U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Program Bureau of Justice Statistics State Use of Incident- Based Crime Statistics February 1999, NCJ 173941 By Kevin J. Strom BJS Statistician Background In 1991 the Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) program of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) began moving from summary counts to the more detailed National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS). NIBRS provides case-level statistics including victim/offender relationship, incident location, weapon involvement, time of day, and type of injury. As of September 1998, 14 States were certified by the FBI to report NIBRS data. Additional States, such as Illinois, collect incident-based data on a local or city-level, while attempting to integrate this type of collection system State-wide. Based on a wide, but not comprehensive, review of available 1996-97 materials offered by State agencies, this report describes States' publication and dissemination of incident-based data, specifically their presentation of criminal statistics in tabular form. While States that have incident-based reporting can generate statistics upon request, emphasis is placed on the production of formal publications like annual reports, and on special reports and Internet capabilities. Annual reports Index Crimes From among those reviewed about 14 States included basic incident-based data in their most recently available annual reports, commonly incident-based tables centered on index crimes. Index crimes include murder, forcible rape, aggravated assault, robbery, burglary, larceny, and motor vehicle theft. Examples of findings from incident-based tables in State annual reports are presented below: Idado In Crime in Idaho 1997, each Part I index crime is presented in Idaho Department of Law Enforcement, Crime in Idaho, 1997. a separate one-page summary of tables that includes victim/ offender relationship; victim race, sex, and age category (juvenile or adult); and offender race, sex, and age category (table 1). These tables display only data pertinent to the crime in question. Tables on incidents by location provide additional insight. For example, 38% of Idaho robberies occurred in a commercial setting, most commonly at a convenience store (13.7%), bank (7.3%), grocery store (4.3%), specialty store (3.0%), or restaurant (2.6%). Idaho's annual publication also includes incident-based data on victim outcomes, such as victim injury and weapon use in crimes against persons and on weapons in possession of arrestees, a valuable instrument used for safety training among law enforcement officers. ----------------------------------------------------------- Table 1. Weapons used in crimes against persons in Idaho, 1997 Rifle/ Knife/blunt Other Other/ Offense Handgun shotgun object Vehicle Explosive firearm Personal unknown Murder 11 4 8 0 1 2 5 7 Negligent manslaughter 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 Forcible rape 2 0 6 0 0 2 268 18 Aggravated assault 264 129 842 155 2 79 376 237 Kidnapping/abduction 11 2 6 0 0 1 73 16 Forcible sodomy 0 0 0 0 0 0 39 2 Sexual assault with ob 0 0 5 0 0 0 21 7 Forcible fondling 0 1 4 0 0 1 610 38 Total 289 136 871 155 3 85 1393 325 Note: Up to 4 weapons can be entered for each incident. Source: Uniform Crime Reporting Unit, Bureau of Criminal Identification, ------------------------------------------------------------------- Iowa The Iowa 1996 Uniform Crime Report is calculated strictly from incident-based data (Iowa is approximately 85% IBR compliant). Iowa presents incident-based information on specific index crimes by time of day; month; victim age group, sex, and race; arrestee age group, sex, and race; victim/offender relationship; type of weapon used; and incident location. These data are shown in basic frequency distributions and in colorful pie charts or bar graphs (figure 1). Accompanying text summarizes changes over time and highlights pertinent information within the tables. For instance, in 1996 burglaries were most commonly committed by white males 16 to 18 years old, and 58% were committed in residential properties. The complete annual report, with selected county-level tables, can be downloaded from the Iowa Internet site (www.state.ia.us/government/dps). South Carolina Crime in South Carolina 1997 includes basic incident-based tables for all Part I offenses. For forcible rape, tables include victims by age, race, and sex; persons arrested for rape by age, race, and sex; the victim/ offender relationship in rape cases; rape incidents by weapon distribution; and rape incidents by premise type. Incident-based data, such as victim/offender relationship, are also displayed in easy-to-read pie and bar charts. ------------------------------------------------ Figure 1: Robbery, 1996 Highway/parking 51.1 Park/woods 2.3 Residence 15 Other/unknown 3.6 Grocery store 2.9 Department store 3.2 Other commercial 4.4 Convenience/gas station 13.0 Bar/restaurant 4.5 ----------------------------------------------- Domestic violence Several States, including Alabama, Delaware, Florida, Idaho, Iowa, South Carolina, and Utah, presented statistics on domestic violence separate- ly in their annual reports. Few States distinguished between cases of male and