NCJ Number
181817
Editor(s)
Graeme Newman
Date Published
1999
Length
24 pages
Annotation
The legal systems of over half the countries in the world are the product of civil law traditions, and elements of criminal justice systems such as the police, courts, and prisons are found in all countries.
Abstract
Common law traditions represent the next most common basis of legal systems, followed by Islamic law and various combinations of Islamic, civil, and common law. In all countries, most people who come in contact with the criminal justice system are males, with adult males constituting the largest group of suspects in all countries. Differences among countries in involvement with the criminal justice system vary by age and gender. The suspect rate varies between a low of 43 in Madagascar and a high of 5,011 in Chile per 100,000 population. The ratio between adult male suspects and suspects of other age and gender groups varies among countries. In Western Samoa, there are 91 adult male suspects for each adult female suspect. In Bolivia, there are only two adult male suspects for each adult female suspect. There are far fewer women and girls suspected of committing crimes in countries with low incomes than in those with high incomes. In most countries, about half the suspects or those prosecuted are found guilty and convicted of an offense. The conviction rate, however, varies by country, with a low in Japan of 47 and a high in Egypt of 7,371 per 100,000 population. The ratio of male to female conviction rates is higher in low-income countries than in high-income countries. 7 tables and 14 figures