Showing 1 – 25 of 25 results.
Curated
ABC News Mini-Monthly Poll, December 1995 (ICPSR 6687)
Released/updated on: 1998-05-20
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll sought respondents' views on President Bill Clinton's foreign policy goals in Bosnia, specifically on the recent decision to send 20,000 United States troops to Bosnia as part of the global peace-keeping mission, as well as several additional topics. Those queried were asked for their opinions on the use of swear and curse words by adults, teenagers, middle school children, and grade school children, and reasons for using such language. They were also asked to rate the ethics and honesty of politicians, average citizens, doctor, lawyers, and members of Congress. Additional topics covered respondents' experience with lawyers, the United States system of civil laws and lawsuits, the power of prayer for healing, and beliefs regarding whether God does heal. Demographic variables include sex, political party, voter registration, religion, and use of lawyers.
Curated
ABC News "Nightline" Smoking Poll, June 1997 (ICPSR 2496)
Released/updated on: 2006-11-10
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll sought respondents' views on the role of the United States government in the regulation of cigarettes and other tobacco products. Respondents were asked whether they favored or opposed an increased role for government in reducing cigarette smoking in the United States. Those queried were also asked whether they supported the proposed blanket settlement between tobacco companies and the states that were suing them that would protect tobacco companies from all future lawsuits. In addition, respondents were asked to give their opinions on the role of the Clinton adminstration in the tobacco settlement talks, federal regulation of the use of nicotine in cigarettes, and whether it should be illegal for adults to purchase cigarettes. The results of the poll were announced on the ABC television program "Nightline." Background information on respondents includes age and sex.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Monthly Poll, June 2009 (ICPSR 27765)
Released/updated on: 2010-11-09
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll, fielded June 18-21, 2009, is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that solicit public opinion on the presidency and on a range of other political and social issues. A national sample of 1,001 adults was surveyed. Respondents were asked whether they approved of the way Barack Obama was handling the presidency and the economy. Respondents were queried on whether or not they thought the country was headed in the right direction, whether they had a favorable impression of the Democratic Party and the Republican Party, and whether they approved of the way Nancy Pelosi was handling her job as Speaker of the House. Information was collected on respondents opinions of having a smaller government with fewer services or having a larger government with more services. Respondents were asked whether they thought the United States Senate should or should not confirm judge Sonia Sotomayor's nomination to the Supreme Court as well as a number of other questions dealing with her. Information was collected on whether respondents had health insurance or health care coverage, how satisfied they were with the overall health care system in the country as well as their own health care, and how concerned they were about their family's health care costs in the future. Respondents were asked a number of questions about health care reform, whether they were concerned about reform, whether they thought the government should require everyone to have health insurance, and whether the government should create a new health insurance plan to compete with private health insurance plans. Information was collected on respondents opinions of the economic stimulus plan, whether they thought the plan has helped or hurt the national economy, and whether they were concerned with the size of the federal budget deficit. Respondents were asked whether they thought Obama's policies were making the United States safer from terrorism and whether they approved or disapproved of closing the United States military prison in Guantanamo Bay. Finally respondents were queried on whether or not the federal government should regulate the release of greenhouse gases to reduce global warming, whether they supported cap and trade, and whether abortion should be legal or illegal. Demographic variables include sex, age, race, household income, education level, political party affiliation, political philosophy, religious preference, whether respondent is a born-again Christian, employment, and union membership.
Curated
ABC News/Washington Post Pre-Inaugural Monthly Poll, January 2005 (ICPSR 4313)
Released/updated on: 2005-10-26
Geographic coverage: United States
This special topic poll, conducted January 12-16, 2005, was undertaken to assess public opinion prior to George W. Bush's second-term inauguration as President of the United States of America. Views were sought on President Bush and his handling of the presidency, as well as on issues such as the economy, foreign affairs, social security, taxes, health care, and education. Respondents were asked if they thought President Bush would do a better job as a president in his second term than in his first term, and whether the country should go in Bush's or the Democrats' in Congress leadership direction. Respondents were also asked what level of priority Bush and the Congress should give issues such as the United States campaign against terrorism, health care, and restricting medical malpractice and class-action lawsuits. Likewise, opinions were solicited on whether Bush would or would not make substantial progress in the next four years on, for example, the economy, the situation in Iraq, and the federal budget deficit. Respondents were asked if they were hopeful or fearful about how the Bush Administration may deal with specific issues, such as environmental policy, same-sex marriage, appointing judges to the United States Supreme Court, and social security. Questions about the war in Iraq asked respondents whether they believed it was worth fighting and if the war had contributed to the long-term security of the United States. Other questions concerned the elections in Iraq, social security, the cost of Bush's inauguration, whether companies should face big penalties in lawsuits, potential new laws regulating medical lawsuits and class-action lawsuits, the United States' handling of illegal immigrants, and what the single biggest environment problem is that the world faces. Background information on respondents includes political party affiliation, the strength of their political party affiliation, whether they voted in the November 2004 presidential election, for whom they voted -- George W. Bush (Republican), John Kerry (Democrat), Ralph Nader (Green Party), or Other -- in the November 2004 presidential election, political orientation, education, religion, Hispanic origin, ethnicity, income, and sex.
