NIBRS is an incident-based reporting system which means data are collected
on each single crime occurrence. NIBRS data are designed to be generated
as a by-product of local, State, and Federal automated records management
systems. Thus, an agency can build its own system to suit its individual
needs, including all the information required for administrative and
operational purposes. Only the data required by NIBRS are then reported to
the national UCR Program.
NIBRS collects data on each single incident and arrest within 22 offense
categories made up of 46 specific crimes called Group A offenses. For each of the offenses coming to the attention of law
enforcement, various facts about the crime are collected. In addition to
the Group A offenses, there are 11 Group B offense categories for which only arrest data are reported.
Central to NIBRS is the concept of a crime incident. An incident is defined
for NIBRS reporting purposes as one or more offenses committed by the same
offender, or group of offenders acting in concert, at the same time and
place. "Acting in concert" requires that the offenders actually commit or
assist in the commission of the crime(s). The offenders must be aware of,
and consent to, the commission of the crime(s); or even if nonconsenting,
their actions assist in the commission of the offense(s). This is important
because all of the offenders in an incident are considered to have
committed all of the offenses in the incident. If one or more of the
offenders did not act in concert, then there is more than one incident
involved.
The phrase "same time and place" means that the time interval between
the offenses and the distance between the locations where they occurred
were insignificant. Normally, the offenses must have occurred during an
unbroken period of time and at the same or adjoining location(s). However,
incidents can also consist of offenses which by their nature involve
continuing criminal activity by the same offender(s) at different times and
places, as long as the activity is deemed to constitute a single criminal
transaction.
Cross-sectional
Law enforcement agencies in the United States
participating in the National Incident-Based Reporting System.
Dataset four - Arrestee,
Dataset one - Incident,
Dataset three - Offender,
Dataset two - Victim