By Lookout Staff

July 18, 2024 -- The Santa Monica Police Department (SMPD) has transitioned to a new crime reporting system that allows police to collect more detailed data, police officials announced Thursday.

Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR), which was launched in 1935 to track crimes within jurisdictions, has been replaced by the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS).

Unlike the FBI UCR data, NIBRS data collection gives police "increased insight into where crimes take place, what form it takes, and characteristics of victims and perpetrators," police officials said.

It also allows police "to identify patterns and trends while also providing a more comprehensive overview of crime statistics within the city," said Lt. Erika Aklufi, the Police Department spokesperson.

"This information can be used to smartly deploy the resources we have and advocate for resources we need to address crime," Aklufi said.

The system also allows SMPD to identify crime trends shared by similar jurisdictions, "increasing opportunities for working with other agencies to develop proactive strategies for addressing issues."

The "increased clarity in crime reporting" gives community members "more access and information when voicing their needs, concerns, and expectations to city leaders," Aklufi said.

Among the data collected are incident date and time, whether reported offenses were attempted or completed, expanded victim types, relationships of victims to offenders and offenses and demographic details.

The system also provides location data, property descriptions, drug types and quantities, the offender’s suspected use of drugs or alcohol, the involvement of gang activity and whether a computer was used in the commission of the crime.

"Through NIBRS, data users can see many more facets of crime, as well as relationships and connections among these facets, Aklufi said.

The switch took place after SMPD acquired and implemented an updated Computer-Aided Dispatch System (CAD) and a Records Management System (RMS), according to police officials.

SMPD will run both the URC and NIBRS methods of reporting for at least one year to provide side-by-side comparisons, Aklufi said.

She notes that implementing NIBRS is "a complex undertaking that may create some temporary black outs and delays in reporting."

"Our goal remains the same," Aklufi said. "Increase the availability of information internally and externally and facilitate informed conversations with the community regarding crime prevention and social issues."