Sue A. Lindgren, Bureau of Justice Statistics

September 1, 1992    NCJ 135777

The survey indicates that Federal, State, and local governments spent $74 billion in fiscal year 1990 for civil and criminal justice, a 22-percent increase since 1988, the last year comparable data were collected. Justice spending increased more than total government spending for all activities, which grew by 15.5 percent to $2.2 trillion in 1990. Federal spending for justice activities increased twice as fast during this period (29 percent) as all Federal spending (14 percent), while State and local spending for justice activities increased slightly faster (21 percent) than all State and local spending (18 percent). The survey shows that a trend, first detected in 1985, is continuing; namely, that governments are responding to citizens' concerns about crime. In October 1990, the Nation's civil and criminal justice system employed 1.7 million persons, with a total October payroll of almost $4.3 billion. The latter data are presented by activity (police, courts, prosecution and legal service, public defense, corrections, and other justice activities) and government level. 14 tables

Part of the Justice Expenditure and Employment Series

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