row or total declinations row (in table 1.3) includes records whose offense category (basis for declination) is missing or indeterminable. The percentage distributions in these tables, however, are based on the number of observations with nonmissing offenses (basis for declination) values. The number of missing values are reported either on a separate line or in a footnote. Chapter 2 Pretrial The Bail Reform Act of 1984 (18 U.S.C. & 3141) sets the terms for release and detention of defendants facing charges in Federal courts. At the time defendants first appear before a judicial officer, they may be (1) released on personal recognizance or unsecured bond; (2) released subject to conditions imposed by the court, possibly including traditional bail; (3) temporarily detained without bail (limited to 10 working days) to permit deportation, exclusion, or the revocation of previously granted conditional release; or (4) detained pending the outcome of a detention hearing.*(*18 U.S.C. & 3142(e) (1984)) According to the statute, a defendant must be brought before a judicial officer without "unnecessary delay" upon arrest. The judicial officer, who may be a judge but is generally a U.S. magistrate, determines whether the defendant will be released or detained prior to trial. If a hearing is required, the release decision may be delayed no longer than 3 days (or 5 days if requested by the defendant). At the initial appearance a recommendation to detain the defendant is made by the U.S. attorney and/or the pretrial services officer. If the court concurs with the recommendation to detain the defendant, a pretrial detention hearing is scheduled -- typically within 1 week of the initial appearance. At the pretrial detention hearing evidence is presented to show cause why the defendant should be detained pending adjudication of the charges. Recommendations to detain a defendant are limited to those instances where the defendant was charged with (1) a crime of violence, (2) an offense with a statutory maximum sentence of life imprisonment or death, (3) a drug offense with a statutory maximum sentence of 10 years or more imprisonment, or (4) any felony offense if the defendant had been convicted on two or more occasions of an offense described above or a similar State-level offense. Additionally, a detention recommendation may be made if there is a serious risk that the defendant would flee in an attempt to avoid prosecution or would obstruct justice or intimidate witnesses or jurors. Types of pretrial release Defendants may be released without financial conditions according to the following: Personal recognizance -- defendant is released subject to no financial or other conditions. Unsecured bond -- no money is required to be posted before release, but defendant is liable for full bail amount if he or she fails to appear. Conditional release -- any combination of restrictions that are deemed necessary to guarantee the defendant's appearance at trial or the safety of the community. Non-financial conditions commonly place restrictions on the defendant's movements, associations, and/or actions. They may also involve employment or treatment for medical, psychological, or substance abuse conditions. Defendants may also be released on financial conditions. Financial conditions include (1) deposit bond (the defendant is required to post a percentage of the total bail amount, usually 10%), (2) surety bond (the defendant is released subject to guarantees by a third person that the full amount will be paid), or (3) collateral bond (collateral equal to the full bail amount required to be posted by the defendant before release). Financial conditions may occur in combination with nonfinancial conditions. Factors relating to release or detention In deciding whether to release a defendant and in setting release conditions, the court is directed to consider the nature and circumstances of the offense charges, the weight of evidence against the defendant, the defendant's character, physical and mental condition, family ties, employment, financial resources, length of residence in the community, community ties, past conduct, history relating to drug or alcohol abuse, criminal history, and record concerning appearance at court proceedings. During 1997, 28,600 defendants were released for some period of time prior to trial (table 2.1). Those defendants released made up nearly 51% of the 56,041 defendants who terminated pretrial services during 1997. Of the defendants released, 84% completed pretrial services without violating the conditions of their release (table 2.8). In 1997, 35,989 defendants were detained for some period of time prior to the disposition of their case (table 2.3). Those defendants detained comprised about 64% of all defendants who terminated pretrial services during 1997. Included are those who were detained prior to having a preliminary hearing with the magistrate, at which point they could have been either released or ordered to have a detention hearing. Of the defendants detained, 53% were ordered detained by the court until case disposition. Pretrial detention hearings were held for 26,152 defendants. Of these, 18,940, or 72%, were ordered detained (table 2.5). Of the 28,600 defendants released prior to trial, 17% violated a condition of their release (table 2.7). The majority (87%) of these violations were technical violations of the bail conditions. Defendants released on corporate surety were more likely (22%) than other defendants to incur some violation of the conditions of their release (table 2.8). Conversely, defendants given conditional release violated their release at the lowest rates (7%). Slightly more than 6% of all released defendants had their release revoked. Pretrial outcomes by offense categories Releases (table 2.1) -- Defendants charged with public-order and violent offenses were less likely than other defendants to be released prior to criminal trial; in 1997, 38% of the 16,706 public-order offenders and 39% of 3,639 violent offenders were released (figure 2.1: Defendants charged with public-order and violent offenses were less likely than other defendants to be released prior to trial. Source: Percent of defendants released prior to case disposition,by offense category, October 1, 1996 - September 30, 1997). However, the percent released varied greatly among these defendants. Among violent offenders, 23% of those charged with robbery were released compared to 66% of those charged with assault and 65% of those charged with rape. Among public order offenders, 11% of those charged with immigration offenses were released compared to 95% of those charged with tax law violations and 48% of those with weapons offenses. Property defendants made up the largest part of those defendants who were released, while drug defendants made up the largest part of those defendants who were detained (figure 2.2 Property defendants made up the largest percentage of those released, while drug defendants made up the largest percentage of those detained Source: Percent of defendants released or detained, by offense category, October 1, 1996 - September 30, 1997). Violent defendants composed the smallest part of defendants in both groups. About 44% of all drug defendants were released. Drug trafficking defendants were less likely to be released than those charged with nontrafficking offenses (43% compared to 56%), but defendants charged with trafficking offenses outnumbered those charged with nontrafficking offenses by 9 to 1. The release types for those defendants who were released prior to trial varied among offense categories (table 2.1). Within each major offense category, the highest percentage of defendants released was on unsecured bond, except for violent defendants. Of the 39% of violent defendants released, 40% were released on unsecured bond and 44% on personal recognizance compared to 79% of all property defendants released, of whom 56% were released on unsecured bond and 31% on personal recognizance. Detentions (tables 2.3 and 2.5) -- Among the major offense categories, defendants charged with drug offenses were the most likely (78%) to be detained for some period of time (table 2.3). Seventy-six percent of defendants charged with violent offenses were detained for some period of time. But violent defendants were more likely (63% versus 55%) to be detained by the court following a detention hearing than those detained for drug offenses (not shown in a table). Property and public-order defendants were less likely to be detained than drug and violent defendants. During 1997, 71% of public-order -- defendants were detained. Of public-order defendants, those charged with immigration offenses were the most likely to be detained (95%). In 1997, 31% of defendants charged with property offenses were detained. Of those defendants detained, 52% of public-order and 39% of property defendants were detained following a detention hearing (not shown in a table). For 64% of defendants charged with violent offenses, it was decided at the preliminary hearing that a detention hearing was warranted (table 2.5, figure 2.3 Violent and drug defendants were more likely to have a detention hearing than those charged with public-order and property offenses. Source: Detention hearings held, by offense category, October 1, 1996 - September 30, 1997). This rate varied by offense category: 62% of those charged with drug-related offenses, 46% of those charged with public-order offenses, and 20% of those charged with property offenses were ordered to have a detention hearing. Of those charged with violent offenses, the most likely to have a pretrial detention hearing were those charged with robbery, kidnaping, murder, or threats against the President. The least likely were those charged with sex offenses other than rape and those charged with assault. Once a defendant was ordered to have a detention hearing, the chances of being detained were less variable across offense categories (table 2.5). The highest rate of defendants ordered detained were those charged with public-order offenses (80%) -- primarily immigration (87%) and weapons offenders (71%). Of the 64% of defendants charged with violent offenses and given a pretrial detention hearing, 74% were ordered detained. In 1997, 70% of those charged with drug offenses and 62% of those charged with property offenses were ordered detained following a pretrial hearing. Violations (table 2.7) -- Of defendants released prior to trial and terminating pretrial services during 1997, those charged with drug offenses were more likely (26%) than other defendants to incur at least one violation during the release period. Among major offense categories, those charged with property offenses were less likely (11%) than others to violate conditions of their release. Those charged with drug offenses were more likely to have their release revoked (10% of all released drug defendants, 38% of drug defendants incurring a violation), and public-order defendants were slightly less likely than property defendants to have their release revoked (3.6% versus 4.1%). Pretrial outcomes across demographic groups Releases (table 2.2) -- Females were more likely (76%) than males (46%) to be released during 1997 (figure 2.4 Males, Hispanics, unemployed defendants, and defendants with a history of drug abuse were less likely to be released. Source: Pretrial release rates, by defendant characteristics, October 1, 1996 - September 30, 1997). Males had nearly twice the chance of having a financial condition imposed on them as females (20% versus 12%). Sixty-six percent of all defendants identified as non-Hispanic werereleased during 1997 compared to 25% of Hispanics. Non-Hispanic releasees had more than twice the chance of being released on personal recognizance. The higher the education level of the defendant, the greater the probability of release. Less than half (44%) of defendants with less than a high school education were released in 1997, while 80% of those who had completed college were released. Releasees with a college degree were slightly less likely to receive financial conditions (16%) and more likely to be released on personal recognizance (28%) than those who had less education. Defendants with a known history of drug abuse were released less frequently than those defendants with no known drug history. However, among all released defendants, drug abuse history does not appear to have had a major effect on the form of pretrial release. Detentions (tables 2.4 and 2.6) -- Males were more likely (69% versus 41%) than females to be detained (table 2.4). Of all detainees, 54% of the men and 41% of the women were detained following a detention hearing. Hispanics had a substantially higher probability of being detained (nearly 9 out of 10) as compared with non-Hispanics (5 out of 10). However, among those detained, Hispanics and non-Hispanics had nearly equal chances of being detained following a detention hearing (about 53%). Younger defendants were more likely than older ones to be detained, with the percentage peaking at defendants in their twenties. Seventy percent of defendants between the ages of 21 and 30 years were detained compared to 68% of defendants between 16 and 18 years and 47% of those over 40. However, among all defendants detained, the chances of being detained following a detention hearing were similar across all age groups. These patterns were more dramatic with education levels. Those defendants with lower levels of education were more likely to be detained. Seventy-five percent of those who did not graduate from high school were detained versus 33% of college graduates. Of those detained, 55% of defendants without a high school diploma were detained following a detention hearing compared to 46% of college graduates. Not only were male defendants nearly twice as likely as female defendants to have a detention hearing (50% versus 28%), they were also more likely to be ordered detained as a result of the hearing (table 2.6). Blacks had a higher chance of having a detention hearing (51%) than those of other races (45% for whites, 47% for other). However, once a detention hearing was held, there were only slight differences amongst racial groups in the probability of being ordered detained. The likelihood of having a detention hearing increased with the number of prior convictions, severity of the defendant's criminal history, and current sentence of supervision. Further, 53% of those with a history of drug abuse had detention hearings as compared to 41% of those without such a past. Those with a known history of drug abuse were slightly more likely to be detained. Violations (table 2.9) -- Released males were more likely than females to incur a violation during the pretrial release period (18% versus 13%) and were more likely to have their release revoked. Defendants with no prior criminal history were less likely to have a pretrial release violation than those with a prior conviction. Released defendants with a known drug history had more than 3 times the likelihood of incurring a violation than those with no known drug history. Also, those with a history of drug use were substantially more likely to have their release revoked. Length of pretrial detention (table 2.10) Among defendants detained for any time prior to case disposition, those charged with violent offenses were detained the longest (an average of 77.3 days) compared to drug defendants (59.3 days), public-order defendants (47.8 days), and property defendants (31.3 days). Of defendants released, those released on conditional means spent the greatest average number of days detained (57.6 days) compared to those released on personal recognizance (31.5 days), financial conditions (27.1 days), and unsecured bond (25.6 days). However, with the exception of drug offenders, this trend varied across all major offense categories. For violent, property, and public-order defendants, more time was spent in detention for offenders released on unsecured bond than by those released on financial conditions. For example, for violent offenders, those released on unsecured bond spent a greater average number of days detained (35.9 days) compared to those released on financial conditions (30.0 days). Of defendants not released, those detained following a detention hearing were detained longer, on average, than those held on financial conditions (107.9 days compared with 51.2 days). Chapter notes 1) All tables in chapter 2 were created from data in the Pretrial Services Information Act System data base, which is maintained by the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) within the AOUSC. The data describe 56,041 defendants who terminated pretrial services during October 1, 1996, through September 30, 1997, and whose cases were filed by complaint, indictment, or information. In these tables, the totals (e.g., "all offenses") included records whose offense or other attributes were missing or indeterminable. The percentage distributions were based on nonmissing values, and missing values were reported in a separate row or in a footnote. Offenses in the PSA are based on the most serious charged offense, as determined by the probation officer responsible for the interview with the defendant. The probation officer classifies the major offense charged into AOUSC four-digit offense codes. For defendants charged with more than one offense on an indictment, the probation officer chooses as the most major charged offense the one carrying the most severe penalty or, in the case of two or more charges carrying the same penalty, the one with the highest offense severity. The offense severity level is determined by the AOUSC, which ranks offenses according to the maximum sentence, type of crime, and maximum fine amount. These four-digit codes are then aggregated into the same offense categories as those used in chapter 1. For drug offenses, the type of drug activity trafficking or posses- sion is obtained by the probation officers from their reading of the indictment or other charging documents. The AOUSC citation manual provides probation officers with detailed instructions on how to code drug crimes. 