Since NIBRS became the crime reporting standard on January 1, 2021, many agencies have successfully made the transition, with over 60% of agencies contributing NIBRS data.

The move to IBR reporting has given agencies more detailed intelligence on the crimes occurring in and around their community by enhancing the quantity, quality, and timeliness of crime data. Public safety leaders can now use this more detailed data to identify crime trends more quickly and develop strategies to combat them.

But like any transition, the switch from UCR (Uniform Crime Reporting) to NIBRS was not without challenges. Whereas UCR only collected data for eight crime categories, NIBRS collects data for 52 offenses, plus 10 offenses for which only arrests are reported. NIBRS also required a shift to more comprehensive narratives with granular collection of incident details like demographic info and victim/offender relationships. Plus, NIBRS validation requirements meant that agencies without validation workflows had to adjust their reporting processes.

With many agencies already operating with limited resources, additional data entry requirements and the necessary retraining of officers and staff for NIBRS guidelines were daunting.

Having the right technology was key to helping agencies ease the transition.

How Modern RMS Simplifies IBR Reporting

Modern RMS platforms like 365™ RMS streamline NIBRS reporting with intuitive workflows that minimize data entry while still ensuring the required IBR information is captured.

Below are the top RMS features that helped agencies execute a successful shift to IBR:

• • Easy-to-use Interface: Modern RMS like the system from 365Labs are purpose-built with screens and workflows that help LEOs complete reports quickly and confidently. User-friendly buttons, fields and screens dynamically adjust to the needs of the user to minimize clicks and keystrokes. New users are able to quickly learn the intuitive interface, and most require less than 1 day of training.

• • Automatic IBR Validation: RMS should automatically check reports against NIBRS, state & local reporting guidelines, and the built-in wizard should guide the correction and automatically fixes report validation errors. RMS from 365Labs makes the process easier, and the validation saves time for officers as well as the records staff who check reports.

• • Time-Saving AI: Officers can use smart snippets, tags, and voice dictation to auto-build narratives 10x faster than typing. The 365™ RMS mobile app also allows LEOs capture and auto-fill report information by scanning driver’s licenses, VINs, and license plates. Reports that used to take officers an hour to complete now take only 15 minutes.

• • Real-Time Integration: Information entered once should never have to be re-entered. With modern RMS, officers can create reports, Warrants, Summons and more from a single record, eliminating the need for data re-entry. Built-in NCIC automatically attaches NCIC records and rap sheets to reports without having to switch programs. RMS syncs with other 365™ modules like CAD and JMS in real-time allowing for data entered in one module to be searched and utilized across all modules.