UNIFORM CRIME REPORT (UCR) DEFINITIONS
MURDER / NON-NEGLIGENT MANSLAUGHTER...
...is the willful (non-negligent) killing of one human being by another. This classification is based solely on police investigation as opposed to the determination of a court, medical examiner, coroner, etc. Not included in the count for this offense classification are deaths caused by negligence, suicide or accident; justifiable homicides; and attempts to murder or assaults to murder which are classed as aggravated assaults. In Georgia, homicide by a vehicle falls within this classification.
RAPE.....
...is the carnal knowledge of a female forcibly and against her will. Assaults or attempts to commit rape by force or threat of force are also included. However, statutory rape (without force) and other sex offenses are excluded.
ROBBERY...
...is the taking or attempting to take anything of value from the care, custody or control of a person by force or threat of force or violence and/or by putting the victim in fear. In Georgia, robbery by snatching (i.e. purse snatching) is considered a robbery. However, in most cases it is considered a theft (see below) by UCR standards.
AGGRAVATED ASSAULT...
...is an unlawful attack by one person upon another for the purpose of inflicting severe or aggravated bodily injury. This type of assault is usually accompanied by the use of a weapon or by means likely to produce death or great bodily harm. Attempts are included since it is not necessary that an injury result when a gun, knife or other weapon is used which could and probably would result in serious personal injury if the crime were successfully completed.
BURGLARY...
...is the unlawful entry into a structure with the intent to commit a felony or theft. The use of force to gain entry is not necessary to classify an offense as a burglary. It is not necessary to have completed the felony or theft for the offense to be classified as burglary; entry with the intent is sufficient. In Georgia, the law also specifies that unauthorized entry into a railroad car, watercraft, vehicle or other such structure designed for use as a dwelling to commit theft or a felony would be burglary. Furthermore, the law also specifies that remaining inside any of these dwellings or buildings would constitute burglary.
LARCENY/THEFT...
...is the unlawful taking, carrying, leading or riding away of property from the possession or constructive possession of another. It includes crimes such as shoplifting, pocket-picking, purse snatching, thefts from motor vehicles, thefts of motor vehicle parts, thefts of bicycles, etc., in which no force, violence or fraud occurs. Under UCR standards, this does not include embezzlement, confidence games, forgery, extortion, worthless checks, etc. Motor vehicle theft is also excluded since it is a separate category. Under this classification, the value of the item(s) taken (which might determine whether the offense is a misdemeanor or felony) is not taken into consideration. The shoplifted candy bar counts the same as the riding lawnmower.
MOTOR VEHICLE THEFT...
...is the theft or attempted theft of a motor vehicle. It includes the stealing of automobiles, trucks, buses, motorcycles, motor scooters, snowmobiles, etc. The definition excludes the taking of a motor vehicle for temporary use by those persons having lawful access.
For more information about these definitions and criminal activity in most areas of the United States, see any edition of Crime in the United States (http://www.fbi.gov/ucr/ucr.htm), published annually by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The publication contains a variety of information on crimes committed, crimes cleared, arrests by sex, age, etc., rural vs. urban crime and staffing of most law enforcement agencies in the United States. It is available at most libraries or may be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. or go to their web site by clicking below: