List of Variables Collected in NVDRS/SUDORS system as of 5/2021

Variables Collected in NVDRS/ SUDORS Web System
As of 5/2021
Incident-level Variables
Version of software (system variable)
Site Identifier
Incident Number
Incident Year
Incident Type
Incident Category
Number of source documents in incident
Number of victims in incident
Date supervisor checked incident
Date supervisor rechecked incident
General comments field (text field)
Number of non-fatally shot persons in incident
Abstractor name(s)
CME Incident narrative (text field)
LE Incident narrative (text field)
Flag incident for follow-up
Case Status
Death certificate data abstraction complete
CME report data abstraction complete
Toxicology data abstraction complete
Law enforcement data abstraction complete
Incident complete
Document Tracking
Document type
Source agency requested from
Data record requested/expected/sought
Data record re-requested/re-researched
Data record received
Data record abstracted/imported
Data entered data checked
Document determined to be unavailable
Document notes field
Variables Collected for Victim(s) and Suspect(s)
Age
Age unit
Sex
White
Black
Asian
Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander
American Indian/Alaska Native

Other race*
Variables Collected for Victim(s) and Suspect(s), cont’d
Unspecified race
Hispanic/Latino/Spanish
*Removed as a category, beginning 2015 data collection year

Demographic Variables for Victims
Person type
First initial of last name
Day of birth
Last 4 of CME
Last for of DC
Transgender
Height
Weight
Marital status
Relationship status
Sex of partner
Victim was pregnant
Sexual orientation
Ever served in US armed forces (veteran)
Country of residence
State of residence
County of residence
City of residence
ZIP code of residence
US Census tract of residence
US Census block group of residence
Birth place
Birth Country, if other
Kind of business/ industry code
Usual industry text
Usual occupation code
Usual occupation text
Current occupation
Homeless status
Housing Instability
Education by degree level
Number of years of education

Injury & Death Variables
DC Manner of death
LE Manner of death
CME Manner of death
Abstractor-assigned Manner of death
State of injury, (by FIPS code)
County of injury, (by FIPS code)
City of injury, (by FIPS code)
ZIP code of injury
US Census tract of injury
US Census block group of injury
Date of injury
Time of injury
Type of location where injured
Injured at work
Injured at victim’s home
EMS at scene of injury
Victim in custody when injured
Recent release from an institution
Alcohol use suspected
Survival time no. of units
Unit of time used in survival time
Children present and/or witnessed fatal incident
Victim seen in emergency department
Victim admitted to inpatient care
1st external cause of injury code by hospital (ICD-9 CM & ICD10 CM)

2nd external cause of injury code from hospital (ICD-9 CM &
ICD-10 CM)

Underlying cause of death ICD-10 code
ICD 10 4th character
ICD 10 5th character
Immediate cause of death, (text field)
Cause leading to immediate cause, (text field)
Next antecedent cause of death, (text field)
Underlying cause of death, (text field)
Other significant conditions contributing to death, (text field)
How injury occurred, (text field)
Place of death
Place of death, if other (text field)
Date pronounced dead
Date of death
State of death
Autopsy performed
Multiple conditions on death certificate 1-10
Wound Location Variables
Number of wounds
Number of bullets that hit victim
Wound to the head
Wound to the face

Wound to the neck
Wound to the upper extremity
Wound Location Variables, cont’d
Wound to the spine
Wound to the thorax
Wound to the abdomen
Wound to the lower extremity
Poisons/Toxicology Variables
No toxicology report
Date specimens were collected
Time specimens were collected
Substance(s) Name
(Specific) Substance tested
(Specific) Substance result
Substance caused death
Person medication prescribed for
Substance categories (auto-populated)
Tested for alcohol
Alcohol test results
Tested for carbon monoxide
Results for carbon monoxide
Tested for amphetamines
Results for amphetamines
Tested for anticonvulsants
Results for anticonvulsants
Tested for antidepressants
Results for antidepressants
Tested for antipsychotics
Results for antipsychotics
Tested for barbiturates
Results for barbiturates
Tested for benzodiazepines
Results for benzodiazepines
Tested for cocaine
Results for cocaine
Tested for marijuana
Results for marijuana
Tested for muscle relaxant
Results for muscle relaxant
Tested for opiate(s)
Results for opiate(s)
Blood alcohol concentration results
Carbon monoxide source, if CO
Comments (text field)
Suspect Variables
Victim’s relationship to suspect 1
Victim’s relationship to suspect 2

