What does NIBRS stand for?

NIBRS stands for the National Incident-Based Reporting System, which is a reporting system used by law enforcement agencies to structure and collect data on crimes. This system is designed to capture detailed information about each crime incident, including incident circumstances and characteristics of the victims and offenders. By using an incident-based approach rather than just summarizing data by crime type or location, NIBRS allows for a more comprehensive analysis of crime trends and patterns.

The system also enhances the understanding of the context in which crimes occur, which aids in developing effective crime prevention programs and strategies. Law enforcement agencies across the United States are encouraged to adopt NIBRS to improve the quality of crime data reported to the FBI, ultimately contributing to a better understanding of crime at both local and national levels.