Uniform Crime Reporting
These definitions are provided only as a general
reference to assist with a basic understanding of the
complex set of guidelines required for data collection.
For current Data Collection Guidelines see the Official
Federal Bureau of
Investigation's National Incident-Based Reporting
System (NIBRS) manual for data collection guidelines.
Definitions
Criminal homicide -- a. Murder and
non-negligent manslaughter: the willful (non-negligent)
killing of one human being by another. Deaths caused by
negligence, attempts to kill, assaults to kill,
suicides, accidental deaths, and justifiable homicides
are excluded. Justifiable homicides are limited to: (1)
the killing of a felon by a law enforcement officer in
the line of duty; and (2) the killing of a felon,
during the commission of a felony, by a private
citizen. b. Manslaughter by negligence: the killing of
another person through gross negligence. Traffic
fatalities are excluded. While manslaughter by
negligence is a Part I crime, it is not included in the
Crime Index.
Forcible rape -- The carnal knowledge of a female
forcibly and against her will. Included are rapes by
force and attempts or assaults to rape. Statutory
offenses (no force used-victim under age of consent)
are excluded.
Robbery -- The taking or attempting to take
anything of value from the care, custody, or control of
a person or persons by force or threat of force or
violence and/or by putting the victim in fear.
Aggravated assault -- An unlawful attack by one
person upon another for the purpose of inflicting
severe or aggravated bodily injury. This type of
assault usually is accompanied by the use of a weapon
or by means likely to produce death or great bodily
harm. Simple assaults are excluded.
Burglary-breaking or entering -- The unlawful entry
of structure to commit a felony or a theft. Attempted
forcible entry is included.
Larceny-theft (except motor vehicle theft) -- The
unlawful taking, carrying, leading, or riding away of
property from the possession or constructive possession
of another. Examples are thefts of bicycles or
automobile accessories, shoplifting, pocket-picking, or
the stealing of any property or article which is not
taken by force and violence or by fraud. Attempted
larcenies are included. Embezzlement, "con"
games, forgery, worthless checks, etc., are excluded.
Motor vehicle theft -- The theft or attempted theft
of a motor vehicle. A motor vehicle is self-propelled
and runs on the surface and not on rails. Specifically
excluded from this category are motorboats,
construction equipment, airplanes, and farming
equipment.
Arson -- Any willful or malicious burning or
attempt to burn, with or without intent to defraud, a
dwelling house, public building, motor vehicle or
aircraft, personal property of another, etc.
Other assaults (simple) -- Assaults and
attempted assaults where no weapon is used and which do
not result in serious or aggravated injury to the
victim.
Forgery and counterfeiting -- Making, altering,
uttering, or possessing, with intent to defraud,
anything false in the semblance of that which is true.
Attempts are included.
Fraud -- Fraudulent conversion and obtaining
money or property by false pretense. Included are
confidence games and bad checks, except forgeries and
counterfeiting.
Embezzlement -- Misappropriation or misapplication
of money or property entrusted to one's care, custody,
or control.
Stolen property; buying, receiving, possessing --
Buying, receiving, and possessing stolen property,
including attempts.
Vandalism -- Willful or malicious destruction,
injury, disfigurement, or defacement of any public or
private property, real or personal, without consent of
the owner or persons having custody or control.
Weapons; carrying, possessing, etc -- All
violations of regulations or statues controlling the
carrying, using, possessing, furnishing, and
manufacturing of deadly weapons or silencers. Included
are attempts.
Prostitution and commercialized vice -- Sex
offenses of a commercialized nature, such as
prostitution, keeping a bawdy house, procuring, or
transporting women for immoral purposes. Attempts are
included.
Sex offenses (except forcible rape, prostitution, and
commercialized vice) -- Statutory rape and offenses
against chastity, common decency, morals, and the like.
Attempts are included.
Drug abuse violations -- State and/or local
offenses relating to the unlawful possession, sale,
use, growing, and manufacturing of narcotic drugs. The
following drug categories are specified: opium or
cocaine and their derivatives (morphine, heroin,
codeine); marijuana; synthetic narcotics--manufactured
narcotics that can cause true addiction (Demerol,
methadone); and dangerous non-narcotic drugs
(barbiturates, Benzedrine).
Gambling -- Promoting, permitting, or engaging in
illegal gambling.
Offenses against the family and children --
Nonsupport, neglect, desertion, or abuse of family and
children.
Driving under the influence -- Driving or operating
any vehicle or common carrier while drunk or under the
influence of liquor or narcotics.
Liquor laws -- State and/or local liquor law
violations, except "drunkenness" and
"driving under the influence." Federal
violations are excluded.
Drunkenness -- Offenses relating to drunkenness or
intoxication. Excluded is "driving under the
influence."
* Definitions Excerpted from
Federal Bureau of Investigation Uniform Crime Reports
1989 |