Curated
Access to Justice in Ontario, 1985-1988 (ICPSR 9729)
Released/updated on: 1999-11-19
Geographic coverage: Canada, Ontario, Global
Time period: 1985-01-01--1988-01-01
This data collection, which was designed to assess experiences with the Ontario, Canada, civil justice system, is a replication and extension of a survey conducted by the Civil Litigation Research Project at the University of Wisconsin. Interviews were conducted with the heads of households. Questions were asked about the nature of the problem, e.g., auto accident, work injury, discrimination, problems with landlord, violations of privacy, or victimization. Questions were also asked about actions taken in response to the problem, such as whether a lawyer was contacted, reasons for not contacting a lawyer, whether non-lawyer assistance was sought, whether a claim was made, and reasons for not making a claim. Finally, questions were asked about the household's experience with the Ontario justice system if a claim was made, including whether there was a trial or a hearing, how much the lawyer charged, evaluation of the result, satisfaction with the result, evaluation of the cost, perceived delay, agreement reached, and compensation awarded. Major demographic variables include age, occupation, number of persons in household, language, ethnic background, religion, education, and family income.
Curated
CBS News "48 Hours" Monthly Poll #4, January 1998 (ICPSR 2454)
Released/updated on: 1999-04-26
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll, fielded January 22, 1998, is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that solicit public opinion on the presidency and on a range of other political and social issues. Respondents were asked to give their opinions of President Bill Clinton and his moral values compared to those of others in public life, as well as their opinions of Vice President Al Gore. A series of questions addressed former Arkansas state employee Paula Jones's sexual harassment lawsuit against Clinton, specifically whether Clinton was guilty or innocent of the charges. Those queried were also asked for their opinions on the alleged affair between President Clinton and then-White House intern Monica Lewinsky. Topics covered Clinton's guilt or innocence, whether Clinton encouraged Lewinsky to lie under oath, the overall importance of this allegation to the nation, and whether this scandal had interfered with Clinton's ability to govern. Additional questions addressed the possible outcomes of these charges against the president, including resignation and impeachment, how these scandals compared to former President Richard Nixon and Watergate, and whether Independent Counsel Kenneth Starr was conducting an impartial investigation. The results of the poll were aired on the television program "48 Hours." Background variables include age, race, sex, ethnicity, education, religion, political party, political orientation, voter participation history, and family income.
Curated
CBS News/New York Times Monthly Poll #1, December 2000 (ICPSR 3230)
Released/updated on: 2005-12-15
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll, conducted December 9-10, 2000, is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that solicit public opinion on the presidency and on a range of other political and social issues. The study was conducted to assess respondents' interest in and opinions about the 2000 presidential election. Respondents were asked to give their opinions of President Bill Clinton and his handling of the presidency, as well as their opinions of both candidates, Vice President Al Gore and Texas Governor George W. Bush. Those polled were asked whether Bush and Gore would be able to lead the country effectively and whether they would bring together or divide different groups of Americans. The survey also queried respondents on the legitimacy of the election, the way the Bush and Gore campaigns handled the election, the way elections in the United States are run and votes are counted, the need for election reforms, the electoral college, and the effects of the election controversy on the institution of the United States presidency. A number of questions concentrated on Florida's vote recount. Those polled were asked whom voters in Florida intended to vote for and whether the vote count in Florida was fair and accurate. Respondents also commented on the way the courts had handled the lawsuits dealing with the Florida vote, the manual recounts of disputed votes in Florida, and the manual recounts of all ballots in Florida. Their views were elicited on whom they would rather see become president, how much confidence they had in the vote counting, what voting method they used, when they thought the outcome would finally be resolved, whether one of the candidates should concede, and if so, who, and whether they approved of the legislature naming its electors before the outcome had been determined. Background information on respondents includes age, gender, education, race/ethnic identity, political party affiliation, political orientation, marital status, children in the household, and household income.
