IOWA UCR REPORT, IOWA/REGIONAL/U.S. COMPARISON REPORTS

| 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 |

TIME LINE

Law in Iowa

In 1974, the 65th Iowa General Assembly enacted a provision of Chapter 749B (later 692B.15) of the Code of Iowa requiring law enforcement agencies to submit reports of crime and arrests to the Iowa Department of Public Safety.  During December 1974, the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, a bureau in the Department, counducted schools throughout the state on the proper completion of the Uniform Crime Reports.

Early Years

Beginning in 1939, the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program is the primary means of collecting crime and arrest data in the United States.  The Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation was instrumental in the coordination and administration of this program from its inception.  A concerted effort was made in the early 1970's to establish greater compliance in reporting by more states. Law enforcement agencies in every U.S. state and the territories now submit offenses and arrests to the F.B.I. In most states a department of public safety or state police organization is designated to administer the data collection process from the local law enforcement jurisdictions and forward the data on to the F.B.I.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety has collected crime statistics from the local law enforcement agencies and produced a report about Iowa crime since 1975.  During the years 1975 to 1990 the format for collecting statistics was monthly summary submissions of crime data from the local law enforcement jurisdictions to the Department.

Domestic Abuse

In response to concern about Domestic Abuse, Chapter 236 of the Code of Iowa was passed in 1985.  With the passage of Chapter 236 the Department was also charged with the responsibility of collecting information on incidents of domestic abuse from the local law enforcement agencies.

Incident Based Reporting

In response to changing federal laws and an ever increasing demand for data an inititive was being made by the F.B.I. in collaboration with the Bureau of Justice Statistics to expand crime data collection.  The program was called   Incident-Based Reporting.  A much more comprehensive method of reporting, there are many data fields on each incident of crime.

Hate Crime

In Iowa, the Department was preparing to move toward the incident - based method of collecting crime data and incorporating the domestic abuse and hate/bias collection as well.  Passage of the Iowa Hate Crime law, Chapter 729A of the Code of Iowa, had occurred in 1990.  The incident-based method of UCR crime reporting was implemented with the 1991 data.

Today

Today, Sheriff's offices, city police departments and state law enforcement agencies from 233 geographical districts report crime information to the Program Services Bureau.  This data is then compiled, analyzed and reported in the annual Iowa Uniform Crime Report.  Iowa's reporting system also functions as the state collection point for transmission of reported crime data to the FBI.  Calendar year 2004 marked the fourteenth year of collecting data in the incident based format.

Narratives from the 1995 - 2004 Incident - Based Iowa Uniform Crime Report is available reports from those respectiuve years. Additionally, most frequently requested tables are avaiable for 1998 through 2004.  Also available are reports comparing Iowa, regional, and national crimes rates. All of these reports and tables may be obtained from the Iowa Electronic Documents Repository.

Questions regarding crime statistics may be addressed by calling (515)281-8494 or email at ibrinfo@dps.state.ia.us