Hate Crime Supporting Statement B (Submitted)

B. Statistical Methods

1. Universe and Respondent Selection

The FBI transitioned to a NIBRS-only data collection on January 1, 2021. Prior to that date, the potential respondent universe using the Hate Crime Incident Report included all LEAs throughout the nation voluntarily participating in the FBI UCR Program’s Hate Crime Data Collection via the SRS. In 2019, the total number of LEAs eligible to submit hate crime data to the FBI UCR Program via SRS was 8,876. However, only 7,636 agencies submitted hate crime data. Of those, 4,953 (64.9 percent) reported a full year, while the remaining 35.1 percent reported 1-3 quarters of hate crime data to the FBI UCR Program. The table below shows the number of LEAs eligible to submit data via SRS in 2019 and the number of quarters submitted. SRS agencies are no longer permitted to submit new hate crime incidents. However, the FBI UCR Program will accept updates to bias-motivated incidents previously reported by SRS agencies.

Number of Agencies by Number of Quarters of Data Submitted, 2019
Number of Quarters	Number of Agencies
0 quarters	1,240
1 quarter	431
2 quarters	647
3 quarters	1,605
4 quarters	4,953
Total	8,876

LEAs consist of federal, state, local, and tribal agencies serving all population group sizes having diverse attributes. The areas served include various characteristics which may impact crime, such as population density and degree of urbanization; various compositions of population, particularly youth concentration; population movement with respect to residents’ mobility, commuting patterns, and transient factors; diverse economic conditions including median income, poverty level, and job availability; areas with different modes of transportation and highway systems; various cultural factors and educational, recreational, and religious characteristics; family conditions with respect to divorce and family cohesiveness; climate; effective strength of law enforcement; policies of other components of the criminal justice system; citizens’ attitudes toward crime; and crime reporting practices of the citizenry. The table on the following page shows the number of agencies participating in the Hate Crime Data Collection via the SRS in 2019 and population covered by population group size.

Number of Agencies and Population by Group Size, 2019
	Population Group	Number of Agencies	Population Covered
Cities	Group I (250,000 inhabitants and more)	53	42,873,492
	Group II (100,000 to 249,999 inhabitants)	128	18,638,726
	Group III (50,000 to 99,999 inhabitants)	285	19,871,933
	Group IV (25,000 to 49,999 inhabitants)	469	16,169,965
	Group V (10,000 to 24,999 inhabitants)	915	14,626,105
	Group VI (Less than 10,000 inhabitants)1,2	3,916	11,486,666
Counties	Group VIII (Nonmetropolitan County)2	820	8,147,314
	Group IX (Metropolitan County)2	1,050	41,020,100
	Total	7,636	172,834,301
1 Includes universities and colleges to which no population is attributed. 2 Includes state police to which no population is attributed.

2. Procedures for Collecting Information

The FBI transitioned to a NIBRS-only data collection on January 1, 2021. Therefore, SRS agencies may no longer submit hate crime incidents occurring after that date. However, SRS agencies may still provide updates to incidents previously reported to UCR at intervals which minimize the burden to them (e.g., quarterly, semiannually, or annually).

Although the FBI makes an effort through its editing procedures, training practices, and correspondence to ensure the reliability of the data received, the receipt of accurate statistics depends on adherence to the established standards of reporting at the agency level. The FBI relies on the integrity of the data from contributors and results obtained from Quality Assurance Reviews conducted by the CJIS Audit Unit staff. The results of the audits are not used to adjust crime data, but to educate reporting agencies on compliance with FBI UCR Program guidelines.

3. Methods to Maximize Response

In 2019, the FBI UCR Program received a full year of hate crime data from 55.8 percent of the agencies eligible to report hate crime data via SRS. Under one-third (30.2 percent) of the LEAs reported 1-3 quarters, while 14.0 percent did not submit bias-motivated information. Hate crime data are available within NIBRS and similar response rates are expected from agencies having made the transition from SRS reporting to NIBRS.

FBI UCR Program staff actively liaison with LEAs to encourage participation and assist agencies with maximizing response rates and providing accurate, up-to-date information.

4. Testing of Procedures

The FBI UCR Program receives guidance for implementing or making changes to a data collection from the FBI CJIS Advisory Policy Board (APB). The APB was developed to obtain user community advice and guidance on the development and operation of all CJIS Division programs. The philosophy underlying the advisory process is one of shared management, i.e., the FBI; federal, state, local, and tribal data providers; and system users share responsibility for the operation and management of all systems administered by the FBI to benefit the criminal justice community.

The FBI transitioned to a NIBRS-only data collection on January 1, 2021, thereby, discontinuing SRS. Therefore, SRS agencies are only permitted to provide updates to hate crime incidents previously submitted to the FBI UCR Program and testing is not required.

5. Contacts for Statistical Aspects and Data Collection

Trudy Lou Ford

Global Law Enforcement Support Section (GLESS) Chief

tl[email protected]

304-625-3690

Michael J. McKeown

GLESS Assistant Section Chief

[email protected] 

304-625-2966 
 
Amy C. Blasher 

CSMU Chief 

[email protected] 

304-625-4840 

 

Cynthia Barnett-Ryan 

Statistician, CSMU 

[email protected] 

304-625-3576 

 

Malissa C. Vavra

Statistician, CSMU

[email protected]

304-625-3010

14