Curated
CBS News/New York Times Monthly Poll #1, January 1998 (ICPSR 2451)
Released/updated on: 2010-04-23
Geographic coverage: United States
This poll, conducted January 10-12, 1998, is part of a continuing series of monthly surveys that solicit public opinion on the presidency and on a range of other political and social issues. Views were sought on President Bill Clinton and his handling of the presidency, the United States Congress, and the most serious problems facing the nation, especially those facing women. Marking the 25th anniversary of the United States Supreme Court ruling Roe vs. Wade, questions were asked regarding the availability of abortion services, differences between first, second, and third trimester abortions, fetus viability, 24-hour waiting periods, parental consent for those under 18, and whether respondents supported a constitutional amendment making abortion legal. Views were sought on Democratic and Republican party's stances on abortion and a recent proposal by the Republican party to cut off campaign funds to candidates who would not support the partial-birth abortion ban. Additional questions covered the feelings of women who have had abortions, abortion as a form of birth control, partial-birth abortions, a prescription drug alternative to surgical abortion known as RU-486, prescription drugs to prevent egg fertilization, also know as emergency contraception or the morning after pill, and whether respondents knew anyone who had an abortion. Respondents were also asked about the pending sexual harassment lawsuit filed by former Arkansas state employee Paula Jones against then-Arkansas governor Bill Clinton. Demographic information includes sex, age, race, education level, political party affiliation, political orientation, household income, marital status, employment status, voter registration and participation history, religious preference, frequency of religious attendance, the presence of children under the age of 18 in the household, and whether any children were in the tenth grade.
Curated
Civil Justice Survey of State Courts, 1992 (ICPSR 6587)
Released/updated on: 2011-11-02
Geographic coverage: United States
Time period: 1991-07-01--1992-06-30
This survey is the first broad-based, systematic examination of the nature of civil litigation in state general jurisdiction trial courts. Data collection was carried out by the National Center for State Courts with assistance from the National Association of Criminal Justice Planners and the United States Bureau of the Census. The data collection produced two datasets. Part 1, Tort, Contract, and Real Property Rights Data, is a merged sample of approximately 30,000 tort, contract, and real property rights cases disposed during the 12-month period ending June 30, 1992. Part 2, Civil Jury Cases Data, is a sample of about 6,500 jury trial cases disposed over the same time period. Data collected include information about litigants, case type, disposition type, processing time, case outcome, and award amounts for civil jury cases.
Curated
Civil Justice Survey of State Courts, 1996 (ICPSR 2883)
Released/updated on: 2011-11-02
Geographic coverage: United States
In 1996, the Bureau of Justice Statistics awarded a grant to the National Center for State Courts to gather detailed information on tort, contract, and real property rights trial cases in 45 jurisdictions chosen to represent the 75 most populous counties in the nation. The result is this survey, which is a systematic examination of civil trial cases disposed in state general jurisdiction courts. The study expands the 1992 civil jury study, CIVIL JUSTICE SURVEY OF STATE COURTS, 1992 (ICPSR 6587), by specifically sampling bench and jury trial cases. Information gathered includes the type of case, the presence of legal representation, the type of litigation, the amount of compensatory damages awarded, the amount of punitive damages awarded, and case processing time.
Curated
Civil Justice Survey of State Courts, 2001 (ICPSR 3957)
Released/updated on: 2011-11-03
Geographic coverage: United States
This data collection examined general civil cases (torts, contracts, and real property) disposed of by bench or jury trial in the nation's 75 most populous counties in 2001. Information reported includes the type of case, types of plaintiffs and defendants, trial winners, amount of total damages awarded, amount of punitive damages awarded, and case processing time. This is the third in a series of data collections begun in 1992: CIVIL JUSTICE SURVEY OF STATE COURTS, 1992 (ICPSR 6587), and CIVIL JUSTICE SURVEY OF STATE COURTS, 1996 (ICPSR 2883).