Primary suspect for this victim (only shown with multiple
suspects)
2nd suspect for this victim (only shown with multiple suspects)
3rd suspect for this victim (only shown with multiple suspects)
Suspect was also a victim
Suspect attempted suicide after incident
Suspect was caregiver
History of abuse of victim
Suspect was mentally ill
Suspect had developmental disability
Suspected alcohol use
Suspected substance use
Suspect had contact with law enforcement
Suspect recently released from institution
Circumstance Variables by Manners of Death
(*Indicates Crisis Information Collected)

All Manners of Death
Current depressed mood
Current diagnosed mental health problem*
Type of first mental illness diagnosed
Type of 2nd metal illness diagnosed
Other mental health diagnosis (text field)
Current treatment for mental illness/ substance abuse
Ever treated for mental illness
Alcohol problem*
Other substance problem*
Other addiction*
Terrorist attack
Family relationship problem*
Family Stressor
Other relationship problem*
Abuse and neglect led to death
History of abuse as a child
Perpetrator of violence in the past month
Victim of violence in the past month
Prior Child Protective Services report on the child victim’s
household
Substance abuse in child victim's household
Living transition/loss of independent living
Household known to local authorities
Non-adherence to mental health/substance abuse treatment
Physical fight (mutual between 2 people)
Argument
Timing of the most recent argument
Precipitated by another crime
Nature of first other crime
Nature of 2nd other crime
First other crime in progress
Circumstances known
Other circumstance, (text field)

Crisis in past 2 weeks
Disaster exposure*

Homicide/Legal Intervention Deaths
Intimate partner violence related
Stalking*
Prostitution or sex trafficking*
Gang related
Justifiable self-defense/law enforcement
Victim was a police officer on duty
Victim was a bystander
Random violence
Victim was intervener assisting crime victim
Victim used a weapon
Mercy killing
Homicide/Legal Intervention Deaths, cont’d
Hate crime
Jealousy (lover’s triangle)*
Brawl
Walk-by assault
Drive-by shooting (homicide only)
Drug Involvement
Caregiver use of corporal punishment contributed to the
death of the child victim
Suicide & Undetermined Deaths
History of suicidal thoughts or plans
History of suicide attempts
History of Traumatic Brain Injury
Recent disclosed suicidal thoughts or intent Disclosed suicidal
intent to whom
Person left a suicide note
Contributing criminal legal problem*
Civil legal problems*
Physical health problem*
Job problem*
Financial problem*
School problem*
Eviction/loss of home*
Suicide of a friend or family member*
Other death of friend or family
Anniversary of traumatic event
Intimate partner problem*
Caregiver burden
History of non-suicidal self-injury/self-harm
Unintentional Firearm Deaths
Hunting
Target shooting
Self-defensive shooting
Celebratory firing
Loading/ unloading gun

Cleaning gun
Showing gun to others
Playing with gun
Other context of injury
Thought safety was engaged
Thought unloaded, magazine disengaged
Thought gun was unloaded, other
Unintentionally pulled trigger
Bullet ricochet
Gun defect or malfunction
Fired while holstering/ un-holstering
Dropped gun
Fired while operating safety/lock
Gun mistaken for toy
Other mechanism of injury
Weapons
Weapon type
Additional weapon information (text field)
Firearm type
Firearm gauge
Firearm caliber
Firearm make or NCIC code
Other firearm make, (text field)
Firearm model
Firearm model, (text field)
Gun stored loaded
Gun stored locked
Gun access narrative (text field)
Gun owner
Firearm stolen
Primary weapon that killed victim (only shown with multiple
weapons)
Second weapon causing injury (only shown with multiple
weapons)
Third weapon causing injury (only shown with multiple
weapons)
Total number of NVDRS weapons for this victim