2) In tables 2.1 2.4, the percentages showing the methods of release or methods of detention were based on the number of defendants released or the number of defendants detained. In tables 2.5 and 2.6, the percentages were based on the number of defendants who had hearings and were ordered detained. This method departs from the 1993 and prior compendia, in which the percentages were based on the number of defendants terminating pretrial services. Chapter 3 Adjudication Federal criminal cases may result in conviction of the defendant following plea or trial, acquittal of the defendants after trial, or dismissal of the case.***Footnote 1 Unless otherwise noted, data describe felony and misdemeanor cases in U.S. district courts and include Class A misdemeanors handled by U.S. magistrates. The data also include Class B misdemeanors that are handled by U.S. district court judges, which occur infrequently. Defendants in cases filed (table 3.1) During 1997, 69,351 defendants had criminal charges filed against them in U.S. district courts, and 57,022 (82%) of those defendants were charged with felonies. The 24,693 drug felony defendants comprised over a third of all criminal defendants in cases filed and 43% of all felony defendants. Felony property and public-order defendants comprised 20% and 21%, respectively, of all defendants in cases filed. The 12,267 misdemeanor defendants constituted 18% of all defendants in cases filed, with 40% of those misdemeanor defendants charged with traffic violations. Defendants in cases terminated (table 3.2) Cases were terminated against 64,956 defendants during 1997, 53,097 (82%) of whom were felony defendants. During 1997 the 22,374 drug-related felony defendants comprised nearly 35% of all defendants in cases terminated and 42% of all felony defendants. Over 87% of all defendants were convicted; 90% of all felony defendants and 75% of misdemeanor defendants. For major felony offense categories, conviction rates ranged from 89% for drug offenses to 91% for public-order offenses. Within major offense categories, however, the conviction rates varied more widely. For example, within the violent offense category, the conviction rates ranged from 83% for those found guilty of rape to 93% for sex offenses other than rape. Within the public-order category, the conviction rate ranged from 71% for national defense violations to 96% for communications and immigration offenses. Most defendants who were convicted pleaded guilty (figure 3.1: Most defendants were convicted. Of convicted defendants, most pled guilty. Of the defendants who were not convicted, most were dismissed Source Disposition of cases terminating during October 1, 1996 - September 30, 1997). Overall, 93% of those convicted pleaded guilty, while 7% were convicted at trial. For felony offenses, 93% pleaded guilty to their charges. For major felony offenses, guilty pleas were registered for 90% of violent offenders, 92% of drug offenders, and 94% each for public-order and property offenders. During 1997, 4,756 defendants exercised their right to a trial. A higher percentage of violent offenders went to trial than drug, property, and public-order offenders. Twelve percent of violent offenders went to trial as compared with 9% of both drug and public-order offenders, and 8% of property offenders. Of defendants who exercised their right to a trial, 3,781 (79%) were convicted either by a jury or a bench trial. The felony trial conviction rate was 83%, while the misdemeanor conviction rate was 59%. Among felony offenses, trial conviction rates ranged from 79% for violent and property defendants to 87% for drug defendants. Public-order offenders fell in between, as 82% of them were convicted at trial. Case processing times (table 3.3) The data in table 3.3 cover the interval from the time a case is filed in U.S. district court through sentencing for those convicted as well as the interval from case filing through disposition for those not convicted, or those whose cases are dismissed. Title I of the Speedy Trial Act of 1974, as amended, sets time requirements for processing criminal cases in Federal courts. Except for certain exclusions, indictment must occur within 30 days of arrest; defendants are guaranteed at least 30 days to prepare for trial; and the Government must be ready for trial within 70 days. The Speedy Trial Act does not specify a time interval from trial to sentencing, ***Footnote 2 The Sentencing Reform Act of 1984 specifies minimum intervals for the disclosure and objections to the presentence report. See Rule 31, Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure.*** and the time limits set by the act exclude several enumerated periods of pretrial procedure such as time spent awaiting rulings on motions. ***Footnote 3 18 U.S.C. & 3161 et. seq.*** Additionally, defendants may waive their rights within the Speedy Trial Act. As a result, the actual processing time for most defendants can be longer than the statutory limits without violating the provisions of the act. Overall, the average time for processing defendants was 8.9 months (figure 3.2: Cases of defendants convicted at trial took longer than those convicted by plea. Source: Average time from filing to disposition of cases terminating during October 1, 1996 - September 30, 1997, by offense). For felony defendants, the overall processing time average was 10 months; for those convicted of misdemeanor crimes, the average processing time was 3.6 months. Defendants who pleaded guilty were processed faster (8.2 months) on average, than defendants who went to trial (11.7 months). Defendants whose cases were ultimately dismissed took longest to process (12 months), on average. Among major felony offense categories, case processing times were similar to the overall pattern, with two exceptions. For those convicted of violent offenses, those whose cases went to trial took longest to process. Convictions by U.S. magistrates (table 3.4) During 1997 U.S. magistrates disposed of 11,045 misdemeanor criminal defendants, over 75% of whom were convicted. Traffic violators comprised 41% of the defendants disposed by U.S. magistrates, with property offenders comprising another 33%. Drug offenses comprised almost 10% of U.S. magistrates' cases. Characteristics of convicted defendants (table 3.5) Among defendants convicted there were over 5 times as many men as women (85% versus 15%); over twice as many whites as blacks (66% versus 29%); and almost twice as many non-Hispanics as Hispanics (66% versus 34%). Most were U.S. citizens (70%), had graduated high school or completed some higher education (58%), and had some criminal history (52%). Persons over age 30 represented 57% of defendants Chapter notes 1) Tables 3.1-3.4 were derived from the Administrative Office of U.S. Courts (AOUSC) criminal master data files. Only records with cases filed in U.S. district court (table 3.1) or cases that terminated in U.S. district court during October 1, 1996, through September 30, 1997, were selected. Offenses were classified according to the most serious offense charged. In the case of multiple offenses, the offense carrying the most severe potential penalty was selected. In this Compendium, carjacking offenses are classified as robberies, based on title and section of the U.S. Code. In prior compendia, they were classified as motor vehicle thefts, based on the AOUSC offense classifications. In the forthcoming Federal Criminal Statistics: Reconciled Data, which shows trends from 1994 through the present, carjackings are classified as robberies. 2) Table 3.5 was created by matching the AOUSC master data files with the U.S. Sentencing Commission (USSC) monitoring system files and the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA) data files. These latter two data files contain information on the characteristics of defendants. The USSC monitoring system files are limited to records of defendants sentenced under the Federal sentencing guidelines only. These include defendants convicted of felonies or Class A misdemeanors. Excluded from the USSC data were defendants convicted only of Class B or C misdemeanors or infractions, defendants whose offenses were committed before November 1, 1987, and juvenile offenders. Juveniles are not subject to guidelines, and they were not included in table 3.5. Some of the defendants excluded from the USSC data files were included in the PSA data. (See Chapter 2 Chapter notes for more information on the PSA data.) Table 3.5 indicates the number of records for which relevant data were available. Percentage distributions were based on records with known values of defendant characteristics and offenses. 3) A criminal record, as reported in table 3.5, is limited to prior adult convictions. For some defendants in this table, it is further limited to the portion that is relevant for calculating sentences under the Federal sentencing guidelines. In general, this is limited to sentences imposed within a 15-year period prior to the current offense and offenses committed within the United States. For most defendants, the criminal history used to calculate sentencing guideline ranges includes their entire adult criminal history. Chapter 4 Sentencing Depending upon the type and severity of the offense, convicted offenders may be sentenced to incarceration, probation, a fine, or a combination of sanctions such as a split or mixed sentence (imprisonment as well as a period of probation supervision).*** Footnote 1 For a definition of mixed sentences, see Glossary, p. 99.*** The Federal sentencing guidelines require a term of supervised release following service of any prison sentence of more than 1 year. In addition, courts have the discretion to impose supervised release in any other case. Except where otherwise indicated, tables in this chapter are based on the most serious offense of conviction. They are not directly comparable with tables in earlier chapters that are based on the most serious offense investigated or most serious offense charged (see "Offense classifications" in Methodology, p. 95). Offenders convicted and sentences imposed (table 4.1) Of the 56,570 offenders sentenced during 1997, 39,431 (70%) were sentenced to prison; 12,801 (23%) were sentenced to probation; and 3,184 (6%) were ordered to pay only a fine. *** footnote 2 Offenders given an intermediate sanction such as intermittent confinement or community confinement that also included probation supervision are counted among offenders given probation.*** Of the 39,431 offenders sentenced to prison, 37,747 (96%) were convicted of felonies. Over 80% of convicted felons were sentenced to prison. Drug and violent offenders were more likely to receive prison sentences (92% and 91%, respectively) than were either public-order (81%) or property (59%) offenders (figure 4.1: Defendants convicted of drug and violent felonies had the highest rates of imprisonment, while those convicted of property and public-order offenses had the highest rates of probation. Source: Rates of incarceration and probation for offenders convicted and sentenced in cases that terminated during October 1, 1996 - September 30, 1997). Among public-order offenders, persons convicted of weapons (93%), escape (89%), and immigration offenses (87%) were about as likely as violent and drug offenders to receive prison sentences. Among property offenders, persons convicted of arson or the use of explosives (85%) were also almost as likely as violent and drug offenders to receive prison sentences. Overall, almost 23% of convicted offenders were sentenced to probation. The percentage of misdemeanants sentenced to probation (49%) was almost thrice more than that of convicted felons (17%). Among felons, persons convicted of postal law violations (86%), communication violations (85%), and food and drug violations (71%) were the most likely to be given probation. While less than 1% of all convicted felons were ordered to only pay a fine, 70% of the felons convicted of antitrust violations were so ordered. Fines generally were reserved for misdemeanor offenders, 30% of whom received fines. Average prison sentences imposed (table 4.2) For all offenders given prison terms, the average term of imprisonment imposed was 58.9 months (figure 4.2: Violent and drug felons received the longest sentences. Source: Incarceration and probation sentence lengths (in months) of offenders convicted and sentenced in cases that terminated during October 1, 1996 - September 30, 1997). Persons convicted of felonies received an average prison term of 61.2 months. The average length of prison sentence imposed varied among major offense categories. Property offenders received the shortest sentence, on average, while violent offenders received the longest (24.4 months compared to 85.7 months). Drug offenders received 80.6 months, on average, and public-order offenders received 47.5 months. The average prison term for public-order offenders was primarily attributable to sentences imposed for weapons offenders. The 2,663 weapons offenders sentenced to prison comprised over 25% of the 10,381 public-order offenders sent to prison. Weapons offenders received an average prison term of 101.8 months, and public-order offenders other than weapons offenders received an average prison term of 28.8 months (not shown in a table). Relationship between sentence imposed and mode of conviction (table 4.3) Offenders convicted by plea were less likely to receive prison sentences than those convicted at trial. Sixty-nine percent of the offenders convicted by guilty plea received some prison time, while 86% of the offenders convicted at trial received prison sentences. For drug offenders, 92% of those convicted by plea went to prison, as did 99% of those convicted at trial. For violent offenders, 91% of those convicted by plea received prison sentences, as did 94% of those convicted at trial. For fraudulent property offenders, 57% of those convicted by plea received prison sentences, compared to 88% of those convicted at trial. And, for regulatory public-order offenders, 48% of those convicted by plea went to prison, as did 77% of those convicted at trial. The average prison term imposed on defendants convicted at trial was longer than the term imposed on defendants convicted by plea. Defendants convicted at trial received 146.6 months, on average, while those convicted by plea received an average of 51.6 months (figure 4.3: Defendants convicted at trial received longer sentences, on average, than those convicted by guilty plea. Source: Average sentences imposed on defendants convicted at trial and defendants convicted by guilty plea, October 1, 1996 - September 30, 1997). Drug offenders convicted at trial received an average of 196.2 months as compared to the 71.0 months for drug offenders convicted by a guilty plea. Violent offenders who went to trial received an average sentence of 160.2 months as compared to the 78.5 months for violent offenders convicted by guilty plea. Characteristics of offenders sentenced to prison (tables 4.4-4.6) The majority of persons sentenced to prison during 1997 were male (89%), white (66%), non-Hispanic (63%), and U.S. citizens (68%). The percentage sentenced to prison was not uniform across all categories of age, race, sex, education, and ethnicity. Similarly, the average sentences imposed were not uniform across these categories (table 4.5). However, conclusions about the effect that characteristics may have had on sentencing cannot be drawn from the aggregate patterns in the data. Such an assessment would require detailed information for each category showing the presence or absence of factors that are legally intended to affect sentencing, such as offense severity, weapon use, role in the offense, victim injury, dollar loss, and so forth. One such study of the factors affecting sentencing found that "nearly all of the aggregate differences among sentences for whites, blacks, and Hispanics during 1989 90 can be attributed to characteristics of offenses and offenders that current law and sentencing guidelines establish as legitimate considerations in sentencing decisions."