NIBRS

The National Incident-Based Reporting System, or NIBRS, is a nationwide crime data collection system managed by the FBI. It replaced the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program in January 2021 as the primary source for crime statistics in the United States. NIBRS collects detailed information about each individual crime incident, including the type of offense, the number of victims and offenders, the relationship between victims and offenders, and demographic information about those involved. This level of detail allows for a more comprehensive understanding of crime trends and patterns compared to the summary-based reporting of the older UCR system.

The transition to NIBRS was a long-standing goal to improve the quality and utility of crime data. Agencies report on 24 distinct crime categories, encompassing 57 offenses. This granular data allows for a more nuanced analysis of criminal activity, enabling law enforcement agencies and researchers to identify emerging crime problems and develop more targeted prevention and intervention strategies. Participation in NIBRS is voluntary for law enforcement agencies, though most agencies across the country have adopted the system. The FBI provides resources and technical assistance to help agencies implement and maintain NIBRS reporting. The data collected through NIBRS is published annually in various reports and is accessible to the public, providing transparency into crime trends.