Curated
Civil Justice Survey of State Courts, 2005 (ICPSR 23862)
Released/updated on: 2011-11-02
Geographic coverage: United States
The Civil Justice Survey of State Courts (CJSSC), 2005 is a systematic examination of general civil (that is, tort, contract, and real property) cases disposed of by bench or jury trial in a national sample of state courts of general jurisdiction in 2005. This study expands on the 1992, 1996, and 2001 CJSSC by collecting a nationally representative sample of bench and jury trials concluded in 156 urban, suburban, and rural counties. Prior iterations of the CJSSC focused on general civil cases concluded by bench or jury trial in a sample of the nation's 75 most populous counties. The 2005 CJSSC was designed and carried out by the National Center for State Courts. Westat designed the national sampling framework for this survey. The data collection produced two datasets. The first contains information on general civil (tort, contract, and real property) cases disposed of by bench or jury trial in a national sample of counties in 2005. Detailed case level information was obtained on these trials, including types of civil cases litigated at trial, characteristics of litigants involved in trials, who wins in trials, compensatory award amounts, punitive damages, case processing times, and post-trial litigation. The other data file contains aggregate information on the number of general civil trial and nontrial dispositions that occurred in 2005 in CJSCC counties that had the capacity to provide these data. This is the fourth in a series of data collections begun in 1992 [CIVIL JUSTICE SURVEY OF STATE COURTS, 1992 (ICPSR 6587), CIVIL JUSTICE SURVEY OF STATE COURTS, 1996 (ICPSR 2883), and CIVIL JUSTICE SURVEY OF STATE COURTS, 2001 (ICPSR 3957)].
Curated
Civil Justice Survey of Trials on Appeal, 2005 (ICPSR 32501)
Released/updated on: 2012-01-10
Geographic coverage: United States
Time period: 2005-01-01--2010-01-01
The Bureau of Justice Statistics' (BJS) Civil Justice Survey of Trials on Appeal (CJSTA) was based on 26,950 general civil (i.e., tort, contract, and real property) cases that were disposed by bench or jury trial in 156 counties participating in the 2005 Civil Justice Survey of State Courts (ICPSR 23862). Subsequently, 3,970 of those cases were appealed to 84 appellate courts in 35 states. This data collection examines civil bench and jury trials concluded in state trial courts in 2005 that were appealed to an intermediate appellate court or court of last resort. It is the first report based on data collected in the Bureau of Justice Statistics' (BJS) Civil Justice Survey of Trials on Appeal (CJSTA). The CJSTA included information from court records on civil trials concluded in 2005 and tracked the subsequent appeals from 2005 through March 2010. Information collected included the types of civil cases appealed, appeals dismissed or withdrawn before being decided on the merits, and appeals resulting in the trial court decision being reversed or affirmed. The time from the filing of an appeal to final appellate court disposition was also measured.
Curated
Simple Crosstabs
Eurobarometer 73.2 and 73.3: Consumer Empowerment, February-April 2010 (ICPSR 34082)
Released/updated on: 2013-02-07
Geographic coverage: Cyprus, Portugal, Iceland, Global, Malta, Greece, Netherlands, Sweden, Austria, Latvia, Luxembourg, Ireland, Poland, Slovenia, Slovakia, France, Bulgaria, Lithuania, Romania, Hungary, Europe, United Kingdom, Spain, Czech Republic, Belgium, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Italy, Germany, Estonia
Time period: 2010-02-26--2010-03-17, 2010-03-12--2010-04-01
The Eurobarometer series is a unique cross-national and cross-temporal survey program conducted on behalf of the European Commission. These surveys regularly monitor public opinion in the European Union (EU) member countries and consist of standard modules and special topic modules. The standard modules address attitudes towards European unification, institutions and policies, measurements for general socio-political orientations, as well as respondent and household demographics. The special topic modules address such topics as agriculture, education, natural environment and resources, public health, public safety and crime, and science and technology.
This round of Eurobarometer surveys covers the special topic of consumer empowerment and includes the following major areas of focus: (1) Internet use and online shopping, (2) awareness of consumer legislation, (3) consumer skills and confidence, and (4) housing conditions. Questions in this survey pertain to respondent's Internet usage in the last 3 months, goods or services purchased by post, phone, or the Internet within the last 12 months, the rights of consumers to return goods, and knowledge of organizations or authorities representing and protecting consumers. Respondents were queried on their understanding of common consumer issues including intermediate numerical skills, interpreting nutritional information, identification of the "best before" date on products, and familiarity with brand logos. Finally, information was collected on respondent's household situation, dwelling, finances, and expenses.
