Prosecutors in State Courts, 2005

• NCJ Number: 213799
• Date Published: July 2006
• Author(s): Steven W. Perry
• Length: 12 pages
• Publication Series: BJS Bulletins
• Agencies: BJS
• Publication Type: Statistics

Annotation

This report presents findings from the 2005 National Survey of Prosecutors, the latest in a series of data collections about the Nation’s 2,300 State court prosecutors’ offices that tried felony cases in State courts of general jurisdiction.

Abstract

Presents findings from the 2005 National Survey of Prosecutors, the latest in a series of data collections about the Nation's 2,300 State court prosecutors' offices that tried felony cases in State courts of general jurisdiction. This study provides information on the number of staff, annual budget, and felony cases closed for each office. Information is also available on the use of DNA evidence, computer-related crimes, and terrorism cases prosecuted. Other survey data include special categories of felony offenses prosecuted, types of non-felony cases handled, number of felony convictions, number of juvenile cases proceeded against in criminal court, and work-related threats or assaults against office staff.

• At least two-thirds of the State court prosecutors had litigated a computer-related crime such as credit card fraud (80%), identity theft (69%), or transmission of child pornography (67%).
• A quarter (24%) of the offices participated in a State or local task force for homeland security; one-third reported an office member attended training on homeland security.
• Most prosecutors (95%) relied on State operated forensic laboratories to perform DNA analysis, with about a third (34%) also using privately operated DNA labs.