Definition of a Uniform Crime Report
During the 1920s, police chiefs across the United States recognized a need for reliable national crime statistics to help track crime rates across the country. This led to the development of the Uniform Crime Report system. Through this system, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) collects data on the most commonly reported crimes, using figures submitted by state and local authorities.
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Identification
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The Uniform Crime Report system is a voluntary program that examines national crime rates based on data submitted by law enforcement agencies across the United States.
Function
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The Uniform Crime Reports, compiled and published by the FBI, provide a national view of crime, enabling criminal justice officials to track trends in crime rates and develop appropriate enforcement measures.
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Features
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The program collects offense and arrest statistics on the following categories of crimes: homicide (murder and manslaughter), sexual assault, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, vehicle theft and arson. According to the FBI, these are the categories of crime most likely to be reported to the police.
History
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The program began in 1929, when the International Association of Chiefs of Police saw a need for reliable data on national crime rates. The FBI began collecting and publishing those statistics in 1930.
Considerations
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Uniform Crime Report system does not collect information on convictions or other criminal court proceedings.
Size
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According to the FBI, nearly 17,000 U.S. law enforcement agencies submit incident and arrest data under the Uniform Crime Report system.
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