Demographic and other background information collected includes age, gender, nationality, origin of birth (personal), marital status and parental relations, occupation and form of employment, age at completion of full-time education and level of education, household composition, ownership of a fixed or a mobile telephone and other durable goods, level in society, computer experience, and Internet use. In addition, country-specific data includes type and size of locality, region of residence, and language of interview (select countries).
Curated
Impact of Prisoner Litigation Reform, 1992-2000 [United States] (ICPSR 20354)
Released/updated on: 2008-04-10
Geographic coverage: United States
Time period: 1992-04-01--2000-12-01
In 1996, the United States Congress enacted two policies to regulate the use of the legal system by state prisoners. They were the Prisoner Litigation Reform Act (PLRA) and the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act (AEDPA). The purpose of this research project was to examine whether the PLRA and the AEDPA had their intended effects of reducing the number of Section 1983 lawsuits and habeas corpus petitions, respectively, at both the national and circuit court levels. The researchers obtained data, from the Research and Statistics Division of the Administrative Office of the United States Courts, on the number of civil rights suits and the number of habeas corpus petitions filed by state prisoners in district courts from April 1992 to December 2000. These data were organized into monthly increments. Dataset 1, Civil Rights Suits Filed, contains 105 cases, and Dataset 2, Habeas Corpus Petitions Filed, also contains 105 cases. The trends in civil rights suits filed (Dataset 1) and habeas corpus petitions filed (Dataset 2) were measured by the number of petitions filed per 10,000 state prisoners. Filing rates were measured at the level of district courts, grouped together by the circuit court that has jurisdiction over them.
Variables in Dataset 1, Civil Rights Suits Filed, include filing date and the number of civil rights suits filed per 10,000 state prisoners at the national level as well as for district courts within each of the 11 circuits and the District of Columbia. An intervention flag variable is also included. Variables in Dataset 2, Habeas Corpus Petitions Filed, include filing date and the number of habeas corpus petitions filed per 10,000 state prisoners at the national level, as well as for district courts within each of the 11 circuits and the District of Columbia. A pulse flag variable and two intervention flag variables are also included.
Curated
Jury Verdicts Database for Cook County, Illinois, and All Counties in California, 1960-1984 (ICPSR 6232)
Released/updated on: 2006-01-12
Geographic coverage: United States, Chicago, Illinois
This data collection contains information on jury verdict civil cases in Cook County, Illinois, and all counties in California. The RAND Corporation's Institute for Criminal Justice began this study in the early 1980s in response to widespread public interest in the magnitude of dollar verdicts returned in civil cases. The goal was to record salient information found in court reporter publications to allow for a wide range of future research. Two such publications were chosen because of their favorable reputations and because they both dated back to 1960: the "Cook County Jury Verdict Reporter" of Chicago, Illinois, and "Jury Verdicts Weekly" of Santa Rosa, California. The collection of data for this study was conducted in two phases. Phase I included cases from 1960-1979, and Phase II coded cases from 1980-1984, including a small number of cases from 1985. In both phases, only cases in which a jury reached a definitive outcome (including deadlocked or hung juries) were included. In Phase I, only San Francisco County cases from the California reporter publication were included. In Phase II, all California counties were included. For all cases in Phase I, a Main Form was completed that included jurisdiction, court type, dates of incidents and trial, information about parties involved, trial occurrences, outcome of trial, awards, and fees. In addition to this Main Form, at least one of nine different case-type forms was completed: Common Carrier-Passenger Form, Dram Shop Form, Injuries on Property/Attractive Nuisance Form, Malpractice Form, Miscellaneous Form, Products Liability Form, Street Hazards/Highway Construction Form, Traffic/Pedestrian/Rider Form, and Work Injuries and FELA Form. These forms contained questions regarding the behavior of each party in the case and other characteristics and facts relevant to the case. A Jury Verdicts Form was completed for all cases in Phase II. This form picked up general case-level and defendant-specific data such as dates and length of trial, case outcome, original number of parties involved, and collapsing of multiple defendants into one case. For each plaintiff, a Plaintiff Information Form was filled out containing general plaintiff information such as losses claimed and the coder's assessment of the degree of the plaintiff's comparative negligence. This form also indicated which of the loss forms was coded for this plaintiff (only one loss form was completed for each plaintiff): Death Action, Personal Injuries, or Money Damages. Each form contained basic information about the outcome of the case, specific damages claimed by the plaintiff, and loss-specific data. Additionally, an Ancillary Action Form was completed for any associated claims that were adjudicated at the time of the main case, such as counter-suits by defendants. The questions on this form were the same as those on the main Jury Verdicts Form. Finally, this study includes an Integrated Jury Verdicts Database (Part 33) containing data from both phases to permit easier analysis of data from all years. This database contains five sections: (1) the basic trial information, which includes the trial dates and lengths, reporter source, and jurisdiction, (2) the main case information, which includes more detailed data about the case such as number of parties involved, case type, types of losses claimed, and total compensatory and punitive awards, (3) information about the first ancillary action, (4) information about the second ancillary action, and (5) a listing of all the forms used.
