The effects of criminal activity, as well as people's perceptions about the extent of such activity, are issues which impact directly or indirectly on the quality of people's lives. This section provides an overview of the Australian criminal justice system, including people's involvement with it either as offenders or as victims of crime. As well as data on the characteristics of crime victims and offenders, and outcomes from the justice process, the section also looks at the non-reporting of crime. The data presented are based on national crime and justice statistics produced by the ABS. These are sourced from surveys such as the Crime and Safety Survey and from administrative data, covering crimes recorded by police, the volume and flow of criminal work through the Higher Courts, and information on prisoners dealt with by correctional services agencies. Justice is primarily administered through state and territory governments, with differences in legislation, processes and operational structures. However, by taking account of these differences, comparable crime and justice statistics provide indicators of the level and nature of crime and the outcomes of criminal justice. The section draws on data sources other than the ABS.
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