*** Footnote 3 Douglas C. McDonald and Kenneth E. Carlson, Sentencing in the Federal Courts: Does Race Matter?, Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Justice, Bureau of Justice Statistics, December 1993 (NCJ-145328).*** Average sentences imposed were longest for males (62.4 months), blacks (87.8 months), non-Hispanics (67.8 months), and U.S. citizens (68.7 months). These longer terms are due in large part because these categories of offenders (males, blacks, non-Hispanics, and U.S. citizens) are more highly concentrated in the offense types (table 4.4) that also are associated with longer average sentences (table 4.2). For example, incarceration rates for blacks exceed those of whites in the violent, drug, and nonregulatory public-order offense categories. These offenses are associated with longer average sentences (table 4.2, figure 4.2) than are property offenses or misdemeanors -- the categories in which whites' incarceration rates exceed those of blacks. In general, within categories of offender characteristics, average prison terms were longer for violent and drug offenses than for property and regulatory public-order offenses. These two offense categories generally are considered to be more serious under the Federal sentencing guidelines than are property and regulatory public-order offenses. As a result, for aggregate tables like the ones presented in this chapter, persons with a certain characteristic may appear to receive more severe sentences on average. The primary reason for the longer averages is the larger number of serious offenses that made up the average sentences. Chapter notes -- 1) Tables 4.1-4.3 were derived from the AOUSC criminal master data files. Only records of defendants sentenced during October 1, 1996, through September 30, 1997, were selected. Offenses shown in these tables -- offenses of conviction -- are based on the longest actual sentence imposed. 2) Tables 4.4-4.6 were created from AOUSC criminal master data files, supplemented with linked data on offender characteristics from two sources: the United States Sentencing Commission (USSC) monitoring system files (which are limited to records of defendants sentenced under the Federal sentencing guidelines); and the Pretrial Services Information Act System database, maintained by the Pretrial Services Agency (PSA). These two supplemental data files contain information on the characteristics of defendants. Table 4.4 indicates the number of records for which relevant data were available. Percentage distributions were based on records with known values of defendant characteristics and offenses. Means and medians in tables 4.5 and 4.6 were based on the number of records shown in table 4.4. 3) Criminal record, as reported in tables 4.4-4.6, is limited to prior adult convictions. For some defendants in these tables, it is further limited to the portion of their criminal record that is relevant for calculating sentences under the Federal sentencing guidelines. In general, this is limited to sentences imposed within a 15-year period prior to the current offense and offenses committed within the United States. For most defendants, the criminal history used to calculate sentencing guideline ranges is tantamount to their entire adult criminal history. Chapter 5 Appeals Prior to implementation of the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984, only criminal convictions could be appealed. However, the Sentencing Reform Act provided for the appellate review of sentences imposed given that the sentence was (1) imposed in violation of the law; (2) imposed as the result of an incorrect sentencing guideline application; (3) outside the recommended guideline sentencing range; or (4) imposed for an offense for which no sentencing guideline exists and is plainly unreasonable. Both the defendant and the Government have the right to appeal an imposed sentence (18 U.S.C. & 3742). Appeals filed (tables 5.1 and 5.2) During 1997 the U.S. Court of Appeals received 10,521 criminal appeals. Of all appeals, 4% were filed by the Government (not shown in a table). Forty-six percent of appeals filed in 1997 challenged both the conviction and the sentence imposed. Nearly twice as many appeals challenged only the sentence imposed as those that challenged only the conviction (25% versus 13%). Fourteen percent of appeals filed were appeals of convictions for crimes committed before 1987, when the sentencing guidelines took effect (figure 5.1: Nearly half of all appeals filed challenged both the conviction and the sentence imposed. Types of criminal appeal cases during October 1, 1996 - September 30, 1997). The distribution of appeals by type of appeal filed (sentence, conviction, or both) was relatively constant across the major offense categories underlying the appeal. However, 32% of appeals filed for immigration offenses appealed only the sentence, compared to 23% for public-order offenses and 25% for all criminal categories. Thirty-four percent of appeals filed for robbery convictions were appealing only the sentence. Nearly half of all appeals filed (for which the offense is known) were for drug convictions (47%). Appeals for public-order convictions comprised 26% of all appeals filed, property offenses comprised 20%, and the remaining 7% of appeals filed were for violent offenses (figure 5.2: Nearly half of all appeals filed were for drug convictions. Source: Appeals cases filed, by type of offense during October 1, 1996 - September 30, 1997). Appeals terminated (tables 5.3-5.5) A total of 10,466 appeals terminated during 1997. Of these, 46% were appeals of both the sentence and conviction, 25% were appeals of the sentence only, and 12% were appeals of the conviction only. Fourteen percent were appeals of convictions for offenses sentenced under laws in effect prior to the sentencing guidelines. In nearly half of all appeals terminated in 1997 (for which the offense is known), drug offense convictions underlie the appeal (49%); for 25%, the underlying offense was a public-order offense; for 19%, the underlying offense was a property offense; and 7% were appeals for violent offense convictions. For 46% of public-order appeals, the underlying offense of conviction was for weapons. Robbery offenses composed 43% and murder composed 20% of the underlying offenses for appeals of a violent conviction. Of the 10,466 appeals terminated during 1997, 78% were terminated on the merits, while the remainder were terminated on procedural grounds (figure 5.3: Most appeals were terminated on the merits. Of appeals terminated on the merits, most lower court decisions were affirmed. Source: Disposition of criminal appeals terminating during October 1, 1996 - September 30, 1997). For appeals based on a conviction of a violent offense or a public-order offense, 80% were terminated on the merits. Also terminated on the merits were 79% of appeals based on a drug conviction and 76% of appeals based on a property conviction. Within these major offense categories, the appeals having the highest rates of termination on the merits were based on a conviction for a custom law violation (94%), a rape conviction (92%), and a conviction for escaping from a Federal prison (91%). In 80% of appeals terminated on the merits, the district court ruling was affirmed. In another 6% it was partially affirmed. Eighty-three percent of all drug offense appeals were affirmed, as were 79% of violent offense appeals and public-order appeals. Seventy-seven percent of property offense appeals were affirmed. District court decisions were reversed or remanded back to the court in 8% of the cases. Public-order offenses had the highest rate of reversal or being remanded back to the court (11%). Nine percent of property offense appeals were reversed or remanded, as were 8% of violent and 7% of drug offense appeals. Overall, appeals were dismissed in 5% of cases. Across major offense categories, this dismissal rate remained relatively constant. Chapter notes Tables in chapter 5 were created from the AOUSC appeals database. Records of appeals filed or terminated during October 1, 1996, through September 30, 1997, were selected. Data include records of 10,521 criminal appeals filed during fiscal year 1997 and 10,466 appeals terminated during the same period. The unit of analysis in the appeals data is a single case. Most records in the appeals data report on a single appellant. Appeals were classified into the offense categories that represent the underlying offense of conviction. Offenses represent the statutory offense charged against a defendant in a criminal appeal. Offenses were classified by the AOUSC into their four digit offense codes. These were then aggregated into the offense categories shown in the tables. Chapter 6 Corrections Supervision During 1997, 38,503 offenders terminated active supervision of probation, parole or mandatory release, or a term of supervised release. Active supervision can terminate upon one of two events: (1) a temporary removal or (2) a permanent closure. A temporary removal to inactive status can occur because of a violation (usually absconding, a warrant for arrest, or failure to appear for a hearing) or for some other reason, such as long-term hospitalization. A permanent closure of supervision occurs in one of three ways: (1) the offender successfully completes the supervision term without violating conditions; (2) the offender is returned to prison following a violation of conditions or conviction for a new crime; or (3) the offender's supervision is closed for administrative reasons. The tables in this chapter classify termination of active supervision as "no violation" (a successful completion or a removal without violations), as technical violations or new crimes (removals with violations or returns to prison), or as administrative case closures. Violation of the conditions of supervision or arrest for a new offense can result in imposition of additional restrictions or in removal from active supervision. Removal from active supervision may entail incarceration of a probationer or reincarceration of an offender who was under parole or supervised release. Offenders who are removed from active supervision with violations, but who are not incarcerated, may have some other action taken against them, such as deportation, issuance of an arrest warrant, assignment to community corrections, or supervision by some other State or local authority. Federal offenders under supervision (table 6.1) As of the end of the fiscal year 1997, there were 90,751 offenders under active Federal supervision, of which 88% had been convicted of a felony. Almost two-thirds were serving a term of post-incarceration supervision: supervised release (51,140) or parole (6,872). The remainder (32,739) were on probation. Most of those on probation had been convicted of either a felony property offense (39%) or a misdemeanor (32%). More than half of offenders under supervised release (52%) and parolees (54%) had been convicted of a drug offense. Outcomes of offenders completing supervision (tables 6.3, 6.5, and 6.7) Probation (table 6.3) -- During 1997, 16,748 offenders completed one or more terms of active probation. Overall, 83% of offenders successfully completed their term of probation, another 15% violated the conditions of supervision, and 2% had their supervision administratively terminated. Of offenders terminating probation, 5% committed a new crime (figure 6.1: Offenders terminating parole or supervised release violated their terms of supervision at higher rates than offenders terminating probation. Source: Violation rates of offenders terminating probation, supervised release, or parole, by type of violation, October 1, 1996 - September 30, 1997). Most committed technical violations, including drug use (3%) and absconding (2%). Offenders convicted of violent offenses were less likely than others to successfully complete a term of probation without a violation (figure 6.2: Offenders convicted of violent offenses were less likely than others to successfully complete a term of supervision. Source: Violation rates of offenders completing probation, supervised re-lease, or parole, by category of offense, October 1, 1996 - September 30, 1997 ). During 1997, 34% of probationers convicted of violent offenses violated their conditions of probation, as did 14% of drug, 13% of property, and 9% of public-order offenders. Violent offenders were also more likely to commit new crimes (11%) than were drug (6%), property (5%), and public-order (4%) offenders. Supervised release (table 6.5) -- During 1997, 17,896 offenders completed terms of supervised release. Overall, 65% of these offenders successfully completed their term of supervised release; 21% committed technical violations, such as drug use (8%) and absconding (4%); and 12% committed a new crime (figure 6.1). The remaining 3% had their supervision administratively terminated. Offenders convicted of violent offenses were less likely than others to complete a term of supervised release without a violation (figure 6.2). Fifty-five percent of violent offenders violated conditions of supervised release, while 33% of drug, 32% of public-order, and 27% of property offenders violated supervised release. Violent offenders were also more likely to commit new crimes (17%) than were public-order (13%), drug (12%), or property (10%) offenders. Parole (table 6.7) -- During 1997, 3,859 offenders completed terms of parole. Overall, 60% of these offenders successfully completed their term of parole; 23% committed technical violations, such as drug use (11%) and absconding (4%); and 13% committed a new crime. The remaining 5% had their supervision administratively terminated. Offenders convicted of violent offenses were less likely than others to complete a term of parole without a violation (figure 6.2). Fifty-eight percent of violent offenders violated conditions of parole, while 29% of public-order, and 28% of both property and drug offenders violated parole. Violent offenders were also more likely to commit new crimes (21%) than offenders convicted of public-order (15%), property (10%), or drug (10%) offenses. Characteristics of offenders completing supervision (tables 6.4, 6.6, and 6.8) Probation (table 6.4) -- Among offenders who completed a term of probation, 74% were male; 69% were white; 90% were of non-Hispanic origin; 31% were less than age 31 (compared to 40% over age 40); 26% had less than a high school diploma (compared to 38% who had a high school diploma and 37% who had at least some college education); and 81% had no known drug history. Younger offenders, those with a history of drug abuse, and those with a lower educational background had higher probabilities of violating the conditions of probation. Offenders ages 16 to 20 were more likely (33%) to violate probation conditions than probationers in other age groups 22% of those ages 21 to 30 and 12% of those over age 30. Probationers with a history of drug abuse were almost 7 times more likely to violate probation for drug use than offenders who were not drug abusers. Probationers with a history of drug abuse were also more likely to violate supervision for other reasons (fugitive status and new crimes) than were other probationers. Probationers with lower levels of education were more likely to violate the conditions of probation than those with higher levels of education (figure 6.3: Those having lower levels of education were more likely to violate conditions of supervision. Source: Rates of violation of conditions of supervision, by level of education, October 1, 1996 - September 30, 1997). Those who did not graduate high school had a 22% violation rate, those who were high school graduates had a 16% violation rate, those with some college had a 12% violation rate, and those with a college degree had a 6% violation rate. Supervised release (table 6.6) -- Among those who completed a term of supervised release, 85% were male; 67% were white; 84% were of non-Hispanic origin; 26% were less than age 31 (38% were over age 40); 38% had only some high school (35% had a high school diploma and 27% had at least some college); and 56% had no known drug history. Younger offenders, those with a history of drug abuse, and those with a lower educational background had higher probabilities of violating the conditions of supervised