Thomas H. Cohen, J.D., Ph.D., Brian A. Reaves, Ph.D., Bureau of Justice Statistics

February 1, 2006    NCJ 210818

Presents data collected from a representative sample of felony cases filed in the Nation's 75 largest counties during May 2002. The cases are tracked for up to one year to provide a complete overview of the processing of felony defendants from filing to disposition and sentencing. Data collected include current arrest charges, demographic characteristics, prior arrests and convictions, criminal justice status at arrest, type of pretrial release or detention, bail amount, court appearance record, adjudication outcome, and sentence received if convicted. This periodic report has been published biennially since 1990.

Highlights:

• Eighty-two percent of defendants were male, including 90% or more of those charged with rape (99%), a weapons offense (96%), murder (93%), or robbery (90%).
• The percentage of female defendants increased from 14% in 1990 to 18% in 1998 and has remained stable since then.
• An estimated 56,146 felony cases were filed in the State courts of the Nation's 75 largest counties during May 2002.

Part of the Felony Defendants in Large Urban Counties Series

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