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Home NIBRS Developments in NIBRS 2008 Bulletins

2008 Bulletins

Developments in the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS)

Note: The excerpts are presented as they were originally published in the UCR State Program Bulletin and therefore will include any additions, deletions, or clarifications released in subsequent bulletins. Readers are urged to read this document in its entirety before making any programming changes.

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UCR State Program Bulletin 08-1, February 2008

Handling of Time-Window Submissions in Conversion of NIBRS Data to Summary Data

It has come to the attention of the national UCR Program staff that the current Conversion of NIBRS Data to Summary Data (September 1999) does not fully explain the conversion of Time-Window Submissions. Agencies can supply Time-Window Submissions for an arrest, exceptional clearance, and for recovery of property. The Conversion of NIBRS Data to Summary Data is under revision and will address Time-Window Submissions in greater detail with regard to the Return A, Supplement to Return A, and Arson forms. The updated document should be available for dissemination later this year.

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UCR State Program Bulletin 08-3, August 2008

Clarification Regarding the Reporting of Multiple Types of Larceny-theft in a Single Incident in the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS)

The staff of the national UCR Program would like to provide clarification to agencies regarding the reporting of multiple types of larceny-theft within the same incident. Please note that this clarification only applies to those agencies that report their data to the national Program via the NIBRS.

In the UCR Handbook, NIBRS Edition (1992), on page 19, it states:

In larceny situations where both motor vehicle parts and accessories and articles from the motor vehicle are stolen, report the offense resulting in the greatest value of property loss. Report all of the property stolen.

However, that policy was amended as presented in the State Program Bulletin dated November 30, 1998, which states:

Reporting of multiple larcenies within the same incident: It is possible to report more than one larceny per incident under NIBRS. Though multiple types of larceny can occur in the same incident, it is very rare—less than one percent of the larceny incidents reported. Agencies reporting multiple larceny offenses that fit the description for one operation of larceny will cause an inflated larceny count. If multiple larceny offenses are committed within the same incident, however, the agency should report each of them.

The purpose of this State Program Bulletin is to clarify that when multiple types of larceny-theft occur within a single incident, agencies that report their data to the national UCR Program via the NIBRS should report all types of larceny-thefts involved. Multiple offenses should be reported due to the fact these offenses are not inherent.

As an example, if an individual stole an installed compact disc (CD) player (valued at $600) and a laptop computer (valued at $1,500) from a motor vehicle in the same incident, the agency should report both offenses—the theft of motor vehicle parts or accessories (the CD player) and the theft from motor vehicle (the laptop).

Agencies that report their data to the national UCR Program via the Summary Reporting System should continue to follow the rules and guidelines outlined in the Uniform Crime Reporting Handbook (2004) for the proper reporting of larceny-theft offenses.

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UCR State Program Bulletin 08-4, September 2008

Proper Reporting of Male Rapes in the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS)

In the NIBRS, agencies may report a male victim of forcible rape. However, if an agency reports that a victim of a forcible rape is a male, at least one of the offenders in the incident must be female. Otherwise, the agency will receive an error message (560) as stated on page 52 of the NIBRS Volume 4: Error Message Manual (December 3, 1999), “For a Forcible Rape (UCR Offense Code 11A) or a Statutory Rape (UCR Offense Code 36B), one or more of the offenders must have a different sex than the rape victim.” When an agency reports a male rape victim and all of the offender(s) are the same gender, the incident would most likely be reported to the national UCR Program as Forcible Sodomy (11B). However, the proper classification must be based upon one of the offenses of the category Sex Offenses, Forcible in the NIBRS.

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UCR State Program Bulletin 08-5, December 2008

Clarification to Reporting the Sex of Arrestee in the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS)

A potential discrepancy in the NIBRS Volume 1: Data Collection Guidelines (August 2000) has come to the attention of the national UCR Program staff. Page 67 of the document states:

Data values are the specific codes that are allowed to be entered into the data elements. Each code is followed by an equal sign (=) and its underlined translation. Examples are M = Male, F = Female, and U = Unknown, which are the data values allowed in Data Element 27 (Sex [of Victim]) and Data Element 48 (Sex [of Arrestee]). . . .

However, Data Element 48 (Sex [of Arrestee]) must be either M =Male or F = Female. It is on page 103 of Volume 1 that the allowable entries are provided:

48 Sex (of Arrestee) - one character (A & B): The sex of the arrestee should be indicated in this data element.

Allowed entries: (Enter only one.)

M = Male
F = Female

If an agency reports the sex of an arrestee as U = Unknown, the incident will be rejected. The code of U = Unknown is acceptable for Data Element 27 (Sex [of Victim]).

Agencies with questions should contact Mr. Gregory S. Swanson of the Training and Systems Education Unit by telephone at (304) 625-2998.

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