Pennsylvania gets $1M to improve FBI crime reporting
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Police departments across the state could soon get help reporting crimes to the FBI's nationwide crime database.
Why it matters: The National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) is the national standard for crime data, helping police, policymakers and researchers more quickly spot crime trends.
Driving the news: Houston-based philanthropy Arnold Ventures on Monday donated $1 million to the state's Commission on Crime and Delinquency to help police departments meet NIBRS reporting requirements, according to a news release.
By the numbers: 11% of Pennsylvania law enforcement agencies reported data to NIBRS in 2024, per the FBI's website.
Catch up quick: Nearly every law enforcement agency in the U.S. was included in the FBI's database until 2021, per the Marshall Project.
- That's when the federal agency replaced its longtime crime reporting system, requiring agencies to collect and submit more detailed incident-level data.
- A lack of funding to upgrade police department systems has been a barrier preventing them from reporting crime data to the federal agency.
- Plus: While participation in the federal database is voluntary, police departments in the state generally must report to NIBRS to qualify for millions of dollars in Pennsylvania public safety grants.
Between the lines: Many smaller and rural police departments typically lack the resources to meet the FBI's new reporting requirements.
- Even larger departments, including in Philly and Pittsburgh, have struggled to consistently submit data post-2021.
What's next: The commission expects to release grant guidelines later this year, likely including caps for individual departments.