Join BJS on Wednesday, July 22, 2026, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. ET for a workshop on key resources from the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS). NIBRS is the national standard for law enforcement crime data reporting in the United States. It collects detailed data on the characteristics of criminal incidents, offenses, victims, and arrestees, and can provide valuable insight into our understanding of crime and public safety.
The sheer volume of crime incidents reported to police each year, coupled with the complex hierarchical structure of incident-based crime data, poses unique challenges for researchers and nontechnical data users seeking timely answers to real-world questions about crime. BJS developed a suite of resources designed to broaden access to NIBRS and reduce the technical expertise and resources required to analyze “big” crime data.
Workshop attendees will:
- Receive a detailed overview of NIBRS data, including the structure, collection methodology, agency participation, population coverage, crime types and characteristics, and data quality considerations.
- Learn how to access, view, and analyze NIBRS data using the Law Enforcement Agency Reported Crime Analysis Tool (LEARCAT) and the NIBRS Extract Files to answer real‑world crime questions at local, state, and national levels.
- Obtain a review of the strengths and limitations of LEARCAT and the Extract Files relative to other publicly available NIBRS data sources.
- Access a suite of BJS resources designed to support effective and informed use of NIBRS data.