![american-flag-2054414_1920.jpg](https://steemitimages.com/DQmNqpjiwFgBeeWa8BhYjcbfkH8kJvCoTctNWJvp5qa2Yb4/american-flag-2054414_1920.jpg) The Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) has a [ton of data](https://www.bjs.gov/index.cfm?ty=dca) regarding law-enforcement and incarceration. For a class research project, I am looking into examining data on the pre-incarceration incomes of incarcerated parents. For this topic, I am looking to examine three datasets: the [Survey of Inmates in Federal Correctional Facilities (SIFCF)](https://www.bjs.gov/index.cfm?ty=dcdetail&iid=273), the [Survey of Inmates in State Correctional Facilities (SISCF)](https://www.bjs.gov/index.cfm?ty=dcdetail&iid=275), and the [Survey of Inmates in Local Jails (SILJ)](https://www.bjs.gov/index.cfm?ty=dcdetail&iid=274). I will be downloading the most recent datasets from each, which includes [2004 data from the SIFCF and SISCF](http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/icpsrweb/NACJD/studies/4572) as well as [2002 data from the SILJ](http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/icpsrweb/ICPSR/studies/4359). This data, for the most part, is formatted to be accessible in closed-source programs that I would need to purchase a license to use. There are two problems with that: federally funded data should not require the public to purchase software to access it, and I don't want to use that software. Here's how to circumvent that and import the data from ASCII + SAS format into R: ``` #download datasets #jails: http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/icpsrweb/ICPSR/studies/4359 #prisons: http://www.icpsr.umich.edu/icpsrweb/NACJD/studies/4572 #I am not allowed to re-distribute this original dataset #use "ASCII + SAS setup" links #unzip and concatenate datasets to same two folders (jails: "ICPSR_04359", prisons: "ICPSR_04572") #set dir to dir with both data folders setwd("YOURDIRECTORYHERE") #convert data to R, save in repsective folders library(SAScii) #SAScii package allows R to follow .sas input directions for .txt ASCII files, so long as the user specifies line in the .sas file at which "INPUT" starts manually #Use a text editor to open .sas files and find "INPUT" lines #define input lines input04359_DS0001 <- 3681 input04359_DS0002 <- 50 input04572_DS0001 <- 3904 input04572_DS0002 <- 3898 input04572_DS0003 <- 424 input04572_DS0004 <- 424 #define lrcel, also manually from .sas files lrcel04359_DS0001 <- 4679 lrcel04359_DS0002 <- 14326 lrcel04572_DS0001 <- 8845 lrcel04572_DS0002 <- 8845 lrcel04572_DS0003 <- 2580 lrcel04572_DS0004 <- 2580 #load data. takes a long time. data04359_DS0001 <- read.SAScii("ICPSR_04359/DS0001/04359-0001-Data.txt", "ICPSR_04359/DS0001/04359-0001-Setup.sas", input04359_DS0001, lrecl = lrcel04359_DS0001) data04359_DS0002 <- read.SAScii("ICPSR_04359/DS0002/04359-0002-Data.txt", "ICPSR_04359/DS0002/04359-0002-Setup.sas", input04359_DS0002, lrecl = lrcel04359_DS0002) data04572_DS0001 <- read.SAScii("ICPSR_04572/DS0001/04572-0001-Data.txt", "ICPSR_04572/DS0001/04572-0001-Setup.sas", input04572_DS0001, lrecl = lrcel04572_DS0001) data04572_DS0002 <- read.SAScii("ICPSR_04572/DS0002/04572-0002-Data.txt", "ICPSR_04572/DS0002/04572-0002-Setup.sas", input04572_DS0002, lrecl = lrcel04572_DS0002) data04572_DS0003 <- read.SAScii("ICPSR_04572/DS0003/04572-0003-Data.txt", "ICPSR_04572/DS0003/04572-0003-Setup.sas", input04572_DS0003, lrecl = lrcel04572_DS0003) data04572_DS0004 <- read.SAScii("ICPSR_04572/DS0004/04572-0004-Data.txt", "ICPSR_04572/DS0004/04572-0004-Setup.sas", input04572_DS0004, lrecl = lrcel04572_DS0004) #save in "data" folder dir.create("data") setwd("data/") save(data04359_DS0001,file="data04359_DS0001.Rda") save(data04359_DS0002,file="data04359_DS0002.Rda") save(data04572_DS0001,file="data04572_DS0001.Rda") save(data04572_DS0002,file="data04572_DS0002.Rda") save(data04572_DS0003,file="data04572_DS0003.Rda") save(data04572_DS0004,file="data04572_DS0004.Rda") 4572_DS0002$V1825) ```
And that's it. Analyze away. This script is on [GitHub](https://github.com/mackfinkel/incarcerationData).

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