release. Offenders ages 16 to 20 were more likely to violate conditions of their supervision than offenders in other age groups -- 69% of those ages 16 to 20 violated a condition of their supervision compared to 46% of those ages 21 to 30 and 27% of those over age 30. Releasees with a history of drug a- buse were almost 5 times more likely to terminate their supervision for technical violations of drug use than were releasees who were not drug abusers. Releasees with a history of drug abuse were also more likely to violate supervision because of fugitive status or new crimes. Similarly, releasees with lower levels of education were more likely to violate conditions of supervised release than those with higher levels of education (figure 6.3). Those who did not graduate from high school had a 41% violation rate, those who were high school graduates had a 32% violation rate, those with some college had a 23% violation rate, and those with a college degree had a 12% violation rate. Parole (table 6.8) -- Among those who completed a term of parole, 96% were male; 66% were white; 86% were of non-Hispanic origin; 72% were over age 40; 44% had only some high school (33% had a high school diploma and 22% had at least some college); and 48% had no known drug history. Offenders with a history of drug abuse and those with a lower educational background had higher probabilities of violating the conditions of parole. Releasees with a history of drug abuse were almost 5 times more likely to terminate their supervision for technical violations of drug use as were releasees who were not drug abusers. Releasees with a history of drug abuse were also more likely to violate supervision because of fugitive status or new crimes. Similarly, releasees with lower levels of education were more likely to violate conditions of supervised release than those with higher levels of education (figure 6.3). Those who did not graduate from high school had a 41% violation rate, those who were high school graduates had a 35% violation rate, those with some college had a 31% violation rate, and those with a college degree had a 10% violation rate. Admissions, releases, and standing population of Federal prisoners (table 6.9) The Federal prison population grew by 6,565 persons during fiscal year 1997, increasing from 92,379 sentenced prisoners to 98,944. The greatest growth was among drug and public-order offenders, particularly immigration offenders. The number of drug offenders in prison grew by 3,868 in 1997. The number of immigration offenders increased by 945. In contrast, the number of weapons offenders grew at a slower rate, increasing by 317. Federal prisoners: First releases and time served (tables 6.11-6.14) During 1997, 31,894 prisoners were released from Federal prison for the first time after serving a sentence imposed by a U.S. district court. ***Footnote 1 Tables 6.11-6.13 include only prisoners first released by the BOP during 1997.*** Of these, 29,080 were released by standard means. These standard releases served an average of 28.8 months (table 6.12) in prison -- 91% of the sentence imposed, on average (table 6.14). *** Footnote 2 Average time to first release is the number of months in Bureau of Prisons facilities minus credits for time spent in jail prior to final disposition or sentencing. Percent of sentence served is the average percentage of each individual prisoner's percent of total sentence obligation served until first release.*** The remaining 2,814 first releases were released by extraordinary means: 1,689 were released early due to participation in a drug treatment program; 291 had their sentences commuted; 338 were deported; 212 died; and 284 were released for other reasons including escape and an intensive confinement program (table 6.11). Drug offenders made up the vast majority of those released by extraordinary means (79%). Time served until first release varied by offense: Violent offenders served an average of 53.8 months; drug offenders served an average of 42.5 months; public-order offenders served an average of 17.9 months; and property offenders served an average of fewer than 15.3 months (figure 6.4: Violent and drug offenders were released from longer prison terms and served more time than property and public-order offenders. Source: Mean time to first release (months), by offense, October 1, 1996 -September 30, 1997). During 1997 the average time to first release for public-order offenders was influenced heavily by the relatively short time served by immigration offenders. Immigration offenders composed 59% of all public-order offenders and, on average, served 10.9 months until first release. This was slightly more than half of the average time served for all public-order offenders (17.9). Exclusive of immigration offenders, public-order offenders served an average of 28.1 months until first release (not shown in a table). While violent and drug offenders served more time before first release, property and public-order offenders served more of their sentences than violent and drug offenders (figure 6.4). Old law offenders - those who committed crimes before the implementation of Federal Sentencing Guidelines in November 1987 that were released in 1997 are not separately shown in any tables. Only 3%, or 956, released offenders were old law offenders. New law offenders released during 1997 served, on average, 26.7 months in prison (92% of the sentence imposed). Since the Guidelines became effective as of November 1987, new law offenders sentenced to terms of imprisonment greater than 139 months could not have been released by standard means as of the end of 1997. *** Footnote 3 The Federal Sentencing Guidelines allow a prisoner up to 54 days per year for good behavior, so a prisoner sentenced to 139 months in prison in November 1987 could have served 118 months of his or her sentence and been released in 1997.*** They could have been released for extraordinary reasons such as death, commutation, or treaty transfer. *** Footnote 4 Prisoners released for extraordinary reasons have been excluded from all time served and percent of sentence served calculations.*** Characteristics of Federal prisoners (tables 6.10, 6.15, and 6.16) Standing population (table 6.10) -- Of prisoners in Federal prison at the end of 1997, 93% were male, 58% were white, 39% were black, 27% were Hispanic, and 76% were U.S. citizens. Fifty-eight percent of the yearend population were 31 years of age or older. This portrait of the Federal prison population was similar across offenses and for new law offenders, except for the ethnicity and citizenship of violent and property offenders. More than 90% of these offenders were non-Hispanic and U.S. citizens. Prisoners released (table 6.15) -- Of prisoners released during 1997, 89% were male, 73% were white, 24% were black, 38% were Hispanic, and 63% were U.S. citizens. Fifty-six percent were 31 years of age or older. These patterns were similar across offenses and for new law offenders, except with nonregulatory public-order offenses. Of released offenders convicted of those offenses, 61% were Hispanic and 64% were not U.S. citizens. Time served to first release (table 6.16) -- Of prisoners released by standard methods, males served more time than females, blacks served more time than whites, non-Hispanics served more time than Hispanics, older persons served more time than younger (until over age 40), and U.S. citizens served more time than noncitizens (figure 6.5: Males, blacks, non-Hispanics, older persons, and U.S. citizens served more time before first release. Source: Characteristics of first releasees, October 1, 1996 - September 30, 1997). However, among the offenses, the overall pattern does not always hold, except for males and females. For example, blacks served more time on average than whites, but among property offenders released from prison, whites served more time than blacks. Chapter notes 1) Offenders were classified according to their most serious offense at conviction. In cases involving multiple offenses, the AOUSC offense severity hierarchy was applied. The most serious offense was the one with the most severe penalty imposed. If equal prison terms were imposed, or there was no imprisonment, the offense with the highest severity code, as determined by the U.S. Title and Code Criminal Offense Citations Manual, was selected. 2) Table 6.1 was created using the probation, parole, and supervision data files of the Federal Probations Supervision Information System (FPSIS), which is maintained by the AOUSC. Year end pending cases (that is, records with offenders who were under active supervision as of the end of the fiscal year, September 30, 1997) were selected. Corporate defendants were excluded from table 6.1. 3) Tables 6.3-6.8 were created using the FPSIS data files as well. Only records with one or more terminations of active supervision during October 1, 1996, through September 30, 1997, were selected. Each termination was counted separately. Technical violations and terminations for new crimes are shown only if supervision terminated with incarceration or removal from active supervision for reasons of a violation. Corporate defendants were excluded from tables 6.3-6.8. 4) Table 6.9-6.16 were created from the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) data files. Tables 6.9 and 6.10 show sentenced prisoners in the custody of the BOP at the end of fiscal year 1997. Tables 6.11-6.16 include only prisoners committed by U.S. district courts or released by the BOP during fiscal year 1997. In these tables, a single person may be counted more than once if that person was committed into, or released from, the BOP more than one time during fiscal year 1997, or if that person appears in more than one column in a table, e.g., commitment and population.Offense categories in these tables were based on combinations of offense designations used by the BOP. They are similar, but may not be directly comparable, to the categories used in other tables of this Compendium. Offenses for some prisoners admitted or released were not able to be classified; these offenders were included in the totals and are shown as "other prisoners" on the last line of tables. In these tables, offenses were classified according to the offense associated with the longest single sentence actually imposed. Classifications in other tables may have been based on the longest potential sentence allowed by law. 5) Tables 6.9-6.16 distinguish between prisoners committed by U.S. district courts for violations of the U.S. Code and other prisoners. Prisoners released after commitment from U.S. district court are called "first releases." The other admissions and releases include offenders who returned to prison after their first release (such as probation, parole, or supervised release violators), offenders convicted in other courts (such as military or District of Columbia courts), and persons admitted to prison as material witnesses or for purposes of treatment, examination, or transfer to another authority. Offenders who entered or left a prison temporarily -- such as for transit to another location, for health care, or to serve a weekend sentence -- were not counted as admitted or released. Persons who were detained for deportation by the Immigration and Naturalization Service and who were not criminal offenders were also not included in the tables. Table 6.11 distinguishes between standard and extraordinary methods of release from prison. "Standard" releases include the usual methods of exiting from prison, such as full-term sentence expirations, expirations with good time, mandatory releases, and releases to parole. Extraordinary releases are unusual exits from prison, such as death, commutation, and transfer to another facility. 6) Tables 6.11-6.16 include only prisoners committed by U.S. district courts and released by the BOP during fiscal year 1997. Prisoners committed by U.S. district court -- but not for a violation of the U.S. Code, or whose offense could not be classified -- were included in the total but are not shown separately. Table 6.9, however, shows these prisoners separately. Other prisoners -- such as probation and parole violators and prisoners committed by other courts, such as courts martial or District of Columbia Superior Court, were excluded from tables 6.11-6.16, as were other persons admitted to Federal prison but not committed from a U.S. district court. 7) In tables 6.11-6.16, time served was calculated for prisoner's arrival into jurisdiction of the BOP until first release from prison, plus any jail time served and credited. The calculation is the same as that currently used by the BOP. Prisoners serving consecutive sentences may have total imposed sentences exceeding the longest single sentence length. Accordingly, time actually served may exceed the longest single imposed sentence. The percent of sentenced served (in tables 6.12 and 6.14) is the average of each individual prisoner's percent of sentence served. Because other publications may include different groups of prisoners, calculate time served differently, or use a different offense classification, data in tables in this Compendium may differ from estimates of time served in previous publications by the BOP or in publications based on other data sources. Time served, as reported in tables 6.11-6.16 in this Compendium, may not be directly comparable to the calculation of time served in the 1993 and prior compendia. The methodology in this report uses additional information to identify prison commitment dates and account for jail credit. In previous reports, jail credits were overestimated in some cases. In addition, time served estimates reported in tables 6.12-6.14 and 6.16 include only prisoners released by standard methods (expirations, mandatory releases, and releases to parole). Prisoners released by extraordinary means (death, commutation, transfer, etc.) are excluded from the time served calculations in these tables. 8) Table 6.9 shows all persons admitted to, or released from, the jurisdiction of the BOP during fiscal year 1997. Prisoners counted in this column are the same as prisoners included in tables 6.11, 6.12, and 6.13. Table 6.9 shows in separate columns, as well as in the total, prisoners committed by a U.S. district court -- but not for a violation of the U.S. code, or whose offense could not be classified. Other columns in table 6.9 include prisoners who were committed by other courts, returned to prison for violation of the conditions of supervision, or were received for examination, treatment, or transfer to another jurisdiction. Offenders who returned to prison for a violation of the conditions of supervision without a new court commitment, were classified according to the offense with the longest single sentence originally imposed at conviction. Methodology The Federal justice database Source of data The source of data for all tables in this Compendium is the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) Federal justice database. The database is presently constructed from source files provided by the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, the United States Sentencing Commission, and the U.S. Bureau of Prisons. The Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts also maintains the data collected by the Pretrial Services Agency, the U.S. Court of Appeals, and the U.S. Probation Service. Federal law prohibits the use of these files for any purposes other than research or statistics. A description of the source agency data files is provided in the table at the end of this section. Some records in the Federal justice database are matched according to a statistically weighted combination of names, other personal identifiers, dates of court appearances, types of offenses, and other relevant information contained in the files. Using the matched data files, it is possible to combine information about two or more stages of the processing of a criminal matter or case, for example from adjudication to probation or parole supervision. Reporting period Wherever possible, matters or cases have been selected according to some event which occurred during fiscal year 1997 (October 1, 1996, through September 30, 1997). Some data files provided by source agencies are organized according to a calendar year time frame; these have been combined and divided into fiscal years for purposes of the Compendium. Files which are organized by their source agencies according to fiscal year nonetheless include some pertinent records in later years' files. For example, tabulations of suspects in matters concluded during fiscal year 1997 in this Compendium have been assembled from source files containing records of 1997 matters concluded which were entered into the data system during fiscal years 1997 or 1998. Availability of data items The availability of particular items of