Curated
Restricted
LAPD's TEAMS II: The Impact of a Police Integrity Early Intervention System, Los Angeles, California, 2000-2015 (ICPSR 36574)
Released/updated on: 2018-09-17
Geographic coverage: United States, Los Angeles, California
Time period: 2000-01-01--2015-01-01
These data are part of NACJD's Fast Track Release and are distributed as they were received from the data depositor. The files have been zipped by NACJD for release, but not checked or processed except for the removal of direct identifiers. Users should refer to the accompanying readme file for a brief description of the files available with this collection and consult the investigator(s) if further information is needed.
This research was an evaluation of the Los Angeles Police Department's (LAPD) Training Evaluation and Management System II (TEAMS II) Early Intervention System conducted by Justice and Security Strategies, Inc. TEAMS II was designed to identify officers at-risk for engaging in future problematic behavior. This system was mandated as part of the Consent Decree (Section II) that was formally entered into on June 15, 2001 between the U.S. Department of Justice and the LAPD. Justice and Security Strategies, Inc. research staff worked with the Information Technology Bureau to obtain and analyze TEAMS II data, conducted informal interviews with officers, sergeants, civilians, command staff, and technologists involved with TEAMS II, and worked with the TEAMS II contractors to examine and provide recommendations.
The data collection includes 3 Stata data files. The concentration analysis dataset (TEAMS-Concentration-Analysis-FINAL-v2.dta) with 143 variables for 15,710 cases, the regression-discontinuity dataset (TEAMS-Regression-Discontinuity-FINAL.dta) with 98 variables for 297,779 cases, and the time series dataset (TEAMS-Time-Series-FINAL.dta) with 43 variables for 192 cases. Demographic variables included as part of this data collection include officer age, gender, ethnicity, education level, and total number of officers employed by demographics.
Curated
Massachusetts Superior Court Files, 1859-1959 (ICPSR 7776)
Released/updated on: 2010-05-14
Geographic coverage: United States, Massachusetts
Time period: 1859-01-01--1959-01-01
This dataset contains data about case records created between 1859-1959 in the Massachusetts Superior Court (and its predecessors) for two Massachusetts counties. Part 1 contains data for 1,952 criminal cases with 52 descriptive variables, including: type of crime, year crime was committed, pleas, sentences, appeals, size of file, and demographic characteristics of victim and defendant (e.g., gender, status, residence, and occupation). Eighteen variables describe and rate each case's historical interest. Part 2 contains data on 1,968 civil (law, equity, and divorce) cases, with 82 descriptive variables, such as: relationship between parties, type of complaint, relief sought, disposition, relief granted, number of claims, damages awarded, size of file, and demographic characteristics of plaintiff and defendant (e.g., gender, status, residence, and occupation). Ten variables describe and rate each case's historical interest. In both data files, criteria for historical interest coding include: (1) inherent interest, such as offenses that are not routine (e.g., white-collar crimes, sexual crimes, and serious felonies), parties who are inherently interesting (e.g., famous persons, institutional defendants, and law enforcement personnel), and legal proceedings that are inherently interesting (e.g., alleged violations of prosecutorial or judicial discretion), (2) contexts that are inherently interesting, and (3) extraordinary documentation, such as those that shed light on the legal system (e.g., pardons or letters from citizens' committees), shed light on social history (e.g., the testimony of a woman who moved to the city and inadvertently ended up in a brothel), provide legal/procedural information (e.g., the details of search or a technical challenge to an indictment), and describe public or political history (e.g., milk inspection or zoning laws).
