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Justice Expenditure and Employment in the United States, 2003

NCJ Number
212260
Author(s)
Kristen A Hughes
Date Published
April 2006
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This report provides selected data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Annual General Finance and Employment Surveys.
Abstract

Provides selected data from the U.S. Census Bureau's Annual General Finance and Employment Surveys. Data presented include police protection, judicial and legal services, and corrections expenditure and employment for Federal, State, and local governments in 2003 and national trend data for 1982 to 2003. Expenditure data are provided for fiscal year 2003; employment and payroll data are for the month of March 2003. The report compares justice expenditure to spending for other governmental services and analyzes trends in justice spending and employment. It also presents per capita employment data relative to other State and government services, as well as per capita expenditure data by governmental function.

  • The total number of justice employees grew 86% between 1982 and 2003 with the Federal Government having the largest percentage increase - 168%.
  • Total per capita expenditure for each justice function increased between 1982 and 2003, with corrections having the largest per capita increase - 423%.
  • The total direct justice expenditure for all levels of governments grew from $36 billion in 1982 to $185 billion in 2003, a 418% increase.