information is affected by the data source. For example, data on prosecutors' decisions prior to court filing are provided for cases investigated by U.S. attorneys but not for those handled by other litigating divisions of the U.S. Department of Justice. Criminal Division cases enter the data base once they are filed in U.S. district court, however. Many items of social and demographic information come from presentence investigation records, supervision records, or sentencing records, and are available only for arrested defendants who were convicted and/or began serving a sentence involving supervised release. This particularly affects sex, race, ethnicity, and prior record information. Table construction and interpretation The tables presented report events that occurred during the Federal fiscal year -- October 1, 1995 - September 30, 1996. Generally, the tables include both individual and organizational defendants. Organizational defendants are not included in tables describing pretrial release and detention or tables showing defendants sentenced to incarceration. Juvenile offenders are included in the reported statistics. Unit of analysis The unit of analysis in chapters 1 through 5 is a combination of a person (or corporation) and a matter or case. For example, if a single person is involved in three different criminal cases during the time period specified in the table, he or she is counted three times in the tabulation. Similarly, if a single criminal case involves a corporate defendant and four individual defendants, it counts five times in the tabulation. In chapter 6, the unit of analysis for incarceration, probation, parole, or other supervised release is a person entering custody or supervision, or a person leaving custody or supervision. For example, a person convicted in two concurrent cases and committed once to the custody of the Federal Bureau of Prisons in the indicated time period is counted as one admission to a term of incarceration. A person who terminates probation twice in the indicated time period, such as with a violation and again after reinstatement, is counted as two terminations of probation. Interpretation The tables in the Compendium are constructed to permit the user to make valid comparisons of numbers within each table and to compare percentage rates across tables. The total numbers of subjects in Compendium tables that are based on records linked between two files are generally less than the total number of records in either source file. Accordingly, comparisons of absolute numbers across two or more tables in this volume and other data sources are not necessarily valid. Offense classifications Procedure The offense classification procedure used in this Compendium is based on the classification system followed by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts. Specific offenses combined to form the BJS categories shown in the Compendium tables.* (These categories correspond to the Bureau of Justice Statistics crime definitions and, to the extent possible, are organized and presented consistent with BJS publications on State criminal justice systems.) For data from the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, which include United States Code citations but do not include the Administrative Office offense classifications, United States Code titles and sections are translated into the Administrative Office classification system and then aggregated into the offense categories used in the tables. Offense categories for prisoners in chapter 6 are based on combinations of offense designations used by the Bureau of Prisons. They are similar to the categories in other chapters and other tables in chapter 6, but may not be directly comparable. Felony/misdemeanor distinctions Felony and misdemeanor distinctions are provided where possible. Felony offenses are those with a maximum penalty of more than 1 year in prison. Misdemeanor offenses are those with a maximum penalty of 1 year or less. Felonies and misdemeanors are further classified using the maximum term of imprisonment authorized. Section 3559, U.S. Code, Title 18 classifies offenses according to the following schedule: Felonies Class A felony -- life imprisonment, or if the maximum penalty is death. Class B felony -- 25 years or more. Class C felony -- less than 25 years but more than 10 years. Class D felony -- less than 10 years but more than 5 years. Class E felony -- less than 5 years but more than 1 year. Misdemeanors Class A misdemeanor -- 1 year or less but more than 1 month. Class B misdemeanor -- 6 months or less but more than 30 days. Class C misdemeanor -- 30 days or less but more than 5 days. Infraction -- -- -- -- 5 days or less, or if no imprisonment is authorized. In this Compendium, felony and misdemeanor distinctions are provided where the data permit these distinctions. Chapter 1 does not use this distinction because many suspects cannot be so classified at the investigation stage in the criminal justice process. Chapter 2 no longer reports this distinction because the Pretrial Services Agency no longer gathers this information. Chapters 3 and 4 distinguish between felony and misdemeanor offenses, as do tables 6.1 6.6. Tables 6.7 6.11 follow the convention of other BJS publications by separately tabulating offenders whose actual imposed sentences are less than or equal to 1 year and those whose actual sentences are greater than 1 year. Most serious offense selection Where more than one offense is charged or adjudicated, the most serious offense (the one that may or did result in the most severe sentence) is used to classify offenses. The offense description may change as the criminal justice process proceeds. Tables indicate whether investigated, charged or adjudicated offenses are used. In chapter 1, the most serious offense is based on the criminal lead charge as determined by the assistant U.S. attorney responsible for the criminal proceeding. In chapter 2, the major charged offense is based upon the Administrative Office's offense severity classification system, as determined by the pretrial officer responsible for the case. To select this offense, the officer ranks offenses according to severity based on maximum imprisonment, type of crime, and maximum fines. In chapter 3, the most serious offense charged is the one that has the most severe potential sentence. For chapter 4, conviction offenses are based on statutory maximum penalties. In chapter 5, offenses are classified by the offense of conviction. In tables 6.1 6.6, the most serious offense of conviction is either the one having the longest sentence imposed or, if equal sentences were imposed or there was no imprisonment, it was the offense carrying the highest severity code as determined by the Administrative Office's offense severity code ranking. In tables 6.7 6.13, prisoners are classified according to the offense which bears the longest single incarceration sentence. Offense categories For offense categories in all text tables, the following conditions apply: "Murder" includes nonnegligent manslaughter. "Other sex offenses" may include some nonviolent offenses. "Fraud" excludes tax fraud. "Larceny" excludes transportation of stolen property. "Other property felonies" excludes fraudulent property offenses, and includes destruction of property and trespass. "Tax law violations" includes tax fraud. "Obscene material" denotes the mail or transport thereof. "All other felonies" includes felonies with unknown or unclassifiable offense type. "Misdemeanors" includes misdemeanors, petty offenses, and unknown offense levels. "Drug possession" also includes other drug misdemeanors. Figure S.2. Figure S.2. uses data from the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys to provide an overview of case processing in the Federal criminal justice system. The figure uses data from two separate cohorts of persons involved in criminal proceedings. The data on suspects in criminal matters concluded and defendants prosecuted come from the cohort of suspects in matters concluded during October 1, 1996, through September 30, 1997. (The filing of charges in a criminal case is one conclusion of a matter; the other is the declination of the matter for prosecution.) For the other three outcomes in figure S.2. offenders convicted, sentenced to prison, or given a term of probation -- the data come from the cohort of defendants in cases terminating during fiscal year 1997 in U.S. district courts (by either a judge or a magistrate). A total of 99,459 suspects were investigated in matters concluded by U.S. attorneys during 1997 (table 1.2). Sixty-seven percent of these suspects were prosecuted in U.S. district court, either before U.S. district court judges (60,383/99,459 = 60.7%) or before U.S. magistrates (10,007/99,459 = 10.1%). The conviction data in figureS.2. refer to defendants in cases terminated in U.S. district court during 1997, whether before U.S. district court judges or U.S. magistrates. Fifty-seven percent (56,570/99,459) of the defendants in cases terminating during 1997 were convicted (table 3.2). Of the defendants investigated, 40% (39,431/99,459) were reported as sentenced to a term of imprisonment, and 13% (12,801/99,459) were sentenced to a term of probation without imprisonment (table 4.2). These figures are based on all charges, whether they eventually were felony or misdemeanor offenses. Glossary Acquittal -- legal judgment that a criminal defendant has not been proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of the charges against him. Affirmed -- in the appellate courts, the decree or order is declared valid and will stand as rendered in the lower court. Agriculture violations -- violations of the Federal statutes on agriculture and conservation: for example, violations of the Agricultural Acts, Insecticide Act, and the Packers and Stockyards Act, 1921; also violations of laws concerning plant quarantine and the handling of animals pertaining to research (7 U.S.C., except sections on food stamps (fraud); also 16 U.S.C. sections relating generally to violations in operating public parks, such as trespassing for hunting, shooting, and fishing). Antitrust violations -- offenses relating to Federal antitrust statutes, which aim to protect trade and commerce from unlawful restraints, price fixing, monopolies (for example, 15 U.S.C. && 1, 3, 8, 20, and 70(i)), and discrimination in pricing or in furnishing services or facilities (15 U.S.C. && 13(c) and 13(e)). Appeal -- a review by a higher court of a judgment or decision of a lower court. Appeals, U.S. Court of -- an intermediate Federal court, inferior to the U.S. Supreme Court, but higher than the U.S. district court. The function of the U.S. court of appeals is to review the final decisions of the district courts, if challenged. There are 13 courts of appeal in the Federal system representing the 12 judicial circuits and the Federal circuit (28 U.S.C. & 41). Appellant -- the party which takes an appeal from 1 court or jurisdiction to another; opposite of appellee. Appellee -- the party against whom the appeal is taken; opposite of appellant. Arson -- willfully or maliciously setting, or attempting to set, fire to any property within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States as defined in 18 U.S.C. & 7 (18 U.S.C. & 81; and 49A U.S.C. && 1804 and 1809). (See also, "Explosives.") Assault -- intentionally inflicting or attempting or threatening to inflict bodily injury to another person. Applies to anyone within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States as defined in 18 U.S.C. & 7, or to any Government official, foreign official, official guest, internationally protected person, or any officer or employee of the United States designated in 18 U.S.C. & 1114 (for example, 16 U.S.C. && 1857(e) and 1859; 18 U.S.C. && 111(a), 112(b), 113(c)(e), 114, 115(c), 351(d)(e), 372, 373, 1502, 1751(c), 1959, 2118(c), and 2231(a); 21 U.S.C. && 461(c), 675(b), and 1041(c); 26 U.S.C. && 7212(a)(b); 29 U.S.C. & 1141; 46 U.S.C. & 701; and 49A U.S.C. & 1472(k)); also certain violations of the Fair Housing Act of 1968 (42 U.S.C. && 3610 and 3631). Bail -- the sum of money promised as a condition of release, to be paid if a released defendant defaults (18 U.S.C. & 3142(c)). Bribery -- offering or promising anything of value with intent to unlawfully influence a public official in the discharge of official duties. Applies generally to bank employees, officers or employees of the U.S. Government, witnesses, or any common carrier. Includes soliciting or receiving anything of value in consideration of aiding a person to obtain employment in the U.S. Government. Also, receiving or soliciting any remuneration, directly or indirectly, in cash or any kind in return for purchasing, ordering, leasing, or recommending to purchase any good, service, or facility (18 U.S.C. && 201(a), 203(a)(b), 204, 207(a)(c), 208, 210, 211, 213, 215, and 663; 21 U.S.C. & 622; 46 U.S.C. & 239(i); and 49 U.S.C. && 104, 917(b), and 11904(b)). Burglary -- breaking and entering into another's property with intent to steal within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States, as defined in 18 U.S.C. & 7. Includes breaking and entering into any official bank, credit union, savings and loan institution, post office, vessel or steamboat assigned to the use of mail service, or personal property of the United States; or breaking the seal or lock of any carrier facility containing interstate or foreign shipments of freight or express (18 U.S.C. && 2111, 2113(a), and 2115-17). Career offender -- defendants are counted as career offenders if they are at least 18 years old at the time of the instant offense, if the instant offense of conviction is a felony -- that is either a crime of violence or a drug crime; and if they have at least two prior felony convictions of either a crime of violence or a drug crime. Case -- in this Compendium, a judicial proceeding for the determination of a controversy between parties wherein rights are enforced or protected, or wrongs are prevented or redressed; any proceeding judicial in its nature. Civil rights -- violations of civil liberties such as the personal, natural rights guaranteed and protected by the Constitution. Includes the Civil Rights Acts, such as those enacted after the Civil War, and more recently in 1957 and 1964. Collateral bond -- an agreement made by a defendant as a condition of his or her pretrial release that requires the defendant to post property valued at the full bail amount as an assurance of his or her intention to appear at trial. Communication -- violations covering areas of communication such as the Communications Act of 1934 (including wire tapping and wire interception). A communication is ordinarily considered to be a deliberate interchange of thoughts or opinions between two or more persons. Community confinement -- a form of commitment either as a substitute for Federal imprisonment or as a condition of probation in a community treatment center, halfway house, restitution center, mental health facility, alcohol or drug rehabilitation center, or other community facility; and participation in gainful employment, employment search efforts, community service, vocational training, treatment, educational programs, or similar facility-approved programs during non-residential hours. Under the Federal sentencing guidelines, community confinement may be a substitute for imprisonment on a day-to-day basis for defendants with a guideline maximum of less than 16 months of imprisonment (see also, U.S.S.G. & 5C1.1(e)). Complaint -- a written statement of the essential facts constituting the offense charged, with an offer to prove the fact, so that a prosecution may be instituted. The complaint can be "taken out" by the victim, the police officer, the district attorney, or other interested party. Concurrent sentence -- a sentence imposed which is to be served at the same time as another sentence imposed earlier or during the same proceeding (18 U.S.C. & 3584). (See also, "Consecutive sentence.") Conditional release -- in this Compendium, at the pretrial stage, a conditional release is release from detention contingent on any combination of restrictions that are deemed necessary to guarantee the defendant's appearance at trial or the safety of the community (see text in Chapter 2 of this Compendium.) Consecutive sentence -- a sentence imposed that will follow another sentence imposed earlier or during the same proceeding; opposite of concurrent sentence. Conspiracy -- an agreement by two or more persons to commit or to effect the commission of an unlawful act or to use unlawful means to accomplish an act that is not in itself unlawful; also any overt act in furtherance of the agreement. A person charged with conspiracy is classified under the substantive offense alleged. Continuing criminal enterprise -- a