Legal Definitions - Uniform Crime Reports

Definition: The Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) is a series of annual studies conducted by the FBI that provide data on eight index offenses, statistics on arrests, and information on offenders, crime rates, and other related information.

Example: The UCR collects data on eight index offenses, which include murder, rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson. For example, if a police department reports a murder in their jurisdiction, that information is included in the UCR.

Explanation: The UCR is a tool used by law enforcement agencies and policymakers to track crime trends and develop strategies to reduce crime. By collecting data on the eight index offenses, the UCR provides a comprehensive picture of crime in the United States. The example illustrates how the UCR collects data on one of the eight index offenses, murder, and includes it in the annual report.