School-Associated Violent Death Module

Incident Variables
Number of non-fatally injured persons

SAVD location type
SAVD campus location

Type of school-sponsored event
Security measures present at the time of injury
Security measures in-use at the time of injury
Type of security measures present and in-use at the time
of injury
Signs that the violent act was being considered by the
victim or suspect
Information known in advance of the incident by
witnesses, bystanders, or informants
Victim Variables
Timing of the fatal injury
Victim’s primary affiliation with the school
Victim behavior in the 12 months prior to the injury
Name calling, teasing and/or bullying peers or
school personnel (in person or online)
Sent verbal, written, or electronic threats
Posted threats or manifestos online via social
media or other platforms
Participated in activity aligning themselves with
violent ideologies
Physically threatened or physically fought with
peers
Damaged or stole another's personal property
or damaged school property
Possessed/used illicit substances
Possessed a weapon
Other (text box)
Victimization experiences in the 12 months prior to the
injury
Called names, teased, or was bullied by peers or
school personnel (in person or online)
Had personal property damaged or stolen
Received verbal, written, or electronic threats
Physically threatened and/or assaulted by peers
Abuse, neglect, or other victimization
experienced
Physical child abuse
Sexual child abuse
Emotional (verbal or psychological) abuse as a
child
- Neglect (physical, emotional, medical or
educational neglect) as a child
Victimization in intimate partner violence/ teen
dating violence
Victimization in sexual violence
Suspect Variables

Suspect arrest history
Suspect alcohol or drug problem
Highest grade in school completed by the suspect
Suspect’s primary affiliation with the school
Crises experienced by the suspect within two weeks of
the incident
School-related crisis
Family-related crisis
Relationship-related crisis
Mental health-related crisis
Other crisis
Other crisis text box
Suspect’s behavior in the 12 months prior to the incident
Name calling, teasing and/or bullying peers or
school personnel (in person or online)
Sent verbal, written, or electronic threats
Posted threats or manifestos online via social
media or other platforms
Participated in activity aligning themselves with
violent ideologies
Physically threatened or physically fought with
peers
Damaged or stole another's personal property
or damaged school property
Possessed/used illicit substances
Possessed a weapon
Other (text box)
Victimization experienced by the suspect in the 12
months prior
Called names, teased, or was bullied by peers or
school personnel (in person or online)
Had personal property damaged or stolen
Received verbal, written, or electronic threats
Physically threatened and/or assaulted by peers
Abuse, neglect, or other victimization
experienced by the suspect
Physical child abuse
Sexual child abuse
Emotional (verbal or psychological) abuse as a
child
- Neglect (physical, emotional, medical or
educational neglect) as a child

-

Victimization in intimate partner violence/ teen
dating violence
Victimization in sexual violence

Optional Module: Child Fatality Review

Incident Variables
Witness(es) to fatal incident
Child witness(es) to fatal incident
CFR additional information, (text field)
CFR records available on victim
Scene investigated by LE
Victim Variables
Victim Health Information
Victim had physical illness at time of incident
If yes, specify diagnosis (text field)
Victim had disability at time of incident
If yes, disability was physical, developmental or sensory
Prenatal history
Infant, prenatal care prior to 3rd trimester
Infant, maternal recreational drug use
Infant, maternal alcohol use
Infant, maternal tobacco use
Infant, victim born prematurely
CPS Contacts
Prior CPS report on victim’s household
If yes, CPS report filed on whom
If yes, report substantiated
Physical abuse substantiated
Sexual abuse substantiated
Neglect substantiated
CPS case opened on other children due to this death
Other Prior System Contacts by Victim
Victim contact with police
Victim contact with juvenile justice system
Victim contact with mental health services
Households contact with police
Victim/ primary caregiver contact with social services
Victim/primary contact with WIC
Victim/ primary contact with Medicaid
Primary caregiver on welfare/financial assistance
Suspect Information
Specific person suspected
Suspect arrested as perpetrator in this death
Suspect charged as perpetrator in this death
Suspect prosecuted
Suspect convicted