felony committed as part of a continuing series of violations, which is undertaken by a person in concert with five or more other persons with respect to whom such person occupies a position of organizer, a supervisory position, or any other position of management, and from which such person obtains substantial income or resources (21 U.S.C. & 848(c)). Conviction -- the result of a criminal trial which ends in a judgment that the defendant is guilty. The final judgment on a verdict or finding of guilty, a plea of guilty, or a plea of nolo contendere, but does not include a final judgment which has been expunged by pardon, reversed, set aside, or otherwise rendered invalid. Corporate surety -- in this Compendium, a surety; one who has entered into a bond to give surety for another; for example, bail bondsman. As a condition of his or her release, the defendant enters into an agreement that requires a third party such as a bail bondsman to promise to pay the full bail amount in the event that the defendant fails to appear. (See also, "Surety bond.") Counterfeiting -- falsely making, forging, or altering obligations with a view to deceive or defraud, by passing the copy or thing forged for that which is original or genuine. Applies to obligation or security of the United States, foreign obligation or security, coin or bar stamped at any mint in the United States, money order issued by the Postal Service, domestic or foreign stamp, or seal of any department or agency of the United States. Includes passing, selling, attempting to pass or sell, or bringing into the United States any of the above falsely made articles. Also, making, selling, or possessing any plates or stones (or any other thing or instrument) used for printing counterfeit obligations or securities of the United States, foreign obligations or securities, Government transportation requests, or postal stamp; or knowingly and intentionally trafficking in falsified labels affixed to phonorecords, motion pictures, or audio visual works (for example, 18 U.S.C. && 471, 473, 477, 479, 481, 485, 487, 501, 507, 509, 513(b), 2318, and 2320). Courts -- See "Appeals, U.S. Court of" and "District court, U.S." Pursuant to Article III of the Constitution, judicial power is vested in the following Federal Courts: The U.S. Supreme Court, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, and the U.S. district court for the District of Columbia. Criminal career -- the longitudinal sequence of crimes committed by an individual offender. Criminal history category -- under the Federal sentencing guidelines, a quantification of the defendant's prior criminal record and the defendant's propensity to recidivate. Guideline criminal history categories range from Category I (primarily first-time offenders) to Category VI (career criminals). Custom laws -- violations regarding taxes which are payable upon goods and merchandise imported or exported. Includes the duties, toll, tribute, or tariff payable upon merchandise exported or imported. Deadly or dangerous weapon -- an instrument capable of inflicting death or serious bodily injury. Declination -- the decision by a prosecutor not to file a case in a matter received for investigation. In this Compendium, immediate declinations (i.e., where less than 1 hour of time is spent on a case) are excluded. Defendant -- the party against whom relief or recovery is sought in an action or suit, or the accused in a criminal case. Departure -- under the Federal sentencing guidelines, the term used to describe a sentence imposed outside the applicable guideline sentencing range. A court may depart when it finds an aggravating or mitigating circumstance of a kind, or to a degree, not adequately taken into consideration by the Sentencing Commission in formulating the guidelines that should result in a sentence different from that described (18 U.S.C. & 3553(b); U.S.S.G. & 5K2.0). (See also, "Substantial assistance.") Deposit bond -- an agreement made by a defendant as a condition of his or her release that requires the defendant to post a fraction of the bail before he or she is released. Detention -- the legally authorized confinement of persons after arrest, whether before or during prosecution. Only those persons held 2 or more days are classified as detained in this Compendium. Dismissal -- termination of a case before trial or other final judgment (including nolle prosequi and deferred prosecution). Disposition -- the decision made on a case brought before a criminal court. Distribution -- delivery (other than by administering or dispensing) of a controlled substance (21 U.S.C. & 802(6)). The term "controlled substance" means any drug or other substance, or immediate precursor, included in schedule I, II, III, IV, or V of part B of subchapter I of Chapter 13 (title 21). The term does not include distilled spirits, wine, malt beverages, or tobacco, as those terms are defined or used in subtitle E of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. District court, U.S. -- trial courts with general Federal jurisdiction over cases involving Federal laws or offenses and actions between citizens of different States. District of Columbia -- the jurisdiction of the U.S. district court for the District of Columbia. This Compendium includes Federal offenses prosecuted in U.S. district courts, and except for tables based on data from the Bureau of Prisons, excludes violations of the District of Columbia Code and cases prosecuted in the District of Columbia Superior Court. Drug offenses -- offenses under a Federal or State laws prohibiting the manufacture, import, export, distribution, or dispensing of a controlled substance (or counterfeit substance), or the possession of a controlled substance (or a counterfeit substance) with intent to manufacture, import, export, distribute, or dispense. Also using any communication facilities which causes or facilitates a felony under title 21, or furnishing of fraudulent or false information concerning prescriptions as well as any other unspecified drug-related offense. (See also, "Distribution," "Possession," and "Trafficking.") Embezzlement -- the fraudulent appropriation of property by a person to whom such property has been lawfully entrusted. Includes offenses committed by bank officers or employees; officers or employees of the Postal Service; officers of lending, credit, or insurance institutions; any officer or employee of a corporation or association engaged in commerce as a common carrier; court officers of the U.S. courts; or officers or employees of the United States. Also, stealing from employment and training funds, programs receiving Federal funds, and Indian tribal organizations; or selling, conveying, or disposing of any money, property, records, or thing of value to the United States or any department thereof without authority (for example, 15 U.S.C. & 645(c); 18 U.S.C. && 153, 334, 642-57, 665(a)(b), 666(b), 1163, 1709, 1711, 1956, and 1957; 25 U.S.C. & 450(d); 29 U.S.C. & 502(b); and 42 U.S.C. && 1760, 2971, and 3220(b)). Escape -- departing or attempting to depart from the custody of a correctional institution; a judicial, correctional, or law enforcement officer; or a hospital where one is committed for drug abuse and drug dependency problems. Knowingly advising, aiding, assisting, or procuring the escape or attempted escape of any person from a correctional facility, an officer, or the above-mentioned hospital as well as concealing an escapee. Providing or attempting to provide to an inmate in prison a prohibited object; or making, possessing, obtaining, or attempting to make or obtain a prohibited object (as defined in 18 U.S.C. & 1791(d)(1)(A)). Instigating, assisting, attempting to cause, or causing any mutiny or riot at any Federal penal, detention, or correctional facility, or conveying into any of these institutions any dangerous instrumentalities (for example, 18 U.S.C. && 751(a)(b), 752(a), 753, 755-56, 1071, 1073, 1791(a)(c), (d)(1)(A), 1792, 3146(a)(b)(d), 3147 and 3615; 28 U.S.C. & 1826; 42 U.S.C. && 261 and 3425; and 50 U.S.C & 823). Explosives -- violations of Federal law involving importation, manufacture, distribution, and storage of explosive material. Includes unlawful receipt, possession or transportation of explosives without a license (18 U.S.C. & 842(a)), where prohibited by law (18 U.S.C. & 842(c), or using explosives during commission of a felony (18 U.S.C. & 844(h)). Also includes violations relating to dealing in stolen explosives (18 U.S.C. & 842(h)), using mail or other form of communication to threaten an individual with explosives (18 U.S.C. & 844(e), and possessing explosive materials at an airport (18 U.S.C. & 844(g), and 49A U.S.C. && 1804 and 1809). (See also, "Arson" and 18 U.S.C. && 842(e)(g)(i)(k); and &844(b).) Failure to appear -- willful absence from any court appointment. Felony -- a criminal offense punishable by death or imprisonment for a term exceeding 1 year. According to 18 U.S.C. & 3559, felonies are classified into 5 grades based on maximum terms of imprisonment: ClassA felony, if the maximum term is life imprisonment, or if the maximum penalty is death; Class B, if 25 years or more; Class C, if less than 25 years, but 10 years or more; Class D, if less than 10 years, but five or more years; and Class E, if less than 5 years, but more than 1. -- Filing -- the initiation of a criminal case in U.S. district court by formal submission to the court of a charging document alleging that one or more named persons have committed one or more specified offenses. In this Compendium, each defendant in a case is counted separately, and only the most serious alleged offense is considered. Financial conditions -- monetary conditions upon which release of a defendant before trial is contingent. Includes deposit bond, surety bond, and collateral bond. (See also, "Specific definitions.") First release -- in this Compendium, prisoners who are released from the Bureau of Prisons for the first time after their commitment by a U.S. district court (i.e., excludes offenders who are returned to prison after their first release, such as probation, parole, etc.). Food and drug violations -- violations of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act such as regulations for clean and sanitary movement of animals (21 U.S.C. & 134(b)), adulteration or misbranding of any food or drug (21 U.S.C. & 331(a)), failure to transmit information about prescription drugs (21 U.S.C. & 331(o)), and intent to defraud and distribute adulterated material (21 U.S.C. & 676). (See also, 18 U.S.C. & 1365(b); 21 U.S.C. && 17, 22, 63, 115, 122, 126, 134(d), 142, 144, 151, 153, 155, 158, 201, 205, 209, 210, 212, 331(b)-(g), 331(i)-(n)(p)(t), 333(a), 458(a), 459, 460(a)-(d), 461(a), 463, 466, 610(a)(c), 611(a), 620, 642, 1037, 1041(a), and 1175.) Forgery -- falsely making or materially altering a document with the intent to defraud. Includes such falsification with intent to pass off as genuine any of the following: U.S. Postal Service money order; postmarking stamp or impression; obligation or security of the United States; foreign obligation, security, or bank note; contractors' bond, bid, or public record; deed; power of attorney; letters patent; seal of a court or any department or agency of the U.S. Government; the signature of a judge or court officer; ships' papers; documents on entry of vessels; customs matters; coin or bar; and so forth. Also includes making, possessing, selling, or printing plates or stones for counterfeiting obligations or securities, and detaching, altering, or defacing any official, device, mark or certificate (for example, 18 U.S.C. && 483, 493, 495, 497, 503, 505, 510(a)(b), and 511; 19 U.S.C. & 1436; and 21 U.S.C. && 458(b)(c)). Fraud -- unlawfully depriving a person of his or her property or legal rights through intentional misrepresentation of fact or deceit other than forgery or counterfeiting. Includes violations of statutes pertaining to lending and credit institutions, the Postal Service, interstate wire, radio, television, computer, credit card, veterans benefits, allotments, bankruptcy, marketing agreements, commodity credit, the Securities and Exchange Commission, railroad retirement, unemployment, Social Security, food stamp, false personation, citizenship, passports, conspiracy, and claims and statements, excluding tax fraud. The category excludes fraud involving tax violations that are shown in a separate category under "Public-order, other offenses." (See also, specific offenses in this glossary for citations.) Fraudulent property offenses -- see "Property offenses, fraudulent." Gambling -- the Federal offense of transporting, manufacturing, selling, possessing, or using any gambling device in the District of Columbia or any possession of the United States or within Indian country or the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States as defined in 18 U.S.C. & 7. Includes transporting gambling devices in the jurisdiction of the United States (except under authority of the Federal Trade Commission or any State that has a law providing for their exemption from these provisions), transmitting wagering information in interstate or foreign commerce, interstate transporting of wagering paraphernalia, importing or transporting lottery tickets, or mailing lottery tickets or related matter (for example, 15 U.S.C. && 1173 and 1175; and 18 U.S.C. && 1082(a), 1084, 1302, 1956, and 1962). Good-time -- time credited toward early release to an offender for good behavior in imprisonment. Under the 1984 Sentencing Reform Act, two classes of prisoners are ineligible to receive good-time credits: (1) misdemeanants serving a term of imprisonment of 1 year or less; and (2) felons serving life sentences. All other Federal prisoners receive a flat allocation of 54 days per year of sentence served; credit for a partial year remaining at the end of the sentence is prorated. The annual allotment does not change according to the length of time a Federal inmate already has spent in prison (18 U.S.C. & 3624(b)). Guideline sentencing range -- under the Federal sentencing guidelines, the range of imprisonment corresponding to the applicable guideline offense level and criminal history category. The guideline offense level incorporates any minimum terms of imprisonment required by statute as well as the statutory maximum term of imprisonment, where applicable. Guilty plea -- a plea in response to formal charges admitting that the defendant committed offenses as charged. In this Compendium, this category also includes pleas of nolo contendere. Hispanic -- ethnic category based on classification by reporting agency. Hispanic persons may be of any race. Home detention -- a form of confinement and supervision either as a substitute for imprisonment or as a condition of probation that restricts the defendant to his place of residence continuously (except for authorized absences) and enforced by appropriate means of surveillance by the probation office. Under the Federal sentencing guidelines, home detention may be a substitute for imprisonment on a day to day basis for defendants with a guideline maximum sentence of less than 16 months imprisonment. (See also, U.S.S.G. & 5C1.1.) Homicide -- see "Murder." Immigration offenses -- offenses involving illegal entrance into the United States, illegally reentering after being deported, willfully failing to deport when so ordered, willfully remaining beyond days allowed on conditional permit, or falsely representing oneself to be a citizen of the United States. Includes violations relating to provisions for special agricultural workers and to those relating to limitations on immigrant status (such as employment). Also includes bringing in or harboring any aliens not duly admitted by an immigration officer (for example, 8 U.S.C. && 1160, 1252(d), 1255, 1282(a), 1286, 1324-25, and 1326(a)). Incarceration -- any sentence of confinement, including prison, jail, and other residential placements. Indeterminate sentence -- a prison sentence whose maximum or minimum term is not specifically established at the time of sentencing (18 U.S.C. && 4205(b)(1)(2)). Indictment -- the formal charging of the defendant with a particular crime by a grand jury. In the Federal system, a defendant may waive indictment and be proceeded against through an information. (See also, Fed. R. Crim. P. 7(b).) Information -- the formal accusation charging the defendant with a particular crime but brought by the U.S. Attorney rather than by the grand jury. Infraction -- an offense for which the maximum term of imprisonment is 5 days or less, or where no imprisonment is authorized, according to 18U.S.C. '3559. Instant offense -- the offense of conviction, and all relevant conduct under U.S.S.G & 1B1.3. -- Intermittent confinement -- a form of commitment, in a prison or jail, either as a substitute for imprisonment or