NCJ Number
235527
Date Published
June 2010
Length
38 pages
Annotation
This report describes how the Arizona Computerized Criminal History (ACCH) repository was used in facilitating progress in a project to improve Arizona's felony case processing system.
Abstract
Coordinators of the felony-case-processing project requested that data be obtained on all felony offenders arrested during calendar year 2006. Project researchers, however, did not receive personally identifiable data in the ACCH extracts they received. Without these variables, researchers could not link the ACCH data to other data sources from across the State. Staff had to rely solely on information provided in the ACCH extracts to complete the felony-case-processing project. Researchers successfully flattened ACCH data extract files from charge-level data files into files containing one felony offender (n=65,808) per case. A total of 59 variables were furnished in the final felony-case-processing dataset. Analysis of all felony offenders arrested in 2006 gives researchers a better understanding of felony case processing in Arizona. Recommendations were developed for any State interested in this type of project. First, a statistical analysis center must have working knowledge of the contents of their State's criminal history record repository. Second, if all desired data are not available within the repository, researchers should exhaust other data sources throughout the State in order to fill gaps in the data-collection process. This will require confirmation that matching unique identifiers are provided across all data sources so that the fragmented data can be linked case by case. Third, researchers involved in the data merging and flattening process must have skills in working with the analytical tools being used for the project. Fourth, if the statistical analysis center does not already have a tool to convert statute offense codes into more manageable charge categories, contact local law enforcement agencies and inquire about the availability of a table or spreadsheet that converts offense codes into Uniform-Crime-Reports type codes. 6 tables and appended supplementary information