Suspect Information, cont’d
Convicted of original charge
CPS report on referral ever filed on the suspect
Suspect ever charged with a prior homicide
Household Information
Type of residence in which the victim lived
Length of time in residence
Unrelated adult living in household
Other children< 18 years of age in household
Marital relationship of victim’s biological parents
Domestic Violence and Substance Abuse
Intimate partner violence in victim’s household
Intimate partner violence in victim’s foster home
Substance abuse in victim’s household
Substance abuse in victim’s foster home
Supervision at the Time of Incident
Perpetrator was supervisor
Quality of supervision is a factor
Supervisor’s relationship to victim
Supervisor’s age
Supervisor’s sex
No supervision
Supervisor drug/alcohol impaired
Supervisor distracted or asleep
Other supervisory factor
Primary Caregivers (Info collected ≥2)
Primary caregiver a victim or suspect in the incident
If yes, caregivers ID in the incident
Relationship to victim
Person lived with victim
Primary caregiver age at time of incident
Primary caregiver sex
Had legal custody of victim at time of death
Had documented history of maltreatment
Had a previous child die in care
Data Sources Used by CFR
CME records
SS/CPS records
Police/ LE records
School records

Data Sources Used by CFR, cont’d
EMS records
Health provider/ Hospital records
Public health department records
Mental health records
Juvenile justice records
Death certificate
Other records
Other records, specify (text field)
CFR Committee Decisions
CFR conclusion matches death certificate manner of
death
If no, manner of death CFR designated
Text to specify other manner (text field)
Action taken to change the official manner
Result of action
CFR determination of preventability
CFR Circumstance Elements (Legacy)
Circumstances from CFR
Current depressed mood
Current mental health problem
Type of 1st mental illness diagnosed
Type of 2nd mental illness diagnosed
Other mental health diagnosis
Current treatment for mental illness
Ever treated for mental illness
History of inpatient psychiatric treatment
Taking psychiatric medication at time of death
Barriers to accessing mental health care
Brawl (mutual physical fight)
Argument over money/property
Perpetrator of IPV past month
Victim of IPV past month
Crisis in past 2 weeks
Other circumstance, (text field)
Alcohol problem
Other substance problem
Job problem
Financial problem
Other legal problems
Recent criminal legal problem
School problem
Physical health problem
Other death of friend or family
Justifiable self-defense/law enforcement
Victim was a police office on duty

CFR Circumstance Elements (Legacy), cont’d
Victim was a bystander
Victim was intervener assisting crime victim
Victim used weapon
Mercy killing
Precipitated by another crime
Nature of first other crime
First other crime progress
Nature of 2nd other crime
Terrorist attack
Drug involvement
Gang related
Hate crime
Disclosed intent to commit suicide
Person left a suicide note
History of suicide attempts
Suicide of friend or family in past 5 years
Intimate partner problem
Jealousy
Intimate partner violence related
Other relationship problem
Hunting
Target shooting
Self-defensive shooting
Celebratory firing
Loading/Unloading gun
Cleaning gun
Showing gun to others
Playing with gun
Thought safety was engaged
Thought unloaded: magazine disengaged
Thought gun unloaded, other
Unintentionally pulled trigger
Bullet ricochet
Gun defect or malfunction
Fired while holstering/unholstering
Dropped gun
Fired while operating safety/lock
Gun mistaken for toy
Other argument, abuse, conflict
Other context of injury
Other mechanism of injury

