The Federal Bureau of Investigation collects crime data from local law-enforcement agencies under the following definitions.
Aggravated Assault: An unlawful attack by one person upon another for the purpose of inflicting severe or aggravated bodily injury. This type of assault is usually accompanied by the use of a weapon or by means likely to produce death or great bodily harm.
Arson: Any willful or malicious burning or attempt to burn, with or without intent to defraud, a dwelling house, public building, motor vehicle or aircraft, personal property of another, etc.
Assault (simple): To knowingly or recklessly cause or attempt to cause physical harm to another, but without use of a weapon
Burglary: Unlawful entry of a structure to commit a felony or a theft
Disorderly Conduct: Any unlawful breach of the peace
Driving under the Influence: Driving or operating any vehicle while drunk or under the influence of liquor or narcotics
Drug Abuse Violations: Violations of state and local laws relating to the unlawful possession, sale, use, growing, manufacturing, and making of narcotic drugs, including opium or cocaine and their derivatives (morphine, heroin, codeine); marijuana; synthetic narcotics (Demerol, methadone); and dangerous non-narcotic drugs (barbiturates, Benzedrine)
Drunkenness: Offenses relating to drunkenness or intoxication, not including “driving under the influence”
Embezzlement: The misappropriation or misapplication of money or property entrusted to one’s care, custody, or control
Forgery and Counterfeiting: Making, altering, uttering, or possessing, with intent to defraud; anything false that resembles that which is true (e.g. a document or monetary note)
Fraud: Converting or obtaining money or property by false pretense, including confidence games and the use of bad checks
Gambling: Promoting, permitting, or engaging in illegal gambling
Hate Crime: Also called bias crime, a criminal offense committed against a person, property, or society that is motivated, in whole or in part, by the offender’s bias against a race, religion, ethnic/national origin group, or sexual-orientation group
Larceny-Theft: Unlawful taking of property from the possession or constructive possession of another; includes shoplifting, pocket picking, purse snatching, thefts from motor vehicles, thefts of motor vehicle parts and accessories, and bicycle thefts
Liquor Law Violations: Violations of laws or ordinances prohibiting the manufacture, sale, transporting, furnishing, or possessing of intoxicating liquor
Manslaughter by Negligence: The death of a person through another person or organization’s act of gross negligence
Motor Vehicle Theft: Theft or attempted theft of a motor vehicle
Murder and Non-negligent Manslaughter: Willful (non-negligent) killing of one human being by another
Non-forcible Rape: Unlawful but unforced sexual conduct; includes the crimes of incest and statutory rape
Offenses against the Family and Children: Nonsupport, neglect, desertion, or abuse of family and children
Prostitution and Commercialized Vice: Sex offenses of a commercialized nature, such as prostitution, procuring, or transporting women for immoral purposes
Rape: Carnal knowledge of a person, forcibly and against that person’s will; in non-forcible rape, the victim is incapable of giving consent because of a temporary or permanent mental or physical incapacity or because of his/her youth
Robbery: Taking or attempting to take anything of value from the care, custody, or control of a person or persons by force or threat of force or violence and/or by putting the victim in fear
Sex Offenses: Statutory rape and offenses against chastity, common decency, morals, and the like, including voyeurism, forcible sodomy, and forcible fondling
Stolen Property: Buying, Receiving, Possessing: Knowingly buying, receiving, and possessing stolen property
Vandalism: Willful or malicious destruction, injury, disfigurement, or defacement of any public or private property, real or personal, without consent of the owner or persons having custody or control
Weapons Law Violations: Violation of laws or ordinances dealing with regulatory weapons offenses, including unlawful manufacturing, selling, or possession of deadly weapons; carrying deadly weapons, concealed or openly; and furnishing deadly weapons to minors
Federal Bureau of Investigation. “Uniform Crime Reporting Handbook,” www.fbi.gov/ucr/Cius_98/98crime/98cius05.pdf
Federal Bureau of Investigation. “Uniform Crime Reports,” www.fbi.gov/ucr.htm
