Uniform crime reports, 1966-1976

The Federal Bureau of Investigation compiled the Uniform Crime Reports to serve as periodic nationwide assessments of reported crime not available elsewhere in the criminal justice system. By 1976, there were over 13,000 law enforcement agencies contributing reports either directly or through their state reporting program. The participating agencies represent 98% of the United States population living in Standard Metropolitan Statistical Areas (SMSAs), 94% of the population in other cities, and 89% of the rural population. (The combined coverage accounts for 96% of the total national population, as estimated by the United States Census Bureau). The data were obtained from police and sheriffs' departments' records due to their ready access to information regarding offenses, arrests, and value estimates of stolen and recovered property. The agencies reported the number of offenses that became known to them on a monthly basis, according to Crime Index categories of serious offenses: murder, forcible rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny-theft, and motor vehicle theft. This count is taken from a record received by the law enforcement agency from victims or other sources and/or those discovered by officers.