Current sources of Australian criminal justice statistics: a reference report

Every year since its establishment in 1973 the staff of the Australian Institute of Criminology has received a steady flow of requests for statistical information about various aspects of crime and criminal justice. These requests have largely been directed to the library staff but many have also been directed to Institute researchers. There is such a wide variety of sources of criminal justice data that Institute staff have had considerable difficulty in locating the necessary information. This publication is but a small step in the direction of improved criminal justice statistics in Australia. It does not provide any data but simply describes the statistical collections that are available. It is to be followed by further work evaluating the available information and identifying the gaps that need to be filled.