The user of this document may find that the glossary, which appears at the very end, is helpful in understanding the meaning of certain numbers. It explains, for example, why there are more people who are paroled from prison than who enter parole supervision.
The Department of Correction has been publishing a Statistical Abstract for prison inmate data since 1968 and for probation/parole supervision since 1986. Data for these reports were generated by computer programs reading the offender information files.
Beginning in 1995, a new information system (OPUS - standing for Offender Population Unified System) replaced the two older systems. None of the old computer programs can operate on the new system. This presented an opportunity to re-design the way data is displayed. The result is intended to be an easier-to-understand, more useful document.
One objective was to make use of graphics to supplement numerical information. Another was to provide information over periods longer than one year to give a historical perspective.
One consequence of the conversion to a new computer information system is a diminished continuity between the past and the future. Some definitions have necessarily been changed, making a comparison between the old Abstracts and this new Statistical Summary unreliable.
Another problem is in the assignment of a single crime to each offender. The majority of prison inmates have been convicted of more than a single offense, yet we try to categorize all offenders by crime type. To do this the computer programs search each offender's record for convictions and assigned the crime which brought the longest sentence. In case of a tie, the new programs sometimes make a different choice.
The Office of Research and Planning would like to continue to make this document more useful. If you have suggestions, please let us know. Our Web address is http://www.doc.state.nc.us/. Our e-mail address is Fproctor@doc.state.nc.us.
I . OVERVIEW OF THE DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION
II. PRISONS
3. Structured Sentencing Felony Admissions by Grid Cell
4. Structured Sentencing Misdemeanor Admissions by Grid Cell
III. PROBATION
IV. PAROLE
VI. TABLES
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