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Glossary of FBI Offense Terms
Part I Uniform Crime Report offenses
Criminal homicide--a. Murder and nonnegligent manslaughter: the
willful (nonnegligent) killing of one human being by another. Deaths caused by negligence,
attempts to kill, assaults to kill, suicides, accidental deaths, and justifiable homicides
are excluded. Justifiable homicides are limited to: (1) the killing of a felon by a law
enforcement officer in the line of duty and (2) the killing of a felon by a private
citizen. b. Manslaughter by negligence: the killing of another person through gross
negligence. Traffic fatalities are excluded. While manslaughter by negligence is a Part I
crime, it is not included in the Crime Index.
Forcible rape--The carnal knowledge of a female forcibly and against
her will. Included are rapes by force and attempts or assaults to rape. Statutory offenses
(no force used--victim under age of consent) are excluded.
Robbery--The taking or attempting to take anything of value from the
care, custody, or control of a person or persons by force or threat of force or violence
and/or by putting the victim in fear.
Aggravated assault--An unlawful attack by one person upon another for
the purpose of inflicting severe or aggravated bodily injury. This type of assault usually
is accompanied by the use of a weapon or by means likely to produce death or great bodily
harm. Simple assaults are excluded.
Burglary--breaking or entering--The unlawful entry of a structure to
commit a felony or a theft. Attempted forcible entry is included.
Larceny-theft (except motor vehicle theft)--The unlawful taking,
carrying, leading, or riding away of property from the possession or constructive
possession of another. Examples are thefts of bicycles or automobile accessories,
shoplifting, pocket-picking, or the stealing of any property or article which is not taken
by force and violence or by fraud. Attempted larcenies are included. Embezzlement,
"con" games, forgery, worthless checks, etc., are excluded.
Motor vehicle theft--The theft or attempted theft of a motor vehicle.
A motor vehicle is self-propelled and runs on the surface and not on rails. Specifically
excluded from this category are motorboats, construction equipment, airplanes, and farming
equipment.
Arson--Any willful or malicious burning or attempt to burn, with or
without intent to defraud, a dwelling house, public building, motor vehicle or aircraft,
personal property of another, etc.
Part II Uniform Crime Report offenses
Other assaults (simple)--Assaults and attempted assaults where no
weapon is used and which do not result in serious or aggravated injury to the victim.
Forgery and counterfeiting--Making, altering, uttering, or possessing,
with intent to defraud, anything false in the semblance of that which is true. Attempts
are included.
Fraud--Fraudulent conversion and obtaining money or property by false
pretenses. Included are confidence games and bad checks, except forgeries and
counterfeiting.
Embezzlement--Misappropriation or misapplication of money or property
entrusted to one's care, custody, or control.
Stolen property; buying, receiving, possessing--Buying, receiving, and
possessing stolen property, including attempts.
Vandalism--Willful or malicious destruction, injury, disfigurement, or
defacement of any public or private property, real or personal, without consent of the
owner or persons having custody or control.
Weapons; carrying, possessing, etc.--All violations of regulations or
statutes controlling the carrying, using, possessing, furnishing, and manufacturing of
deadly weapons or silencers. Attempts are included.
Prostitution and commercialized vice--Sex offenses of a commercialized
nature, such as prostitution, keeping a bawdy house, procuring, or transporting women for
immoral purposes. Attempts are included.
Sex offenses (except forcible rape, prostitution, and commercialized vice)--Statutory
rape and offenses against chastity, common decency, morals, and the like. Attempts are
included.
Drug abuse violations--State and local offenses relating to the
unlawful possession, sale, use, growing, and manufacturing of narcotic drugs. The
following drug categories are specified: Opium or cocaine and their derivatives (morphine,
heroin, codeine); marijuana; synthetic narcotics--manufactured narcotics that can cause
true addiction (demerol, methadone); and dangerous non-narcotic drugs (barbiturates,
benzedrine).
Gambling--Promoting, permitting, or engaging in illegal gambling.
Offenses against the family and children--Nonsupport, neglect,
desertion, or abuse of family and children.
Driving under the influence--Driving or operating any vehicle or
common carrier while drunk or under the influence of liquor or narcotics.
Liquor laws--State or local liquor law violations, except
"drunkenness" and "driving under the influence." Federal violations
are excluded.
Drunkenness--Offenses relating to drunkenness or intoxication.
Excluded is "driving under the influence."
Disorderly conduct--Breach of the peace.
Vagrancy--Vagabondage, begging, loitering, etc.
All other offenses--All violations of State or local laws, except
those listed above and traffic offenses.
Suspicion--No specific offense; suspect released without formal
charges being placed.
Curfew and loitering laws-(persons under age 18)--Offenses relating to
violations of local curfew or loitering ordinances where such laws exist.
Runaways-(persons under age 18)--Limited to juveniles taken into
protective custody under provisions of local statutes.
Source: The Bureau of Justice Statistics
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