Optional Module: Intimate Partner Violence
Incident Variables
IPV incident type
IPV victim
IPV perpetrator
Data Sources
Death certificate
CME report
LE/police report
SHR/ NIBRS data
Crime lab report
Gun trace report
Hospital/ ED report
Court or prosecutor records
Restraining order records
Criminal history database
DVTRT report
Newspaper report
Other data sources, (text field)
Characteristics of circumstance
Evidence of premeditation
Homicide during argument
During child drop off/ pick-up
Suspect Information (System Response)
Warrant issued for suspect
Suspect arrested in this incident
Suspected arrested but fled
Suspect charged as perpetrator
Suspect convicted
Suspect convicted of original charge
Suspect died following incident
Living Arrangement (Relationship characteristics)
Cohabitation status
Relationship length in number of units
Unit of time used in relationship length
Break up or break up in progress
Unit of time used in break up length
Children under 18 living at home
Number of children < 18 living at home
Any children not offspring of IPV perpetrator
Any children not offspring of IPV victim

Living Arrangement (Relationship characteristics)
Number of children exposed to homicide
Number of children < 5 exposed to homicide
Use of child as shield during event
Child intervened during incident
Restraining Order
Restraining order ever
Restraining order at time of incident
Restraining order type
Restraining order issue date
Restraining order served
Persons protected by restraining order
Legal Intervention/ Criminal History (for Victim and
Perpetrator)
Prior arrest(s)
Type of arrest(s)
Type if other, (text field)
Prior conviction(s)
Type of conviction(s)
Type if other, (text field)
Prior IPV arrest(s)
Health Information (for Victim and Perpetrator)
Perp/ Victim had physical illness at time of incident
Diagnosis of physical illness, (text field)
Perp/Victim had disability at time of incident
If yes, disability was physical, developmental, or sensory
Alcohol use suspected
Drug use suspected
Mental Health Information (for Victim and Perpetrator)
Perp/Victim had mental health problem
Mental health diagnosis 1
Mental health diagnosis 2
Mental health diagnosis 3
Other mental health diagnosis, (text field)
Currently in treatment for mental health problem
Alcohol dependence problem
Substance abuse problem
Disclosed intent to commit suicide
History of suicide attempts

Optional Module: Prescription Overdose
Drug Overdose/Poisoning
Type of drug poisoning
Time last seen alive
Date last seen alive
Substance Abuse
Previous drug overdose
Treatment for substance abuse
History of opioid/heroin abuse
Recent opioid use relapse
Scene Indications of Drug Abuse
Any evidence of drug use
No evidence of drug use
Evidence of raid overdose
Tourniquet around arm
Needle location
Witness report rapid overdose
Other (text field)
Route of Drug Administration
No Information
Evidence of injection
Track marks on victim
Tourniquet
Cookers
Needles/Syringe
Filters
Witness Report
Evidence of Snorting/Sniffing
Evidence of Smoking
Evidence of Transdermal
Evidence of Ingestion
Evidence of Suppository
Evidence of Sublingual
Other injection evidence (text field)
Illicit or Prescription Drugs
Evidence of prescription drugs
Prescribed to victim
Not prescribed to victim
Unknown who prescribed
Type of prescription drug found
Pills/tablets
Patch
Prescription bottle
Liquid
Lozenges/lollipops
Vial

Witness report of prescription use
Other form- specify (text field)
Evidence of Illicit Drugs
Powder
Witness report
Counterfeit pills
Tar
Crystal
Other illicit drug- specify (text field)
Response to drug overdose
Bystanders present at time of overdose
Drug Use Witnessed
Naloxone Administered
Naloxone administered
Not administered
Unknown
Administered, unknown by whom
Administered by law enforcement
Administered by EMS/Fire
Administered by hospital (ED/inpatient)
Administered by bystander
Other (specify in narrative)
Who Administered?
Person using drugs
Intimate partner
Stranger
Friend
Roommate
Other family
Other- specify (text field)
Total # of Naloxone dosages administered by first
responders/health care
Treat for pain at time of injury
Prescription Information
Use of prescription morphine
Prescription Morphine Narrative, (text field)
Prescribed Buprenorphine/Methadone
Number of opioid prescriptions in the 30 days preceding
injury
Number of pharmacies dispensing opioids to decedent in
180 days preceding injury
Number of doctors writing opioid prescriptions to the
decedent in the 180 days preceding injury