Crime Charging Period Statistics

In this post, we explore a collection of staggering statistics surrounding criminal charges, arrest rates, and recidivism in the United States. From the high percentage of released prisoners rearrested within a few years to the swift filing of charges in homicide cases, these data points paint a comprehensive picture of the criminal justice system’s complexities and challenges.

Statistic 1

"Approximately 68% of 405,000 prisoners released in 2005 in 30 states were arrested for a new crime within three years."

Statistic 2

"Prisoners serving time for a property offense were the most likely to get arrested again."

Statistic 3

"More than 77% of released drug offenders were arrested for a non-drug crime within five years."

Statistic 4

"Of those arrested within three years of release, more than a third were arrested during the first six months after release."

Statistic 5

"An estimated one out of every five prisoners are incarcerated as a result of a parole violation."

Statistic 6

"Convicted murderers and felons serving life without parole made up about 2.2 percent of all prisoners in the U.S. at year-end 2016."

Statistic 7

"More than 56 percent of released prisoners were arrested by the end of the first year."

Statistic 8

"About 76 percent of prisoners have been rearrested within five years of release."

Statistic 9

"In 75% of homicide cases charges are filed within one day."

Statistic 10

"The time between arrest and sentencing averages 178 days for those in jail throughout the period."

Statistic 11

"Among violent offenders, an estimated 40% had a charging delay."

Statistic 12

"In the U.S., a felony charge can be prosecuted at any time; it does not have a statute of limitations."

Statistic 13

"In 50% of violent crimes, charges are filed in less than one day."

Statistic 14

"One in 5 criminal cases takes two or more court appearances before the case is even charged."

Statistic 15

"Over 70% of suspects arrested for robbery were charged."

Statistic 16

"About 60% of individuals arrested for burglary were charged."

Statistic 17

"For arson crimes, about 80% of individuals arrested were charged."

Statistic 18

"An estimated 25% of the entire U.S. adult population has a criminal record."

Statistic 19

"Over 95% of convictions are a result of plea bargains, as opposed to taking a case to trial."

Statistic 20

"Property crime arrestees were less likely to be prosecuted (58%) than violent (76%) or drug (73%) crime arrestees."

The statistics presented indicate a high rate of recidivism among released prisoners in the United States, with a significant proportion being rearrested for new crimes within a short period. The data also highlight disparities in arrest and charging rates across different types of offenses, with property offenders and drug offenders showing particularly high rates of re-arrest. Additionally, the statistics show the prevalence of plea bargains as a method of resolving criminal cases, as well as the existence of significant delays in the charging process for some violent offenders. These findings underscore the complexities and challenges within the criminal justice system regarding reintegration, reoffending, and case processing.