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Researching Crime in Your Community
Researching Crime in Your Community
July 9, 2016
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ABSTRACT
According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the National Incident Based Reporting
System or NIBRS, is an incident based reporting system in which agencies collect data
on each single crime occurrence. The data presented in NIBRS is attained from local,
state, and federal automated records systems. NIBRS is comprised of data that records
single incidents of crime and arrest within 22 offense categories made up of 46 specific
crimes, which are referred to as Group A offenses. There is also a Group B component
that categorizes 11 offenses for which arrest data is reported. Using the NIBRS system
which is also referred to as the new Uniform Crime Report system, law enforcement
officials can use this data to obtain more accurate statistics to identify crime patterns
and trends.
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Since the 1930s, the Federal Bureau of Investigation has provided statistical information
on violent crime and property crime for the nation and the state. The system currently
used to conduct statistical analysis of crimes such as property crime, is the Uniform Crime
Reporting System. Another system known as the National Based Incident Reporting System
is being voluntarily used to produce more accurate and reliable information for crime
members of the Los Angeles Police Department. The organization itself consist of roughly
10,000 sworn officers tasked with patrolling a variety of areas that include high crime
jurisdictions. Some issues that are frequently encountered within any part of the city, is
In my research, I will be using crime statistics from the 2014 National Incident Based
Reporting System publication. The data is available for several categories, which include
day, type of weapon, circumstance, state, completed and attempted, and clearances. The
this date there are 38 participating states in the program. California is not a currently
participating contributing state for the purpose of data acquired by the National Incident
During my prior research, the 2014 Uniform Crime Report system was used to acquire
burglary and property crime statistics. The UCR reported that there were an estimated
8,277,829 property crime offenses in the nation. The 2 year trend showed that property
crime offenses declined 4.3 percent in 2014 when compared with the 2013 estimate. The
10 year trend showed that property crime offenses decreased 18.6 percent in 2014 when
compared with the 2005 estimate. According to the UCR by region, property crime ranged
at 2710.3 per 100,000 inhabitants in the West. In California 197,039 burglaries were
reported within municipal jurisdictions. Within the City of Los Angeles in table 8 of the
2014 UCR 15,070 burglaries took place that were actually reported to law enforcement.
Using the National Based Incident Reporting System, there was a total of 3,493,904 of
total crimes against persons incidents as reported by all participating NIBRS states. Of
those incidents there were 464,445 total of incidents involving burglary. The NIBRS
system reported that there were 3,493, 904 total offenses of crimes against persons reported
by all participating states. Of those offenses there were 464,445 offenses involving burglary.
Using the National Based Incident Reporting System, there was a total of 3,794,240
victims of crimes against persons as reported by all participating NIBRS states. Of that
reported number, 533,156 were victims of burglary. Using the National Based Incident
Reporting System, there was a total of 2,246,790 known offenders in relation to the
category of crimes against persons. Of that reported number, 264,253 known offenders
Another source used to compile statistical information on crimes against persons and
Statistics. This agency produces data compiled in the National Crime Victimization
Survey. The purpose of the survey is to collect information from their survey on
Nonfatal reported and non-reported crime to police. The bureau surveys people 12
years and older, twice a year either by formal interview or by phone to obtain data for
the survey.
Using the 2012-2014 survey, the bureau reports on different categories which include
type of crime, victim, region, offense, and demographics. According to their statistics,
Property Victimizations. This stat includes data averaged for per every 1000 households
and per every 1000 persons over 12 years old. The rate of property crime decreased
from 131.4 victimizations per 1000 households in 2013 to 118.1 per 1000 in 2014. For
region, in the west, property crime averaged a 5.2 victimization rate per 1000 household
average in 2014.
In conclusion there are different ways to obtain statistical information on crime trends
and patterns. These methods of obtaining data through the NIBRS and NCVS are the
most popular way of extracting data but the data should not be considered concrete
evidence. The data provided is simply a tool to measure trends and patterns and should
not be used to reflect on the effectiveness of a law enforcement agency. The data is
References
The Measure of Crime; Clayton Mosher; Terance Miethe; Timothy Hart(2011). The Measure
of Crime 2nd Edition/ Sage Publications; Copyright 2011, 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks,
California 91320
U.S Department of Justice (2016). U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs,
Bureau of Statistics. Retrieved from; http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/cv14.pdf