FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Oct. 19, 2020
SPD Releases 2020 Bi-Annual Crime Numbers (Jan-June 2020)
The Springfield Police Department now has crime data available for the first half of 2020. This data is a significantly more comprehensive look at crime in our community than years past.
SPD changed how crime reports were recorded by implementing a new system administered by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), called the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS).
SPD made the move to NIBRS in January 2020, and the transition required meticulous work and long hours for our records staff. We appreciate their efforts and are excited to finally be able to share this information. We are hopeful this change will help the community better understand what types of crime occur in the city. The data will also assist officers with focusing their crime prevention efforts.
“This new system allows for greater transparency; getting a more accurate and complete picture of crime in our community,” said Police Chief Paul Williams. “By taking a deeper dive into the numbers, we can better analyze crime trends and collaborate with our community to find solutions.”
The previous Summary Reporting System (SRS) also administered under the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting framework was the national standard for more than 80 years. Under the Summary reporting system, if a series of crimes were committed in one incident (such as a burglary that ended in a homicide) only the most serious crime, in this example a homicide, would be reported to the FBI. Now, with NIBRS, every crime in an incident is reported.
You can find a comparison of NIBRS and the previous system inside the recently published report:
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Media Contact: PAO Jasmine Bailey
417-864-1786
[email protected]
Release authorized by Chief Paul Williams