What is NIBRS?

NIBRS, or the National Incident Based Reporting System is a part of the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program administered by the US Department of Justice (DOJ) – Bureau of Justice Statistics. NIBRS is designed to standardize the reporting of crimes by American law enforcement agencies and allows public safety agencies, academic institutions, and communities to gain a better understanding of criminal involved incidents within various communities. The NIBRS replaced the Summary Reporting System (SRS) which was created in 1929.

This instructor led course is designed to give participants the knowledge and skills to understand the history of UCR (SRS and NIBRS), NIBRS crime classifications, data collection elements, NIBRS certification processes and requirements, and various additional resources vital for every NIBRS certified agency.

This course is hands on and will deliver course objectives through various exercises including incident classification, data collection, exploration of the limits of NIBRS, law enforcement agency case studies, and how the NIBRS intersects with the Clery Act (20 U.S.C. § 1092 (f, g, h))

NOTE: This course is open to current employees of public safety agencies, private business (which serve public safety agencies), and accredited academic institutions (as recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and/or the U.S. Department of Education).

Course ​​​​​​​Prerequisites: 

Required Software: None

Students will need to have access to a laptop (personal or employer issued/assigned). The host agency is unable to provide students with a laptop for use within the course.

Duration: 24 Hours (3 days)

Method: In Person

Restrictions: Restricted to current employees of public safety agencies, private business (which serve public safety agencies), and accredited academic institutions (as recognized by the Council on Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA) and/or the U.S. Department of Education).

Required Disclosures: None

Fee: Course attendance is free.

Course Objectives

After successfully completing the course, attendees will be able to know, discuss, use, and execute the following fundamentals:

• The history of the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program
• Summary Reporting System (SRS)
• Part 1 crimes
• Part 2 crimes
• The transition to NIBRS
• The importance of incident standardization
• The Clery Act
• History
• Requirements
• Importance
• NIBRS incident classifications
• Group A incidents
• Group B incidents
• NIBRS reporting requirements
• NIBRS certification requirements
• NIBRS data elements
• NIBRS limitations
• Aggravated Assault
• Vandalism
• Robbery / Carjacking
• Motor Vehicle Theft / Unauthorized Use of Vehicle (UUV)
• Incident reporting rules (Hotel, Same Time and Space)
• National Crime Victimization Survey
• NIBRS myths
• NIBRS resources

Course Outline

Module 1

• The history of the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program
• Summary Reporting System (SRS)
• Part 1 crimes
• Part 2 crimes
• The transition to NIBRS
• The importance of incident standardization
• The Clery Act
• History
• Requirements
• Importance
• NIBRS incident classifications
• Group A incidents
• Group B incidents

Hands on Module 1 Project

Module 2

• NIBRS reporting requirements
• NIBRS certification requirements
• NIBRS data elements
• NIBRS limitations
• Aggravated Assault
• Vandalism
• Robbery / Carjacking
• Motor Vehicle Theft / Unauthorized Use of Vehicle (UUV)

Hands on Module 2 Project

Module 3

• Incident reporting rules (Hotel, Same Time and Space)
• National Crime Victimization Survey
• NIBRS myths
• NIBRS resources