DPS NEWS

2016 Crime in Utah Report Now Public

Our Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI) team has worked hard to gather and confirm 2016 crime data from 130 law enforcement agencies across the state. This report gives a glimpse into the state of crime in our communities and our goal is to learn from the data provided and move in the right direction.

 

Prior Crime in Utah publications have been released in the fall following the year end.  However, BCI recently underwent a major database conversion that required the reprogramming of key crime stats reporting tools. The database conversion also coincided with staffing changes that will now allow for full-time support of the state Uniform Crime Reporting program managed by BCI. Due to these critical program changes, the release of the 2016 Crime in Utah data was delayed. As the new reporting tools are nearing full operating capacity, BCI plans to release the 2017 Crime in Utah report during the fall of 2018.

 

In an effort to provide future crime statistics in a more timely manner, DPS worked closely with Senator Don Ipson and Representative Lee Perry during the 2018 legislative session to carry and pass SB105 (Crime Statistics Reporting Amendments).   Effective May 8, 2018 all Utah law enforcement agencies will be required to submit their crime data to BCI by the 16th day of the month after the month in which a reported crime occurred.  This change will assist BCI in moving toward a quarterly Crime in Utah publication and eventually a real time view as crime statistics are submitted and will greatly improve opportunities to identify crime trends and adjust local, state and federal resources accordingly.

 

“The upward trend of crime in our state is concerning.  I am confident this report information with more real-time data going forward, will bring law enforcement partners together in reducing crime in our state,” said Commissioner Keith Squires of the Utah Department of Public Safety.  “I am thankful to the men and women in our state who put on a uniform every day—and our state and local leaders who join us in the collective responsibility we all share in keeping this great state safe.”

 

The data is reported under the guidelines of the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program, a national program which uses generic crime definitions to ensure that crime data is comparable across political boundaries. BCI forwards data collected from Utah law enforcement agencies to the FBI, who in turn combines it with data from other states to compile and publish an annual report called Crime in the United States.

The report can be viewed here: Crime in Utah 2016