female victimizations, although such information may provide additional understanding about the nature of the incidents. * Crime in Alabama reports domestic violence by the type of offense, victim characteristics, offender characteristics, weapon use, injuries sustained, and victim/offender relationship. * Crime in Florida contains a basic table on domestic violence by offense type and percent change between 1996 and 1997. * Crime in Idaho displays a table with type of offense by relationship and change in total number of incidents from 1996 to 1997. * The Iowa Uniform Crime Report, which contains the largest breakdown of domestic abuse tables, extends information on these incidents to include signs of domestic abuse (that is, injuries) and referrals made by victims of domestic abuse. In 1996, 63% of victims of domestic abuse in Iowa suffered minor injuries, while an additional 2% sustained serious lacerations and 1% sustained a fracture. * Crime in South Carolina contains multiple tables on domestic assaults by victim/offender relationship and on assaults occurring between intimates. ---------------------------------------------------- Table 2. Motivation for hate crimes Nature Motivation Num ber Percent of tot Racial Anti white 14 0.318 Anti black 7 15.9 Anti American Indian 2 4.5 Anti Asian 1 2.3 Anti multi-racial 1 2.3 Ethnicity Anti Hispanic 11 25 Anti other ethnicity 0 0 Sexual orientation Anti male homosexual 1 2.3 Anti female homosexua 2 4.5 Anti homosexual 0 0 Anti heterosexual 0 0 Anti bisexual 0 0 Religion Anti Jewish 0 0 Anti Catholic 2 4.5 Anti Protestant 0 0 Anti Islamic 0 0 Anti other religion 3 6.8 Anti multi-religion 0 0 Anti atheist/agnostic 0 0 Disabled Anti physically disab 0 0 Anti mentally disable 0 0 Total 44 1 Source: Crime in Idaho, 1997. ------------------------------------------------------ Hate crime Among the reports analyzed, five States reported incident-based statistics in the form of hate-bias crimes in their annual reports. These incidents are usually classified by motivation for hate-bias which includes racial, ethnicity, sexual orientation, religion, and crimes against the disabled. Hate crime statistics were generally reported in basic frequency distributions. Displaying these statistics in a cross-tabular form, such as motivation by type of offense, could more fully describe these events. * Crime in Idaho contains tables on hate crime by nature and motivation, by location, by specific agencies reporting these incidents, by victim characteristics, and by offender race. For example, in offender motivation for Idaho hate crimes, 57% were motivated by race, 25% by ethnicity, 11% by religion, and 7% by the victim's sexual orientation (table 2). * In the 1996 Iowa Uniform Crime Report, hate bias crime tables include the number of incidents by year and month, the target of the crime, the motivation, and the actual offense. * Crime in Michigan displays bias crime statistics on their Internet site and in their Annual Report. In addition to the categories displayed by other States, Michigan includes gender as a possible motivating factor for hate crimes (anti-female and anti-male). * Crime in North Carolina reports hate crime incidents by motivation, by offender race, and by victim characteristics. * Finally, Crime in Oklahoma reports frequency distributions for types of hate-crime offenses, victim characteristics, offender characteristics, incident location, and motivation for the offense. Internet capabilities A number of States have Internet sites that include State-level criminal statistics. Several provide users with the ability to manipulate incident-based data or to download standardized tables that contain county-level information. Other States are developing or enhancing their Internet sites to include these capabilities. (See the Internet addresses on page 9.) Examples follow: Internet sites Alabama Crime in Alabama, available in print or via the Internet, contains sex and race of homicide victims by type of offender, victim/offender by race and sex of rape, relationship of rape victims to offenders. Special sections are also included on domestic violence and juvenile victims of violent crime. Iowa States also provide users the ability to access and download incident-based statistics via the Internet. The complete 1996 Iowa Uniform Crime Report and selected incident-based tables can be downloaded, including frequen- cy distributions for Group A offenses. This information is available State-wide, but also for every law enforcement agency in Iowa, which may be useful for agencies attempting to verify their own criminal statistics. Michigan The publication Crime in Michigan, 1997 can be viewed on the Michigan State Police Internet site. Incident-based data are limited to State-wide domestic violence and bias crime statistics. However, interactive tables displaying arrests by crime, age, race, and sex can be obtained, with this information available at the county and jurisdictional-level as well (figure above). South Carolina In South Carolina a NIBRS interactive Internet site is under development that enables users to manipulate a full-range of incident-based statistics at the State, county, and departmental-level. Data can be electronically mapped down to the county-level. The system