How are the Census expenditure data collected?
The Census Bureau collects justice expenditure data through two separate programs. The most comprehensive, the Census of Governments, conducted every five years, collects expenditure data for all state and local governments in the nation. It uses three methods, depending on the size of the unit of government. On-site data collection is used for the largest and most complex local governments. Consolidated data submissions on computer tapes from a single state agency are used in about 35 states for approximately 50,000 additional local governments. The rest of the local governments respond via mail survey. For a discussion of the methodology used, see Expenditure Methodology.