Curated
Medical Malpractice: An Empirical Examination of the Litigation Process (ICPSR 1058)
Released/updated on: 1996-01-03
Geographic coverage: United States
These data and/or computer programs are part of ICPSR's Publication-Related Archive and are distributed exactly as they arrived from the data depositor. ICPSR has not checked or processed this material. Users should consult the INVESTIGATOR(S) if further information is desired.
Curated
The Role of Indigent Defense for Defendants with Mental Health Disorders, New York, 2013-2015 (ICPSR 36736)
Released/updated on: 2024-05-29
Geographic coverage: United States, New York (state)
Time period: 2013-10-01--2015-05-01
The incarceration of people with mental health disorders represents a significant public health crisis. People with mental health needs are over-represented in the justice system and in 2009 alone there were an estimated 2 million bookings of individuals with mental health disorders into United States jails, equivalent to approximately 18 percent of all admissions (Steadman et al., 2009).
While some indigent defense offices employ social workers or staff with clinical training to assess client needs and advise attorneys on defense strategies, there are far more public defenders that do not have access to these resources. While millions of people with mental illness are arrested every year, there continues to be challenges inherent in representing this population or the training and support needs of public defenders.
This project addresses examines the needs of defendants with mental health disorders and the specific challenges that attorneys face when representing these individuals. Specifically, the Vera Institute of Justice (Vera) and Policy Research Associates Inc. (PRA) used multiple methods to assess the dual perspective of defendants and defenders concerning:
- The link between mental health and justice involvement
- Perceptions of the attorney-client relationship and satisfaction with case outcomes
- The needs of defendants with mental health disorders
- How a client's mental health impacts defenders' strategy
Curated
Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), 1987-1990: [United States] (ICPSR 9485)
Released/updated on: 2005-11-04
Geographic coverage: United States
Time period: 1970-01-01--1990-01-01
The objectives of this data collection were to capture the histories of complex, multiparty, political legal disputes, to measure political "chill," and to test a model of crossinstitutional disputing. A "Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation" (SLAPP) was defined as a lawsuit filed against citizens or groups exercising the right to petition the government. Each case violated the First Amendment right "to petition the government for a redress of grievances." The Petition Clause, as it is called, is a fundamental civil right, guaranteeing and encouraging citizen involvement in all aspects of American political decision-making and governance. The collection includes information on the petition action, political context, amount of award or settlement, specific damages requested (no money vs. a specified amount), attorney status, amount of court costs, attorney fees, interest, and number of individuals and organizations involved in the suit. Also included are several sociodemographic variables describing the parties to the litigation, such as marital status, employment, occupation, county and state of residence, political party orientation and membership, and interest group membership.
Curated
Supplemental Survey of Civil Appeals, 2001 (ICPSR 4539)
Released/updated on: 2011-11-02
Geographic coverage: United States
Time period: 2001-01-01--2005-01-01
The 2001 Supplemental Survey of Civil Appeals is a follow-up to the CIVIL JUSTICE SURVEY OF STATE COURTS, 2001 (ICPSR 3957) which examined 8,311 general civil cases (e.g., tort, contract, and real property) concluded by bench or jury trial in a sample of 46 of the nation's 75 most populous counties in 2001. These cases were then weighted to represent the 11,908 general civil trials concluded in the nation's 75 most populous counties. Data from the 2001 Civil Trial Survey were used to produce several Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) reports describing the characteristics of civil litigation in state courts. The 2001 Supplemental Survey of Civil Appeals tracks every general civil case concluded by bench or jury trial in 2001 in the 46 surveyed counties that were subsequently appealed to an intermediate appellate court or court of last resort. In the 2001 Civil Justice Survey of State Courts information was collected for every general civil trial concluded in 43 of the 46 selected counties. In these counties, the 2001 Supplemental Survey of Civil Appeals collected information on all general trials that produced an appeal. In the three remaining counties, (Cook County, Philadelphia County, and Bergen County), the appeals survey obtained information for both those general civil trials concluded in 2001 that were subsequently appealed and, in addition, collected information for those general civil appeals that were not captured at the trial court level. The 2001 Supplemental Survey of Civil Appeals tracks data on general civil appeals that originated from 46 of the nation's 75 most populous counties. Unlike the 2001 Civil Justice Survey of State Courts, cases were not weighted to represent appeals in the nation's 75 most populous counties. The appeals were followed until they were withdrawn, dismissed, or decided on the merits in the appellate courts. All appeals were tracked until April 30, 2005. Appeals not disposed on that date are identified as pending. Overall four appellate datasets were produced from this survey.