will also provide users with the ability to select from a number of standardized incident-based tables. Included in the list of standardized incident-based tables are robbery by premise and by time of day, arrestees with weapons by offense, and victim/offender relationship by sex of violent crime victims. Establishing a core set of standardized tables will ensure that all authorized users receive the equivalent statistics for certain types of criminal information. Tables can also be selected at the state, county, or departmental-level. E-mail One technique for disseminating incident-based data is the Vermont Crime Information Center VCIC Data Byte, a weekly e-mail that utilizes current incident-based statistics to answer relevant inquiries or subject areas. For example, on the issue of officer safety, what is the probability of encountering firearms by type of location. Among the 189 firearm-related incidents, 50% occurred at residences, 17% occurred on roads or highways, 12% in fields and woods, and 5% in parking lots and garages. Other examples of VCIC Data Bytes include type of crime during the holiday season versus the summer, a rape "fact sheet," and a profile of Vermont stalkers. This information is sent to a State-wide audience that includes State and local law enforcement officials and will soon be available on the upcoming VCIC Internet site. Special reports utilizing IBR data Several States produce specialized reports on topics such as crime on college campuses, domestic violence, street gang crime, or trends in homicide patterns. Many of these States do not have incident-based reporting on a State-wide level. Listed below are some examples of special reports that emphasis incident-based information: Illinois Chicago is among the few jurisdictions in the State of Illinois that collect incident-based statistics. As a result, the Chicago IBR data are employed to promote incident-based reporting in other regions in the State. The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority produced several reports from the city of Chicago that utilize incident-based information. Street Gang Crime in Chicago includes incident mapping by the type of crime and type of associated gang. Another publication focuses on trends in homicide in Chicago since 1965. Examples of tables presented in this report include victimization risks by age group and race and the types of firearms used in Chicago homicides, 1965-95 (figure 3). ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Figure 3: Number of homicides in Chicago Year Automatic Nonautomatic Nonautomatic Nonautomatic Unknown 1965 55 95 16 14 18 1966 53 161 20 22 7 1967 77 184 13 20 20 1968 67 200 19 19 70 1969 66 260 33 26 56 1970 82 312 47 26 58 1971 81 310 36 42 61 1972 76 316 26 25 44 1973 92 376 24 42 86 1974 95 368 24 36 140 1975 76 340 12 47 81 1976 81 324 18 29 51 1977 102 318 15 41 50 1978 84 339 14 26 43 1979 98 321 15 18 87 1980 83 314 9 30 117 1981 96 276 7 21 146 1982 58 198 13 23 92 1983 69 219 13 16 111 1984 74 217 13 25 113 1985 60 201 7 14 98 1986 63 221 9 23 101 1987 76 183 8 20 85 1988 78 224 10 11 68 1989 117 232 10 16 63 1990 167 338 5 18 70 1991 263 270 11 14 78 1992 302 234 7 20 91 1993 332 218 9 12 65 1994 386 207 6 6 81 1995 350 165 16 17 53 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- Kansas The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) has produced two reports with incident-based statistics: Kansas Domestic Violence and Rape, 1995-1997, and Kansas Campus Crime, 1993-1994. The domestic violence publication includes tables on the character- istics of victims and offenders, the victim/ offender relationship, the location of incidents, the type of injuries inflicted, alcohol and drug use, and the time and day of incidents. The KBI report also analyzes cases of forcible rape in the State, using similar tables. Kansas Campus Crime contains data on criminal offenses or arrests occurring in or on the property of an educational institution (this includes property controlled by student organizations or property used in direct support of educational purposes). Tables include crime index offenses by 2- or 4-year institutions, incidents of domestic violence and gang violence by institution, weapon use by institution, and time and day of specific incidents. North Dakota In 1998 North Dakota's Bureau of Criminal Investigation released Domestic Violence in North Dakota, 1996, a report detailing statistics on violent crimes within households. Incident-based tables presented in the publication include the relationship of victim to offender by offense, the location of domestic violence offenses, and substance abuse by victims and offenders. Additional figures highlight patterns of abuse against children and elderly in family settings, including the finding that a family or household member committed 84% of elderly victimizations. Tennessee The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) produced a report, Crime on Campus - 1997, that covers crimes reported on campuses of all Tennessee Institutions of higher education. Tables cover Group A offenses, rates per 1,000 persons, and clearances by type of crime. Information is also included on Group B offenses and campus demographic statistics such as enrollment, faculty/staff, and