1

Running head: Researching Crime In Your Community

Researching Crime In Your Community

Student Raymond Garcia

University of San Diego: Professional & Continuing Education

Community Assessment Crime LEPS-550-01-SU16

Professor Dr. Eric Fritzvold

July 9, 2016
 2

Running head: Researching Crime In Your Community

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.
 3

Researching Crime In Your Community

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

analysis. As a resident of the City of Los Angeles, my jurisdiction is patrolled by

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

the occurrence of property crimes, and in particular, burglaries.

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

participation, incident, victim, offenders, arrestees, location, relationship, time of

day, type of weapon, circumstance, state, completed and attempted, and clearances. The

National Incident Based Reporting System is a voluntary data collection program. As of

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

Based Reporting System.

 4

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

were related to the category of burglary.

 5

Another source used to compile statistical information on crimes against persons and

burglary is the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs, Bureau of

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,

In 2014, 8% of all households(10.4 million households) experienced one or more

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

always subject to inaccuracies, which can mislead its intended audience.

 6

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

Federal Bureau of Investigation(2016). Federal Bureau of Investigation; National Based

Incident Reporting System. Retrieved from; https://www.fbi.gov/about-
us/cjis/ucr/nibrs/2014/tables/main

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