The report brings together a wide variety of sources, including data from the Bureau of Justice Statistics series, the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Uniform Crime Reports, research from the National Institute of Justice and the National Institute for Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, and many other research and reference sources. The report uses a newsmagazine format that relies heavily on graphic presentation. Its five chapters present statistical profiles of (1) the criminal event, (2) the victim, (3) the offender, (4) the response to crime, and (5) the cost of justice. Its chapter on the response to crime portrays crucial steps in the criminal justice system; subchapters focus on entry into the system, prosecution and pretrial services, adjudication, and corrections. The report also presents previously unpublished findings on such topics as crime severity and new analyses of publicly available data, including the first historical analysis of criminal justice costs that accounts for inflation. Although the report is intended for the general public, it will also provide background information for members of the press and the criminal justice community, reference material for public officials and civic leaders, and resources for secondary schools and colleges. Source references and a subject index are included.