security personnel. Wisconsin In 1998 the Wisconsin Statistical Analysis Center (SAC) released several incident-based publications. Sexual Assaults in Wisconsin, 1997, analyzes the nature and prevalence of sexual assault, both throughout the State and within specific jurisdictions. Incident-based tables covered in the report include victim characteristics by offender characteristics, relationship of assailant to victim, and location of sexual assaults. Sexual assault offenses are also distinguished by severe and less serious incidents and are presented by county and by municipality. The SAC completed Homicide in Wisconsin 1961-1997, a report that compares national and regional homicide trends, patterns in victim and offender characteristics, and other circumstantial data related to homicide. Wisconsin has also released a report containing IBR data submitted by agencies from 1989 to 1995; this publication supports the usefulness of incident-based data in the study of crime. IBR-related projects funded by BJS Alabama The Alabama SAC will undertake a study to analyze juvenile rape in the State using incident-based crime reporting data, criminal history records, and Alabama Department of Youth Services information to assess the impact of sexual violence on both the young victim and the processing of the youthful offender through the state's criminal justice system. The resulting document will be prepared for dissemination via the Internet, and the findings presented at appropriate research conferences. Arkansas Through the use of incident-based data, the Arkansas SAC will profile domestic and sexual violence victims in the State. In addition, the SAC will continue to maintain the state's uniform crime reporting program, modifying the annual reports (Crime In Arkansas and Rape in Arkansas) and establishing a new report, Arkansas Crime Trends. These reports and others will be prepared for dissemination over the SAC's Internet home page. Delaware Delaware maintains an incident-based crime data system that is compatible with NIBRS concepts and used extensively by the SAC for its research. Delaware seeks to increase their knowledge of criminal offenders and the criminal justice system by conducting analysis with incident-based statistics on subjects that include the age of initial criminal arrest; recidivism patterns among specific offenders and the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs; and the victim/offender relationship and age, race and gender relationships within criminal events. Illinois The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority will demonstrate the practical utility of incident-based data through projects that include the development of crime analysis mapping for selected local agencies and a crime analysis manual highlighting the application of incident-based statistics. Through these collective efforts, the Authority seeks to re-establish NIBRS reporting across the State. Massachusetts Massachusetts will conduct a study of juvenile offenders using incident-based data. The goal is to provide criminal and juvenile justice practitioners, researchers, and others with a comprehensive depiction of the nature and characteristics of juvenile offenders and offenses. These efforts, along with the use of incident-based statistics in collaboration with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) for domestic and intimate violence research, may assist in demonstrating the usefulness of enhanced criminal data. Michigan The Michigan SAC seeks to analyze incident-based data and produce reports demonstrating the usefulness of these statistics to local law enforcement agencies. In addition, they will assess UCR and Michigan Incident Crime Reporting (MICR) data for determining anomalies which may effect declines in the juvenile crime rate in 1994. North Dakota Through the assistance of State Justice Statistics funding, the North Dakota SAC intends to improve SAC publications by including IBR research and to provide IBR data analysis as a benefit to reporting agencies. Current publications, such as Crime in North Dakota, will be redesigned in content and in format, to reflect the addition of incident-based statistics. South Carolina The South Carolina SAC will complete NIBRS (National Incident-Based Reporting System) tables for Internet site display started under last year's project, will undertake various studies using NIBRS and SCIBRS (South Carolina Incident-Based Reporting System) data including the State's annual crime and juvenile justice publication, domestic violence, juvenile and youth gangs, and an assessment of law enforcement school resource officers. Studies related to current issues as requested by the governor will be conducted using NIBRS and SCIBRS data. Utah The Utah SAC plans to expand NIBRS participation State-wide to increase the usefulness and availability of incident-based data for local law enforcement and policy makers. The development of an Internet site dedicated to NIBRS data will allow users to access detailed IBR information such as domestic violence statistics and other relevant data. Virginia The Virginia SAC will undertake several activities related to research using incident-based data that are compatible with the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS). These