Short Answer 
Criminal Justice Information (CJI), provided by the FBI’s CJIS Division, includes crucial data like biometrics, identity history, and case history for law enforcement. Key sources of crime data in the U.S. are the Uniform Crime Reports and the National Crime Victimization Survey, both vital for understanding crime statistics. Additionally, recognizing the structure of the American criminal justice system‚Äîcomprising law enforcement, adjudication, and corrections‚Äîhelps understand how CJI is utilized in supporting these functions.
Step 1: Understand Criminal Justice Information (CJI)
The term Criminal Justice Information (CJI) pertains to vital data necessary for law enforcement and civil agencies. This information is provided by the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Division. CJI includes various forms of data such as:
- Biometrics
- Identity history
- Property data
- Case/incident history
Step 2: Recognize the Data Sources
Two primary sources of crime data in the U.S. are crucial for understanding CJI. These sources provide essential statistics that law enforcement relies on:
- Uniform Crime Reports (UCR), published by the FBI
- National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS), from the Bureau of Justice Statistics
These reports help agencies capture nationwide crime statistics and trends, which aid in their operational functions.
Step 3: Acknowledge the Criminal Justice System Structure
To grasp the flow and use of CJI, it is vital to understand the structure of the American criminal justice system. This system consists of three main components:
- Law enforcement
- Adjudication
- Corrections
This framework is important for recognizing how CJI supports these entities in fulfilling their duties effectively.