If you have witnessed or experienced a crime, it is important to get to safety first and call 911. Callers should provide as much information about the scene and the people involved as possible. Try to stay calm and make mental notes about the scene including the location, time and any specific details you can remember.
A well-written police report is an essential component of any law enforcement agency. The crime report is a record of a police officer’s observations and actions taken during an incident. It can also include important investigative information such as a suspect’s identity, the weapons used, and the evidence collected. Report writing can take up a large portion of an officer’s day, taking them away from their patrol duties and family life. New solutions and technology can help officers spend less time writing reports, and they can also produce a better quality of report.
The majority of law enforcement agencies in New York State use the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) system to collect and analyze data on offenses that occur in their jurisdiction. To ensure that the most accurate and current crime statistics are available to communities, New York State requires agencies to report all crimes committed each month. The UCR system also includes a process for classifying, counting and scoring offenses reported by police departments and law enforcement agencies.
A key element of the UCR system is the National Incident Based Reporting System (NIBRS), which counts unique offense types within an incident rather than just the most serious offense. This provides a more complete picture of crime in the community than the offenses counted using traditional systems.