Current Status of NIBRS Reporting
For over a decade, the Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) has provided funding and technical assistance to law enforcement agencies transitioning their crime data reporting to the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS). These efforts have resulted in significant progress, with a large percentage of agencies making the conversion in recent years. As of 2025, 77% of law enforcement agencies have transitioned to NIBRS reporting, covering 90% of the U.S. population. This represents substantial growth from 2017, when only 39% of agencies (covering 34% of the population) were NIBRS capable.
What is NIBRS?
NIBRS provides incident-level information about crimes reported to law enforcement. The system captures detailed data about the characteristics of criminal incidents, including:
- a broad array of offenses
- types and amount of property lost
- demographic information about victims, offenders, and persons arrested
- what type of weapon, if any, was used in the incident.
NIBRS data more accurately reflect the types of crime addressed by police agencies, like simple assault, animal cruelty, destruction of property, intimidation, and identity theft. The broad scope of information collected in NIBRS serves to greatly improve the nation's understanding of crime and public safety.
Benefits of NIBRS Reporting
| Enhanced Data Quality | NIBRS provides comprehensive, incident-level data that offers a more complete picture of crime in communities. |
| Improved Resource Allocation | Detailed information helps agencies identify crime patterns, allocate resources effectively, and develop targeted prevention strategies. |
| Better Policy Development | Agencies use their own granular data to support evidence-based policymaking at local, state, and federal levels. |
| National Comparability | Standardized reporting enables meaningful comparisons across jurisdictions and supports collaborative crime-fighting efforts. |
DOJ Technical Assistance Available
BJS Law Enforcement Transition to NIBRS (LETNIBRS) Program
BJS established LETNIBRS to provide hands-on assistance to agencies transitioning to NIBRS focused on:
- Training and Technical Support: Assistance with data collection procedures, quality assurance, and system implementation
- Infrastructure Development: Support for updating records management systems and information technology capabilities
- State Coordination: Collaboration with state Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Programs to facilitate agency transitions
- Best Practices Sharing: Access to resources and lessons learned from agencies that have successfully implemented NIBRS
FBI Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS), UCR Program
The FBI's UCR Program provides:
- NIBRS implementation guides and technical specifications
- Data validation tools and quality control resources
- Direct consultation for agencies experiencing transition challenges
- Regular updates on reporting requirements and system enhancements
Getting Started
Step 1: Contact your State UCR Program to assess your agency's current reporting capabilities and identify technical needs.
Step 2: Review NIBRS technical specifications and determine necessary system upgrades or records management system changes.
Step 3: Request technical assistance by contacting BJS or your state program coordinator.
Step 4: Develop an implementation timeline and training plan for personnel.
Step 5: Begin test submissions and work with your state program to ensure data quality before full implementation.
Resources and Contacts
BJS – NIBRS
Website: https://bjs.ojp.gov/national-incident-based-reporting-system-nibrs
Email: [email protected]
FBI CJIS Division – UCR Program
Website: https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/more-fbi-services-and-information/ucr
Email: [email protected]
Your State UCR Program
Contact your state's designated UCR program administrator for localized support and guidance.
For a list of state UCR Program managers, see https://asucrp.net/membership-list/.
Transitioning to NIBRS strengthens national crime reporting and enhances your agency's ability to serve and protect your community through better data and analysis.