Florida and California had the lowest percentages of law enforcement agencies reporting crime data to the FBI last year.
Why is this important: National violent crime data in 2021 has been severely compromised as about 40% of law enforcement agencies nationwide have not reported their crime data. Two of the most populous states were a big part of the problem.
- This failure to report data came amid concern over rising crime in some cities – a major midterm issue.
By the numbers: An Axios analysis of FBI data released earlier this year found that only two of Florida’s 757 law enforcement agencies submitted 2021 crime data to the FBI. This is only 0.3% of law enforcement agencies in the state.
- Only 2% of California law enforcement provided crime data.
- Less than 3% of Pennsylvania agencies and only 12% of Maryland agencies submitted data.
- About 21% of agencies in New York and 31% in New Jersey turned over data to the FBI.
The other side: 100% of law enforcement agencies in Connecticut, Delaware, North Dakota and Vermont have submitted their crime data to the FBI.
- Texas, the nation’s second most populous state, had one of the highest reporting percentages. Axios analysis found that 84% of Lone Star State agencies submitted crime data.
Between the lines: The FBI’s annual dataset is the nation’s primary way of understanding the evolution of crime in the United States, measuring things like how many murders or rapes took place in the last year or the number of people arrested.
- The estimated number of violent crimes in the United States fell slightly in 2021, according to statistics released by the FBI – but the data is incomplete.
- Experts say the lack of data makes it harder to analyze crime trends and verify politicians’ claims about crime, reports Weihua Li of the Marshall Project.
The plot: Art Acevedo, a former Houston and Miami police chief, told Axios that the lack of reporting is likely a technological challenge for local agencies to access the new system.
The California Attorney General’s Office said in the statement that the state Department of Justice has developed the California Incident-Based Reporting System Repository over the past few years in line with the FBI’s transition to the new reporting system.
- “We are currently working to certify law enforcement agencies that are able to upgrade their records management systems and successfully submit data to CIBRS.”
The bottom line: Unless states require police and sheriff’s departments to submit crime data to the FBI at higher rates, the nation will not be able to recognize crime trends and establish policies.
Go further: The limited promise of crime data