Find Criminal Justice Resources

Quick Links: Munday Library Databases | US Web Resources | Texas Web Resources | International Web Resources

Munday Library Databases

While the library’s catalog, SORIN, does offer access to books, journals, articles and videos, there are times when it is more accurate to search for content within the Munday Library’s specialized databases. These links should take you directly to the specific database (if you are off-campus you will need to log in with your St. Edward’s University ID and password). If you have problems connecting, e-mail library@stedwards.edu.

HeinOnline
Database of legal resources, including laws, regulations, some trials and court reports, a variety of other materials covering United States and foreign law. Coverage includes private and public international law, intellectual property and legal history.

Legal Information +
Information on all areas of legal information, including full text articles from law journals, legal reference books, and legal forms. Searches Legal Collection and Legal Information Reference Center.

ICPSR (Inter-University Consortium for Political and Social Research)
 “Is the world’s largest archive of digital social science data. We acquire, preserve, and distribute original social science research data. ICPSR is a partner in social science research.”

CQ Researcher
Covers health, social trends, criminal justice, international affairs, education, the environment, technology, and the economy. Each single-themed, 12,000-word report is researched and written by a seasoned journalist and provides researchers with an introductory overview; background and chronology on the topic; an assessment of the current situation; tables and maps; pro/con statements from representatives of opposing positions; and bibliographies of key sources

CRS Reports
The Congressional Research Service (CRS), a component of the Library of Congress, conducts research and analysis for Congress on a broad range of issues of national policy. The Federation of American Scientists (FAS) endeavors to provide current, regularly updated public access to as many non-confidential CRS reports as possible.

Data Planet Statistical Datasets
Provides access to statistics produced by U.S. federal agencies, states, private organizations, and major intergovernmental organizations with capabilities to compare & contrast multiple data series, perform statistical calculations on the data, and customize output views.

Statista 
Statista provides access to statistical business data on market researchers, trade organizations, scientific journals, and government databases. Much of the data is related to marketing, demographic, government and industry information.   

Gale eBooks
A database of encyclopedias and specialized reference sources for multidisciplinary research.

CREDO
Background information to start your research.  Searching 2,211,000 full text articles in 798 titles from 113 publishers. 

Proquest Statistical Abstract of the United States
Offers statistics on the social, political, and economic conditions of the United States. Coverage: 1790 to present.

Historical Statistics of the United States
Contains historical statistics on almost all aspects of the U.S., including economics, population, industry, and government. Mainly covers 1790-2000, although some tables have expanded coverage to2003. Also contains explanatory essays on issues such as poverty, labor, education, etc.

Films on Demand (streaming video)

Kanopy (streaming video)

US Web Resources

Gale eBooks
Gale eBooks is a database of encyclopedias and specialized reference sources for multidisciplinary research.

NCJRS: National Criminal Justice Reference Service
Established in 1972, NCJRS is a “federally funded resource offering justice and substance abuse information to support research, policy, and program development worldwide.”

Child Welfare Information Gateway
“A service of the Children’s Bureau, Administration for Children and Families, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The Gateway provides access to information and resources to help protect children and strengthen families. This includes access to print and electronic publications, websites, and online databases covering a wide range of topics from prevention to permanency, child welfare, child abuse and neglect, adoption, and search and reunion.”

Sourcebook of Criminal Justice
“Online treasure trove of criminal justice-related statistics organized by category, including: public opinion, crime, victims, arrests, seizures, courts, prosecution, sentencing, parole, prisons, the death penalty & many more controversial issues.”

Federal Bureau of Prisons
“Protects society by confining offenders in the controlled environments of prisons and community-based facilities that are safe, humane, cost-efficient, and appropriately secure, and that provide work and other self-improvement opportunities to assist offenders in becoming law-abiding citizens.”

Federal Bureau of Investigation – Uniform Crime Reports
“…The Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program was conceived in 1929 by the International Association of Chiefs of Police to meet a need for reliable, uniform crime statistics for the nation. In 1930, the FBI was tasked with collecting, publishing, and archiving those statistics. Today, several annual statistical publications, such as the comprehensive Crime in the United States, are produced from data provided by nearly 17,000 law enforcement agencies across the United States.”

Institute of Criminology – University of Cambridge
“The Institute of Criminology at the University of Cambridge, UK, has a worldwide reputation for excellence in both research and teaching. Information about our teaching and research can be found on our courses and research pages.”

JUSTNET – Justice Technology Information Center
“… Originally created in 1994 as a program of NIJ’s Office of Science and Technology, the NLECTC System plays a critical role in enabling NIJ to carry out its critical mission to assist state, local, tribal and federal law enforcement, corrections and other criminal justice agencies in addressing their technology needs and challenges..”

Bureau of Justice Statistics 
“To collect, analyze, publish, and disseminate information on crime, criminal offenders, victims of crime, and the operation of justice systems at all levels of government. These data are critical to federal, state, and local policymakers in combating crime and ensuring that justice is both efficient and evenhanded. “

National Archive of Criminal Justice Data
“The mission of the National Archive of Criminal Justice Data (NACJD) is to facilitate research in criminal justice and criminology, through the preservation, enhancement, and sharing of computerized data resources; through the production of original research based on archived data; and through specialized training workshops in quantitative analysis of crime and justice data.”

Center for Problem Oriented Policing
“The mission of the Center for Problem-Oriented Policing is to advance the concept and practice of problem-oriented policing in open and democratic societies. It does so by making readily accessible information about ways in which police can more effectively address specific crime and disorder problems.”

360 Degrees:  Perspectives on the U.S. Criminal Justice System
“Even as the crime rate is dropping, the criminal justice system continues to grow. According to the Federal Bureau of Prisons, there will be 30 new federal prisons built over the next 7 years. Throughout this unprecedented growth, there have been few opportunities for critical examination of what is working and what isn’t. It is our hope that this site will challenge your perceptions about who is in prison today and why. We also hope that it will generate ideas, big and small, about how we can reduce crime and strengthen our communities without continuing this unprecedented rate of incarceration.”

Texas Web Resources

Texas Department of Criminal Justice
“The mission of the Texas Department of Criminal Justice is to provide public safety, promote positive change in offender behavior, reintegrate offenders into society, and assist victims of crime. “

Texas Department of Public Safety
“Mission:Protect and Serve Texas. Goals:Combat Terrorism and Crime; Enhance Public Safety; Strengthen Statewide Emergency Management;Provide World-Class Services”

International Web Resources

International Justice Statistics from the Bureau of Justice Statistics. U.S. Department of Justice
Portal to international justice data from a variety of resources including the United Nations.