as a condition of probation. Under the Federal sentencing guidelines, intermittent confinement may be a substitute for imprisonment (each 24 hours of intermittent confinement is credited as 1 day of incarceration) for defendants with a guideline maximum of less than 16 months imprisonment. (See also, U.S.S.G. & 5C1.1.) Jurisdictional offenses -- acts that are Federal crimes because of the place in which they occur (such as on an aircraft, on Federal land or property) and for certain crimes on Indian reservations or at sea, but which cannot be classified in a more specific substantive category. Juvenile -- a person who has not attained the age of 18 years; or for the purposes of a juvenile delinquency hearing, a person who has not attained the age of 21 years (18 U.S.C. & 5031). Juvenile delinquency -- a violation of Federal law committed by a person prior to the age of 18 years which would have been a crime if committed by an adult (18 U.S.C. & 5031). Kidnaping -- unlawfully seizing any person as defined in 18 U.S.C. & 1201 for ransom or reward, except in the case of a minor by a parent. Includes receiving, possessing, or disposing of any money or other property that has been delivered as ransom or reward in connection with a kidnaping as well as conspiring to kidnap. Also, includes kidnaping or attempting to kidnap any Government official, the President of the United States, the President-elect, the Vice President, any foreign official, any official guest, or any internationally protected person. (See also, 18 U.S.C. & 351(b); and hostage taking as defined in 18 U.S.C. & 1203.) Labor law violations -- violations of, for example, the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 and the Taft-Hartley Act, which govern a broad spectrum of activities relating to labor-management relations (for example, 29 U.S.C. && 186(a), 461(a), 463, 1021(b), 1022, 1023(b)(d), 1024(a)(c), 1027, 1111(a)(b), 1112(c), 1811, 1816, 1821 and 1851). Larceny -- the act of taking and carrying away any personal property of another with intent to steal or convert it to one's own use or gain. Includes stealing, possessing or illegally selling or disposing of anything of value to the United States or any of its departments or agencies; or stealing from a bank, the Postal Service, or any interstate or foreign shipments by carrier. Also encompasses receiving or possessing stolen property or pirate property; and stealing or obtaining by fraud any funds, assets, or that belong to, or are entrusted to, the custody of an Indian tribal organization (for example, 18 U.S.C. && 641, 659, 661-62, 667, 1168(a), 1704, 1707, and 2113(b)). (This offense category excludes the transportation of stolen property.) Liquor violations -- violations of Internal Revenue Service laws on liquor, as well as violations of liquor laws not cited under these laws, such as dispensing or unlawfully possessing intoxicants in Indian country; transporting intoxicating liquors into any State, territory, district, or possession where sale is prohibited; shipping packages containing unmarked and unlabeled intoxicants; shipping liquor by C.O.D.; knowingly delivering a liquor shipment to someone other than to whom it has been consigned; and violating in any way the Federal Alcohol Administration Act (for example, 18 U.S.C. && 1154, 1156, 1263 and 1265; 26 U.S.C. && 5113, 5171(c), 5179, 5214, 5222, 5291, 5301(b), 5601, 5603(a), 5604, 5606, 5608(a), 5661(a), 5662, 5672, 5681(a)(c), 5683, 5685(b) and 5687; and 27 U.S.C. && 203, 205(f), 206(b) and 208(a)). Magistrates (U.S.) (Federal) -- judicial officers appointed by judges of Federal district courts having many but not all of the powers of a judge. Magistrates are designated to hear a wide variety of motions and other pretrial matters in both criminal and civil cases. With consent of the parties, they may conduct civil or misdemeanor criminal trials. Magistrates, however, may not preside over felony trials or over jury selection in felony cases. Mailing or transportation of obscene materials -- a violation of Federal law relating to knowingly using the mail for mailing obscene or crime-inciting matter, as defined in 18 U.S.C. & 1461 and 39 U.S.C. & 3001(e). Also includes transporting for sale or distribution, importing, or transporting any obscene matter in interstate or foreign commerce. (See also, 18 U.S.C. && 1462-63.) Major offense (while on conditional release) -- allegation, arrest, or conviction of a crime for which the minimum sentence is incarceration for over 90 days or greater than 1 year on probation. (See also, PACTS Statistical Reporting Guide, Version 1.0, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.) Mandatory sentences -- a sentence that includes a minimum term of imprisonment that the sentencing court is statutorily required to impose barring the government's motion of substantial assistance. See, for example, 18 U.S.C. && 841 and 960, which provide for mandatory sentences ranging from 5 years imprisonment to life imprisonment depending on the quantity of drugs involved. Mandatory sentencing enhancement -- a form of mandatory sentence in which the minimum term of imprisonment is to be imposed consecutive to any other term of imprisonment imposed. See, for example, 18 U.S.C. & 924(c), which provides for a 5-year to lifetime enhancement for the use of a firearm during the commission of a crime; 18 U.S.C. & 844(h), which provides for a 5-year enhancement for use of firearms or explosives during the commission of a crime; and 18 U.S.C. & 929 which provides for a 5-year enhancement for the use of armor-piercing ammunition during the commission of a crime. Mandatory release -- the release of an inmate from prison after confinement for a time period equal to his or her full sentence minus statutory good-time, if any. Federal prisoners released on mandatory release may still be subject to a period of post-release community supervision. Matter -- in this Compendium, a potential case under review by a U.S. attorney on which more than 1 hour is expended. Matters concluded -- in this Compendium, matters about which a final decision has been reached by a U.S. attorney. Specifically includes matters filed as cases, matters declined after investigation, matters referred for disposition by U.S. magistrates, and matters otherwise terminated without reaching court. Migratory birds offenses -- violations of acts relating to birds which move from one place to another in season. Includes taking, killing, or possessing migratory birds, or any part, nest, or egg thereof, in violation of Federal regulations or the transportation laws of the State, territory, or district from which the bird was taken. Also, misuse or non-use of a migratory-bird hunting and conservation stamp (for example, 16 U.S.C. && 690(g), 701, 703, 704-6, 707(b), 708, 711, and 718(a)(e)(g)). Minor offense (while on conditional release) -- conviction of a crime for which the maximum sentence is incarceration for 90 days or less, probation of 1 year or less, or a fine of $500 or less. (See also, PACTS Statistical Reporting Guide, Version 1.0, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts.) Misdemeanor -- a criminal offense punishable by a jail term not exceeding 1 year and any offense specifically defined as a misdemeanor by the Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts for the purposes of data collection. According to 18 U.S.C. & 3559, misdemeanors are classified in 3 letter grades, based on the maximum terms of imprisonment: Class A, if 1 year or less, but more than 6 months; Class B, if 6 months or less, but more than 30 days; and Class C, 30 days or less, but more than 5 days. (This category includes offenses previously called minor offenses that were reclassified under the Federal Magistrate Act of 1979.) Mixed sentence -- a sentence requiring the convicted offender to serve a term of imprisonment, followed by a term of probation. Unless otherwise noted, offenders receiving mixed sentences are included in both incarceration and probation categories. (See also, "Split sentence.") Most serious offense -- in this Compendium, the offense with the greatest potential sentence; or with respect to tables describing Federal prisoners, the offense with the greatest imposed sentence (for example, prison data in Chapter 6). Motor carrier violations -- violations of the Federal statutes relating to the Motor Carrier Act, which regulates (routes, rates) of motor carriers of freight and passengers in interstate commerce. The Act is administered by the Interstate Commerce Commission (for example, 15 U.S.C. && 1984, 1986, 1988 and 1990; 49 U.S.C. && 117(a), 301(f), 303(f), 322(a)(d), 411, 526, 917(f), 1021(b)(f), 11703, 11903(a), 11904, 11907, 11909(a), 11909(c), 11910, 11913, and 11914; and 49A U.S.C. & 120). Motor vehicle theft -- interstate or foreign transporting, receiving, concealing, storing, bartering, selling, or disposing of any stolen motor vehicle or aircraft (for example, 18 U.S.C. && 2119, 2313, and 2322; and 49A U.S.C. & 1472(i)). Murder -- the unlawful killing of a human being with malice aforethought, either express or implied. Nonnegligent manslaughter is the unlawful killing of a human being without malice. This offense covers committing or attempting to commit murder (first or second degree) or voluntary manslaughter within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States (18 U.S.C. & 7). Includes killing or attempting to kill any Government official, the President of the United States, the President-elect, the Vice President, any officers and employees of the United States, any foreign officials, any official guests, or any internationally protected persons. As applied to the owner or charterer of any steamboat or vessel, knowingly and willfully causing or allowing fraud, neglect, misconduct, or violation of any law resulting in loss of life (18U.S.C. && 113(a), 115(a), 1111-13, 1115, 1117, 1512(a)(1), 1751(a), and 2332(b)). National defense violations -- violations of the national defense laws on the Military Selective Service Act, the Defense Production Act of 1950, the Economic Stabilization Act of 1970 (which includes prices, rents, and wages), the Subversive Activities Control Act, alien registration, treason (including espionage, sabotage, sedition, and the Smith Act of 1940); also violations relating to energy facilities, curfew and restricted areas, exportation of war materials, trading with an enemy, illegal use of uniform and any other violations of the Federal statutes concerning national defense (for example, 8 U.S.C. && 1304(e) and 1306(b)(d); 10 U.S.C. && 976 and 2408; 18 U.S.C. && 703, 705, 711, 713, 792, 794, 797, 799, 953, 961, 965, 967, 970, 1366(a), 1382, 2152, 2153(b), 2154(b), 2155(b), 2156(b), 2382, 2384, 2386, 2388(a)(c), and 2390; 22 U.S.C. && 253, 286, 447, 447(c), 450, 455, 612, 614(b)(f), 617, 1178(c), 1182, 1199, 1978(c), 2778(b), 4198, 4202 and 5113(c); 42 U.S.C. && 2274(b), 2276, 2278(b) and 2384(b); and 50A U.S.C. && 2, 3(a)(c), 16, 167, 210, 322, 324, 326, 328, 421(a)(c), 462, 468(b), 643(a), 781, 783(b)(d), 789, 794, 797, 851, 1152, 1705, 1436(e), 1809(c), 2062, 2071(b), 2073, 2405(a)(b), and 2410(b)). Negligent manslaughter -- causing the death of another, within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States as defined in 18 U.S.C. & 7, by wanton or reckless disregard for human life. Also negligent manslaughter of any Government official, the President of the United States, the President-elect, the Vice President, any officers and employees of the United States, any foreign officials, any official guests, or any internationally protected persons. This offense category also includes misconduct, negligence, or inattention to duties by ship officers on a steamboat or vessel resulting in death to any person (18 U.S.C. & 1112). New law In this Compendium defendants convicted and sentenced pursuant to the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984. (See also "Old law.") Nolo contendere -- defendant's plea in a criminal case indicating that he or she will not contest charges, but not admitting or denying guilt. Non-citizen -- a person who is without U.S. citizenship, including legal aliens (for example, resident aliens, tourists, and refugees/asylees) and illegal aliens. Not convicted -- acquittal by bench or jury trial, mistrial, and dismissal (including nolle prosequi and deferred prosecution). Not guilty -- plea entered by the accused to a criminal charge. If the defendant refuses to plead, the court will enter a plea of not guilty. Also the form of a verdict in a criminal trial where the jury acquits the defendant. Offense -- violation of U.S. criminal law. In this Compendium, where more than 1 offense is charged, the offense with the greatest potential penalty is reported. Offense level -- under the Federal sentencing guidelines, a quantification of the relative seriousness of the offense of conviction and any offense-specific aggravating or mitigating factors. Guideline offense levels range from level 1 (the least serious offense) to level 43 (the most serious offense). Old law -- in this Compendium, defendants convicted and sentenced pursuant to laws applicable before the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984. (See also, "New law.") Parole -- period of supervision after release from custody before the expiration of sentence. The U.S. Parole Commission is empowered to grant, modify or revoke the parole of all Federal offenders. Pursuant to the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984, parole was abolished and defendants are required to serve the imposed sentence (less 54 days per year good-time for sentences greater than 1 year, but not life imprisonment), followed by a term of supervised release. Because of the number of Federal inmates sentenced under pre-Sentencing Reform provisions, parole is being phased out. Perjury -- a false material declaration under oath in any proceeding before or ancillary to any court or grand jury of the United States. Includes knowingly or willfully giving false evidence or swearing to false statements under oath or by any means procuring or instigating any person to commit perjury. This offense also includes any officers and employees of the Government listed under 13 U.S.C. && 21-25 who willfully or knowingly furnish, or cause to be furnished, any false information or statement (for example, 2 U.S.C. & 192; 13 U.S.C. & 213; 15 U.S.C. & 2614; 18 U.S.C. && 401, 402, 1504, 1506, 1508, 1510, 1512(b), 1513, and 1622; 28 U.S.C. & 1866(g); 42 U.S.C. & 5411; 43 U.S.C. & 104; and 49A U.S.C. &&1472 (m)(o)). Personal recognizance -- pretrial release condition in which the defendant promises to appear at trial and no financial conditions are required to be met. Petty offense -- a Class B misdemeanor, a Class C misdemeanor, or an infraction with fines as specified in 18 U.S.C. && 3571. (See also, "Misdemeanor" and "Infraction.") Plea bargaining -- practice whereby a defendant in a criminal proceeding agrees to plead guilty to a charge in exchange for the prosecution's cooperation in securing a more lenient sentence or some other mitigation. Pornographic -- that which is of or pertaining to obscene literature; obscene, licentious. Material is pornographic or obscene if the average person, applying contemporary community standards, would find that the work taken as a whole appeals to the prurient interest; and if it depicts in a patently offensive way sexual conduct; and if the work taken as a whole lacks serious literary, artistic, political, or scientific value. (See Milla v. California, 113 U.S. 15 (1973).) Possession -- offense involving the possession of a controlled substance, acquiring a controlled substance by misrepresentation or fraud, attempting or conspiring to possess, or simple possession of a controlled substance in schedules I-V (as defined by 21 U.S.C. && 812). Includes possession of a controlled substance in schedule I or II, or a narcotic drug in schedule III or IV on board a vessel of the United States or vessels within custom waters of the United States, or by any citizen of the United States on board a vessel. Also, possessing any punch, die, plate, stone, or any other thing designed to reproduce the label upon any drug or container is an offense under this category. Distributing a small amount of marijuana for no remuneration is treated as simple possession and, therefore, is included in this offense category (for example, 21 U.S.C. && 829 (a)(b)(c), 841(a)(b)(d)(g), 842(a)(c), 843(a), 844(a), 846, 955, and 962). Postal laws -- offenses relating to the mail; pertaining to the post office. Presentence Investigation Report (PSR) -- following a presentence investigation, a report to the court prepared by the probation officer before the imposition of sentence, as required by law; unless the court finds that there is information in the record sufficient