Federal Habeas Corpus Review: Challenging State Court Criminal Convictions

• NCJ Number: 155504
• Author(s): R A Hanson; H W K Daley
• Date Published: September 1995
• Length: 40 pages
• Grant Number(s): 92-BJ-CS-KO26
• Agencies: BJS
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)

Annotation

This study examines the processing of habeas corpus petitions in 18 Federal district courts located in nine States (Alabama, California, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas), which comprise approximately half of the Nation's 10,000 petitions filed each year.

Abstract

This Discussion Paper examines a sample of disposed habeas corpus cases (through which State prisoners make petitions to challenge the validity of their convictions or sentences) in 18 Federal district courts in 9 selected States (Alabama, California, Florida, Indiana, Louisiana, Missouri, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas). The covered States made up about half of the Nation's 10,000 petitions filed each year in Federal courts. The study presents case characteristics, issues litigated, processing time, and outcomes. National Center for State Courts.