Crime Statistics

Public Information Office

UCR data is not reporting total crime, but rather reflects a well-defined list of reportable crimes/offenses. This list does not include criminal activity such as vandalism, curfew, traffic offenses/arrests, and other non-reportable offenses. UCR data provides an indicator over time of variations in crime trends. The UCR numbers adjust from time to time as a case status changes due to an arrest or other factor.

UCR information certainly can be used as an indicator of criminal activity but not the ultimate measure. Many factors influence crime trends, and users are cautioned against comparing statistical data of individual reporting units from cities, counties, or metropolitan areas, solely on the basis of their population and/or UCR numbers.

The Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program was conceived in 1929 by the International Association of Chiefs of Police to meet a need for reliable, uniform crime statistics for the nation. In 1930, the FBI was tasked with collecting, publishing, and archiving those statistics. Today, several annual statistical publications, such as the comprehensive Crime in the United States, are produced from data provided by nearly 17,000 law enforcement agencies across the United States.

Author: FBI

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