Curated
Survey of American Prisons and Jails, 1979 (ICPSR 7899)
Released/updated on: 1992-02-16
Geographic coverage: North Carolina, Indiana, Wyoming, Utah, Arizona, Montana, Kentucky, California, Kansas, Florida, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Mississippi, Iowa, Illinois, Texas, Connecticut, Georgia, Virginia, Maryland, Idaho, Oregon, Vermont, United States, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Maine, Alabama, Arkansas, Washington, South Carolina, Nebraska, Massachusetts, Colorado, Missouri, Alaska, North Dakota, Wisconsin, Nevada, District of Columbia, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Hawaii, Minnesota, New York (state), New Jersey, Michigan, New Mexico, New Hampshire, Louisiana, Ohio
This data collection contains information gathered in a two-part survey that was designed to assess institutional conditions in state and federal prisons and in halfway houses. It was one of a series of data-gathering efforts undertaken during the 1970s to assist policymakers in assessing and overcoming deficiencies in the nation's correctional institutions. This particular survey was conducted in response to a mandate set forth in the Crime Control Act of 1976. Data were gathered via self-enumerated questionnaires that were mailed to the administrators of all 558 federal and state prisons and all 405 community-based prerelease facilities in existence in the United States in 1979. Part 1 contains the results of the survey of state and federal adult correctional systems, and Part 2 contains the results of the survey of community-based prerelease facilities. The two files contain similar variables designed to tap certain key aspects of confinement: (1) inmate (or resident) counts by sex and by security class, (2) age of facility and rated capacity, (3) spatial density, occupancy, and hours confined for each inmate's (or resident's) confinement quarters, (4) composition of inmate (or resident) population according to race, age, and offense type, (5) inmate (or resident) labor and earnings, (6) race, age, and sex characteristics of prison (or half-way house) staff, and (7) court orders by type of order and pending litigation. Other data (contained in both files) include case ID number, state ID number, name of facility, and operator of facility (e.g., federal, state, local, or private).
Curated
Survey of Households in Five Judicial Districts of the United States: A Civil Litigation Project, 1977-1979 (ICPSR 9743)
Released/updated on: 1992-05-12
Geographic coverage: United States, New Mexico, California, Wisconsin, South Carolina, Pennsylvania
Time period: 1977-01-01--1979-01-01
This data collection is based on the household screening survey conducted by the Civil Litigation Research Project (CLRP) in 1980. The survey was conducted in five federal judicial districts in the United States: Eastern Wisconsin, Eastern Pennsylvania, South Carolina, New Mexico, and Central California. The primary objective of the study was to identify individuals involved in disputes that might have become lawsuits. The major area of investigation was claiming behavior. The dataset also includes 54 households from the "screened experiment," whereby households known to have been involved in lawsuits were contacted. Demographic variables include the age, sex, education, occupation, and union status of the chief wage earner. Also included are the respondent's sex, race, and family income. Questions were asked about consumer problems, problems with persons who owed the respondent money, discrimination problems, debt problems, property-related problems, mortgage-related problems, landlord-tenant problems, problems with government benefits, and post-divorce problems. The unit of analysis is the household.
Curated
Survey of Tort Litigants in Three State Courts, 1989-1990: [United States] (ICPSR 9699)
Released/updated on: 2006-01-12
Geographic coverage: United States, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania
Time period: 1989-01-01--1990-01-01
This survey examines the experiences of tort litigants in three state courts: (1) Bucks County, Pennsylvania, (2) Prince George's County, Maryland, and (3) Fairfax County, Virginia. The survey was administered using a Computer Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI) system. The most critical aspect of the CATI skip logic is that respondents were interviewed using different modules depending on their role in the dispute (plaintiff vs. defendant), the state/county, and the mode of resolution of their lawsuit. Questions were asked about the nature of the dispute, the plaintiff's financial losses, the defendant's report of damages claimed, events leading up to the lawsuit and finding a lawyer, arbitration cases, settlement conference cases, trial cases, bilateral settlement cases, costs of the lawsuit, social background, and overall evaluation of the experience.