to enable the meaningful exercise of sentencing authority pursuant to 18 U.S.C. & 3553, and the court explains this finding on the record. Presentment -- an accusation initiated by the grand jury itself, and in effect, an instruction that an indictment be drawn. Pretrial diversion -- an agreement to defer (and possibly drop) prosecution conditioned on the defendant's good behavior and/or participation in programs (such as job training, counseling, education) during a stated period. Pretrial release -- the release of a defendant from custody, for all or part of the time, before or during prosecution. The defendant may be released either on personal recognizance or unsecured bond or on financial conditions. The category includes defendants released within 2 days after arrest and defendants who were initially detained but subsequently released after raising bail or having release conditions changed at a subsequent hearing. Probation -- sentence imposed for commission of a crime whereby the convicted criminal offender is released into the community under the supervision of a probation officer in lieu of incarceration. An act of clemency available only to those found eligible by the court, probation offers a chance for reform and rehabilitation for the defendant. For this purpose, the defendant must agree to specified standards of conduct; violation of such standards subjects his liberty to revocation. -- Property offenses, fraudulent property offenses involving the elements of deceit or intentional misrepresentation. Specifically includes embezzlement, fraud (excluding tax fraud), forgery, and counterfeiting. Property offenses, non-fraudulent violent offenses against property: burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft, arson, transportation of stolen property, and other property offenses (destruction of property and trespassing). These offenses are termed "non-fraudulent" only for the purpose of distinguishing them from the category "Property offenses, fraudulent," above. Property offenses, other -- offenses that involve the destruction of property moving in interstate or foreign commerce in the possession of a common or contract carrier. Includes the malicious destruction of Government property, or injury to U.S. postal property such as mailboxes or mailbags. Trespassing on timber and Government lands is also included in this category of offenses (for example, 2 U.S.C. & 167(c)(g); 15 U.S.C. & 1281; 16 U.S.C. && 3, 45(d), 114, 121, 123, 152, 430(q), 433, 470, 478, 481, 551, and 605; 18 U.S.C. && 1164, 1361-62, 1364, 1852, 1854, 1856, 1858, 1860, 1863, 1864(c), and 2071(b); 40 U.S.C. && 193 (h)(q)(r)(s); 43 U.S.C. & 316; and 47 U.S.C. && 13 and 22). Public-order offenses, non-regulatory offenses concerning weapons; immigration; tax law violations (tax fraud); bribery; perjury; national defense; escape; racketeering and extortion; gambling; liquor; mailing or transporting of obscene materials; traffic; migratory birds; conspiracy, aiding and abetting, and jurisdictional offenses; and "other public-order offenses." These offenses are termed "non-regulatory" only for the purpose of distinguishing them from the category "Public-order offenses, regulatory" below. Public-order offenses, other -- violations of laws pertaining to bigamy, disorderly conduct on the U.S. Capitol grounds, civil disorder, and travel to incite to riot (for example, 18 U.S.C. && 228, 231, 1367, and 1385; 40 U.S.C. && 193(b)(d)(g)(o)(p); and 47 U.S.C. && 223(a)(b)). Included in "Public-order offenses, non-regulatory." Public-order offenses, regulatory violations of regulatory laws and regulations in agriculture, antitrust, labor law, food and drug, motor carrier, and other regulatory offenses that are not specifically listed in the category "Public-order offenses, non-regulatory." Racketeering and extortion -- racketeering is demanding, soliciting, or receiving anything of value from the owner, proprietor or other person having a financial interest in a business, by means of a threat or promise, either express or implied. Extortion is the obtaining of money or property from another, without his consent, induced by the wrongful use of force or fear. This offense code covers using interstate or foreign commerce or any facility in interstate or foreign commerce to aid racketeering enterprises such as arson, bribery, gambling, liquor, narcotics, prostitution, and extortionate credit transactions; obtaining property or money from another, with his or her consent induced by actual or threatened force; violence, blackmail, or committing unlawful interference with employment or business; transmitting by interstate commerce or through the mail any threat to injure the property, the person, or the reputation of the addressee or of another; or kidnaping any person with intent to extort. Applies to officers or employees of the United States, or anyone representing himself or herself as such (for example, 18 U.S.C. && 831, 872, 874, 875(b)(d), 877, 878(b), 892, 894, 1365(d), 1952-53, 1955-60, 1962-63). Rape -- rape, assault with intent to commit rape, and carnal knowledge of a female under 16 who is not one's wife, within the territorial and special maritime jurisdictions of the United States as defined in 18 U.S.C. & 7 (for example, 22D U.S.C. & 2801). Also includes cases of sexual abuse, including of a minor (18 U.S.C. && 2241(a) (c), 2242(2)(B), and 2243) and in Federal prisons (18 U.S.C. &2244(a)). Release -- Extraordinary release -- unusual methods of prisoners exiting -- prison, such as death, commutation, and transfer to another -- facility. -- Standard release -- the usual way prisoners exit prison, including -- full-term sentence expirations, expirations with good time, -- mandatory releases, and releases to parole. -- Remand -- to send back. The act of an appellate court in sending a case back to the lower court for further action. Remove -- transfer from Federal court (usually to a State court). Restitution -- the action of restoring or giving back something to its proper owner, or making reparations to one for loss or injury previously inflicted. Reversal -- the act of an appellate court annulling a judgment of a lower court because of an error. Revocation -- termination of a probation, parole, or mandatory release order because of either a rule violation or a new offense, and forcing the offender to begin or continue serving his or her sentence. Robbery -- taking anything of value from the person or presence of another by force or by intimidation, within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States (18 U.S.C. && 7). Includes robbery of bank property, U.S. postal property, or personal property of the United States. Also, assaulting or putting the life of any person in jeopardy by the use of a dangerous weapon while committing or attempting to commit such robbery (for example, 18 U.S.C. && 1661, 1991, 2112, 2113(c) (d), 2114, 2116, and 2118(a)). Rule 20 transfer -- upon petition by a defendant, a transfer of proceedings to the district in which the defendant is arrested, when the defendant is arrested, held, or present in a district other than that in which an indictment or information is pending against him. In this case, the defendant may state in writing a wish to plead guilty or nolo contendere, to waive trial in the district in which the indictment or information is pending, and to consent to the disposition of the case in the district in which the defendant was arrested (Fed. R. Crim. P. 20). Rule 40 transfer -- upon petition by the U.S. attorney, commitment to another district; transfer proceedings of a defendant arrested in a district for an alleged offense committed in the another district (Fed. R. Crim. P. 40). Sentence -- sanction imposed on a convicted offender. For sentences to incarceration, the maximum time the offender may be held in custody is reported. (See also, "Split sentence," "Mixed sentence," "Indeterminate sentence," and "Mandatory sentence.") Sentencing Guidelines (Federal) -- guidelines established by the United States Sentencing Commission to be followed by the Federal courts in the sentencing of those convicted of Federal offenses. Established pursuant to the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984, the sentencing guidelines prescribe a range of sentences for each class of convicted persons as determined by categories of offense behavior and offender characteristics. Sex offenses, other -- transporting, coercing, or enticing any individual (including minors) to go from one place to another in interstate or foreign commerce, in the District of Columbia, or in any territory or possession of the United States with the intent and purpose to engage in prostitution, or any sexual activity for which any person can be charged with a criminal offense (8 U.S.C. & 1328 and 18 U.S.C. && 1460, 1466, 2251-52, 2257, 2421 and 2423). Shock incarceration -- an intense confinement program, consisting of a highly regimented schedule that provides the strict discipline, physical training, hard labor, drill, and ceremony characteristic of military basic training. Special maritime and territorial jurisdiction -- areas of Federal jurisdiction outside the jurisdiction of any State, including (1) the high seas, Great Lakes, and connecting waterways; (2) Federal lands; and (3) U.S.-owned aircraft in flight over the high seas (18 U.S.C. & 7). Split sentence -- See, "Mixed sentence." Stale -- the case/matter is too old to support successful prosecution. Substantial assistance -- a form of cooperation with the government in which the defendant provides the government with information, testimony, or other assistance relating to the criminal activities of other persons in exchange for a sentence reduction. Substantial assistance provides the only mechanism for judges to impose a sentence below an applicable mandatory sentence (U.S.S.G. 5K1.1 as codified at 18 U.S.C. & 3553(e)). Supervised release -- under the Sentencing Reform Act of 1984, a form of post-imprisonment supervision to be imposed by the court as a part of the sentence of imprisonment at the time of initial sentencing. Unlike parole, a term of supervised release does not replace a portion of the sentence of imprisonment, but rather is an order of supervision in addition to any term of imprisonment imposed by the court (compare also with probation). Surety bond -- an agreement by the defendant as a condition of his or her release that requires a third party (usually a bail bondsman) to promise to pay the full bail amount in the event that the defendant fails to appear. Suspect -- a person who is under investigation or interrogation as a likely perpetrator of a specific criminal offense. Tax law violations -- tax fraud offenses such as income tax evasion and fraud; counterfeiting any stamps with intent to defraud the collection or payment of tax; willfully failing to collect or pay tax; failure to obey summons to produce any papers concerning taxes; failing to furnish receipts for employees of tax withheld; failing to furnish information relating to certain trusts, annuity, and bond purchase plans; putting fraudulent or false statements on tax returns; and not obtaining a license for a business that makes a profit from foreign items. Also included in this offense category are violations of excise and wagering tax laws and any other laws listed below from the Internal Revenue Service Code (for example, 26 U.S.C. && 3402, 4412, 5751, 5762(a1), 6047(a)(c), 6331, 6420(e2), 6674, 7121, 7201, 7203(c), 7204, 7206(a)(c), 7208(a)(c), 7210, 7213(b), (d), 7214(b), 7216, 7232, 7513, 7602, and 7604(b)). Technical violation -- failure to comply with any of the conditions of pretrial release, probation, or parole, excluding alleged new criminal activity. May result in revocation of release status. Examples of conditions that may be imposed and then violated include remaining within a specified jurisdiction or appearing at specified intervals for drug tests. Termination -- at the pretrial services stage: execution of sentence, acquittal, dismissal, diversion, or fugitive status; in the U.S. district court: conviction, acquittal, or dismissal; and at probation or supervised release: the removal of a person from supervision either for successful completion of the term of supervision or as the result of a revocation. Threats against the President -- knowingly and willfully depositing in the mail, at any post office, or by any letter carrier a letter, paper, writing, print, missive, or document containing any threat to take the life of or to inflict bodily harm upon the President, Vice President, or any other officer in order of succession to the Presidency. Knowingly and willfully making such threats in any way to the above-named people (18 U.S.C. & 871). Traffic offenses -- driving while intoxicated, or any moving or parking violations on Federal lands (for example, 40 U.S.C. & 212(b)). Trafficking -- knowingly and intentionally importing or exporting any controlled substance in schedule I, II, III, IV, or V (as defined by 21 U.S.C. && 812). Includes manufacturing, distributing, dispensing, selling, or possessing with intent to manufacture, distribute, or sell a controlled substance or a counterfeit substance; exporting any controlled substance in schedules I-V; manufacturing or distributing a controlled substance in schedule I or II for purposes of unlawful importation; or making or distributing any punch, die, plate, stone, or any other thing designed to reproduce the label upon any drug or container, or removing or obliterating the label or symbol of any drug or container. Also includes knowingly opening, maintaining or managing any place for the purpose of manufacturing, distributing, or using any controlled substance (for example, 19 U.S.C. & 1590; 21 U.S.C. && 333(e), 825(a)-(d), 830(a), 841(a)-(b) (d)(e)(g), 842(a), 843(a)(b), 845, 846, 848, 854, 856, 858, 859(a)(b), 860(a), 861(c)(f), 952(a)(b), 953(a)(e), 957, 959, 960(a)(b)(d), 961, 962, and 963; and 46A U.S.C. && 1903(g) and (j)). Transportation -- violations of the Federal statutes relating to the Motor Carrier Act, which regulates (routes, rates) motor carriers of freight and passengers in interstate commerce. Transportation of stolen property -- transporting, selling, or receiving stolen goods, stolen securities, stolen moneys, stolen cattle, fraudulent State tax stamps, or articles used in counterfeiting, if the above articles or goods involve or constitute interstate or foreign commerce (18 U.S.C. && 2315, 2317). Trial conviction -- conviction by judge or jury after trial. True bill -- an indictment. United States -- includes the outlying territories (Guam, Puerto Rico, Northern Marianas Islands, and the U.S. Virgin Islands) and the territory occupied by the 50 States and the District of Columbia. U.S. attorneys -- all United States attorneys. Prosecutorial data in this Compendium come from the Central System and Central Charge Files of the Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys. Unsecured bond -- an agreement by the defendant as a condition of his or her release in which the defendant agrees to pay full bond amount in the event of nonappearance at trial, but is not required to post security as a condition to release. Violation (of pretrial release, probation, or parole) -- allegation of a new crime or a technical violation while on pretrial release, probation, or parole. Violent offenses -- threatening, attempting, or actually using physical force against a person. Includes murder, negligent manslaughter, assault, robbery, rape, other sex offenses (some of which may be nonviolent), kidnaping, and threats against the President. (See also, specific offenses for citations.) Weapons violations -- violations of any of the provisions of 18 U.S.C. && 922 and 923 concerning the manufacturing, importing, possessing, receiving, and licensing of firearms and ammunition. Includes manufacturing, selling, possessing, or transporting (within any territory or possession of the United States, within Indian country, or within the special maritime and territorial jurisdiction of the United States) (18 U.S.C. && 7) any switchblade knife; or making, receiving, possessing, or transporting a firearm not registered in the National Firearms Registration Transfer Record. Also, engaging in importing, manufacturing, or dealing in firearms if not registered with the secretary in the Internal Revenue Service District in which the business is conducted or not having paid a special occupational tax. In addition, this code covers cases where in a crime of violence or drug trafficking enhanced punishment is handed down when committed with a deadly weapon (for example, 15 U.S.C. & 1242; 18 U.S.C. && 922(a)(c)(e) (g)(i)(k)(m)(n)(q), 923, 924(a)(c)(f)(h) and 930; 26 U.S.C. && 5801, 5811, 5821, 5841, 5843, 5851, and 5861(b)(d)(h)(j)(l); 40 U.S.C. & 193f(a); and 49A U.S.C. & 1472(q)).