WORLD FACTBOOK OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEMS

Preface

Increases in geographic mobility and electronic
communications have given us a steadily shrinking
world, yet many of our social structures are
imbedded in geo-political units.  This is
especially true of the world's criminal justice
systems.  Even when criminal justice systems are
derived from a shared heritage, each criminal
justice system is unique.

For the scholar, researcher, or criminal justice
practitioner concerned with such global issues as
transnational crime, environmental crime, drug
trafficking, or money laundering, an understanding
of the operations of the criminal justice systems
of the countries involved is obviously necessary. 
Even those engaged in two-country or other
cross-country comparisons of criminal activity or
criminal justice policies require information
about the operations of the relevant criminal
justice systems.

To assist persons involved with transnational or
cross-country issues, the Bureau of Justice
Statistics established the World Factbook of
Criminal Justice Statistics.  The Factbook
contains succinct narrative descriptions of
criminal justice systems around the world written
by an expert, usually a citizen of the country
being described.  A common format is used for all
of the reports to facilitate ease of comparison. 
In the intervening time since these descriptions
were first commissioned, publishing technology has
transcended the original concept of a "book," and
now this Factbook is being brought to you not as a
book at all, but as electronic files.

The criminal justice reports included here were
prepared under a grant to the State University of
New York at Albany and completed during the summer
of 1993.  In some cases, the most recent data
available for inclusion in the reports were for
1991 or earlier.  The project manager for
SUNY/Albany was Graeme Newman, assisted by editors
Adam C. Bouloukos and Debra Cohen.  Project
monitor at the Bureau of Justice Statistics was
Carol B. Kalish.

Criminal justice descriptions for twelve countries
are currently available at this site, and gradual
additions are anticipated.  (Authors of other
countries' chapters can rest assured that their
contribution will be posted as soon as available.) 
Most of the descriptions contain the addresses of
the authors, so that they can be contacted
directly.  Because we are interested in your
reaction to the reports and in correcting any
errors or outdated information you find,
opportunity has been made for you to comment and I
look forward to hearing from you.

               Jan Chaiken, Ph.D.
               Director
               Bureau of Justice Statistics
               U.S. Department of Justice