Mark A. Motivans, Ph.D., Bureau of Justice Statistics

December 21, 2011    NCJ 234184

Describes the annual activity, workloads, and outcomes associated with the federal criminal justice system from arrest to imprisonment, using data from Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Marshals Service, Executive Office for U.S. Attorneys, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts, U.S. Sentencing Commission, and the Federal Bureau of Prisons. Tables and text describe a surge in federal justice activity, especially in the area of immigration enforcement. The bulletin also examines cases and their legal outcomes by type of legal representation, including private counsel, public defenders and appointed counsel. The report provides the most recent available data on sentences imposed and their lengths by type of offense.

Highlights:

• During 2009, the number of suspects arrested for a federal offense reached a record level of 183,986 suspects' up from 140,200 in 2005.
• Drug offenders' cases remained the most prevalent at adjudication and sentencing, in prison, and under supervision.
• Five judicial districts along the U.S.-Mexico border accounted for more than half (56%) of all federal arrests in 2009.

Part of the Compendium of Federal Justice Statistics Series

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