activities include: acquiring equipment to process NIBRS-compliant data tapes from the Virginia State Police; conducting an in-depth analysis to determine how best to present the data to meet the needs of Virginia citizens; undertaking three site visits to see how localities are using the data, how they might differ in its collection, to examine additional data elements that might be collected locally, and testing the utility of using the data with other analytical techniques -- such as graphical mapping systems; and producing a report on the procedures and findings of the research. Wisconsin The Wisconsin SAC plans to develop an Internet site for disseminating its research and reports more efficiently. Statistics available via the Internet will include incident-based data and tables that can be downloaded in aggregate and in raw form. West Virginia The West Virginia SAC will profile victims and offenders of domestic and sexual abuse within the State. In addition, they will maintain and enhance the Internet infrastructure currently in place and will develop incident-based crime reporting tables for quarterly and annual publication, including Internet dissemination. ------------------------------------------------------------------- Agencies wishing more information about State Justice Statistics grants may contact Paul White, 202-307-0771, Washington, DC, 20531. The BJS Web site also contains information: http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs Select "What's New at BJS." ------------------------------------------------------------------- Table 3. Use and dissemination of incident-based statistics among selected States: July 1998 Include incident-based data in -- NIBRS Annual Special Internet State Certified report reports site Website -- www. Alabama X X agencies.state.al.us/acjis/pages/alacrime.h Arkansas X X acic.org/statistics.htm Colorado X X Delaware X X Florida X X fdle.state.fl.us/Crime_Statistics/ Idaho X X X X 2.state.id.us/dle/dle.htm Illinois X X icjia.state.il.us Iowa X X X state.ia.us/government/dps Kansas X X X kbi.state.ks.us Louisiana Massachusetts X X X magnet.state.ma.us/msp/massachu.htm Michigan X X X state.mi.us/msp/crd/crimstat.htm Nebraska X North Carolina X X us.state.nc.us/Justice/ North Dakota X X X Oklahoma X South Carolina X X X X genesis.psc.sc.edu/`crimes/ Tennessee X X X tbi.state.tn.us (go to statistical info.) Texas X Utah X X X ps.ex.state.ut.us/ Vermont X X X dps.state.vt.us Virginia X Wisconsin X X Note: This survey of State publications does not reflect a complete listing. ----------------------------------------------------- References 1997 Alabama Survey of Domestic Violence Trends and Attitudes, Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center, Statistical Analysis Center. Crime and Arrests in Wisconsin, 1997 Uniform Crime Reporting Program, Statistical Analysis Center. Crime and Delinquency in California, 1995, Division of Criminal Justice Information Services, Bureau of Criminal Information and Analysis, California Department of Justice. Crime and Justice in Texas, Criminal Justice Center, Sam Houston State University. 1997 Crime in Alabama, Alabama Criminal Justice Information Center, Statistical Analysis Center. Crime in Delaware 1996, Statistical Analysis Center, State of Delaware Executive Department. Crime in Idaho 1997, Department of Law Enforcement, Bureau of Criminal Identification, Uniform Crime Reporting Unit. Crime in New Jersey 1996, Uniform Crime Reporting Program, New Jersey State Police. Crime in North Carolina 1997, State Bureau of Investigation, Division of Criminal Information. Crime in Oklahoma 1995, Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation. Crime in South Carolina 1997, Uniform Crime Reports Division, State Law Enforcement Division. Crime in Utah 1997, Bureau of Criminal Identification, Department of Public Safety. Crime on Campus - 1997, Crime Statistics Unit, Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Domestic Violence in North Dakota, Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Office of Attorney General. Homicide in Wisconsin 1981-1997, Wisconsin Office of Justice Assistance, Statistical Analysis Center. Juveniles in Rhode Island, Statistical Analysis Center, State of Rhode Island. Kansas Domestic Violence and Rape 1995-1997, Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Office of the Attorney General. Kansas Campus Crime 1993-1994, Kansas Bureau of Investigation, Office of the Attorney General. "Major trends in Chicago homicide: 1965-1994," Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, September 1996. NIBRS Output Reports: The VCIC Data Byte, Vermont Crime Information Center, Division of Criminal Justice Services, Vermont Department of Public Safety. Sexual Assaults in Wisconsin 1997, Wisconsin Office of Justice Assistance, Statistical Analysis Center. "Street Gangs and Crime: Patterns and Trends in Chicago," Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority, September 1996. Trends and Issues: Criminal and Juvenile Justice in Illinois, Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority. 1996 Vermont Crime Report, Vermont Criminal Information Center, Division of Criminal Justice Services, Vermont Department of Public Safety. END OF FILE PM 1/99