U.S. Department of Justice

Office of Justice Programs

Bureau of Justice Statistics

Bulletin

Celebrating

 35 years

July 2015, NCJ 248767

HIGHLIGHTS

 The percentage of local police departments that 

authorized their officers to use conducted energy 

weapons such as Tasers increased from 60% in 2007 

to 81% in 2013.

 The percentage of local police departments that 

required officers to wear protective armor at all 

times increased from 65% in 2007 to 71% in 2013.

 From 2007 to 2013, the percentage of local police 

departments using in-car video cameras increased 

from 61% to 68%.

 About a third (32%) of local police departments 

used body-worn cameras in 2013.

 About 1 in 6 local police departments used 

automated vehicle license plate readers in 2013, 

including a majority of those serving a population 

of 25,000 or more.

 More than 90% of local police departments serving 

25,000 or more residents provided patrol officers 

with in-field computerized access to vehicle records, 

driving records, and outstanding warrants.

 Among local police departments serving 10,000 

or more residents, more than 90% had their own 

website and more than 80% used social media.

 About 60% of local police departments provided 

crime statistics to citizens electronically, including 

more than 90% of those serving 25,000 or 

more residents.

Local Police Departments, 2013: 

Equipment and Technology

Brian A. Reaves, Ph.D., BJS Statistician

The overall percentage of the more than 12,000 

local police departments in the United States 

authorizing the use of conducted energy 

weapons (CEWs) increased from 7% in 2000 to 

81% in 2013 (figure 1). CEWs include Tasers and stun 

guns. Large increases were observed in all population 

categories. About 9 in 10 departments also authorized 

their officers to use pepper spray and batons in 2013.

Findings are based on the 2013 Law Enforcement 

Management and Administrative Statistics 

(LEMAS) Survey sponsored by the Bureau of Justice 

Statistics (BJS). The LEMAS Survey, conducted 

periodically since 1987, collects data from a 

nationally representative sample of state and local law 

enforcement agencies. Prior to the 2013 survey, the 

most recent LEMAS Survey was conducted in 2007.

This report uses data from the 2013 LEMAS Survey to 

describe the equipment (such as nonlethal weapons 

and body armor) and technology (such as video 

cameras, license plate readers, and websites) used 

by local police departments. Comparisons are made 

with prior years where appropriate, and when data 

are available.

Figure 1

Local police departments authorizing the use of 

conducted energy weapons, by size of population 

served, 2000, 2007, and 2013

Note: Conducted energy weapons include Tasers and stun guns. See 

appendix table 1 for the total number of departments. See appendix 

table 11 for estimates and standard errors.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Law Enforcement Management and 

Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) Survey, 2000, 2007, and 2013.

Percent of departments

2007

2013

0 20 40 60 80 100

2000

9,999 or fewer

10,000–49,999

50,000–249,999

250,000 or more

All sizes

Population served
LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS, 2013: EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY | JULY 2015 2

To facilitate the comparison of police departments with others 

serving similarly sized jurisdictions, the statistics in this report 

are presented mainly by categories of population served. 

Because most departments employ small numbers of officers 

and serve small populations, overall agency-based percentages 

tend to reflect smaller departments more than larger ones (see 

appendix table 1). 

An estimated 85% of departments serving 2,500 or 

more residents authorized the use of conducted energy 

weapons

In 2013, more than 80% of the departments in each population 

category of 2,500 or more authorized their officers to use 

CEWs (table 1). Overall, 85% of departments serving 2,500 

or more residents authorized CEWs, compared to 75% of 

departments serving fewer than 2,500 residents. Nationwide, 

about 10,000 departments authorized CEWs.

At least 95% of the departments in each population category of 

10,000 or more authorized their officers to use pepper spray in 

2013. This included all departments serving 500,000 or more 

residents. More than 90% of the departments serving fewer 

than 10,000 residents authorized pepper spray. The overall 

percentage of departments authorizing pepper spray in 2013 

(94%) was about the same as in 2000 (91%) and 2007 (97%) 

(not shown).

In 2013, the use of batons was authorized by at least 95% of the 

departments in each population category of 50,000 or more, 

including all departments serving 500,000 or more residents. 

More than 90% of the departments serving 10,000 to 49,999 

residents, and more than 80% of the departments serving 

fewer than 10,000 residents authorized batons. The overall 

percentage of departments authorizing batons in 2013 (87%) 

was about the same as in 2000 (88%) but less than in 2007 

(93%) (not shown).

A majority of the departments in each population category 

authorized the use of defensive physical tactics by officers 

in 2013. These actions included open-hand (91% of all 

departments), takedown (89%), and closed-hand techniques 

(85%) (appendix table 2). An estimated 18% of departments 

authorized the use of neck (lateral vascular) restraint tactics.

About 7 in 10 departments required uniformed officers to 

wear protective body armor at all times while in the field

In 2013, 71% (about 8,700) of departments required uniformed 

officers to wear protective body armor at all times while in the 

field (table 2). Departments serving 25,000 to 99,999 residents 

(89%) were the most likely to require officers to wear armor at 

all times, and those serving fewer than 2,500 residents (54%) 

were the least likely.

Table 1

Selected nonlethal weapons authorized by local police 

departments, by size of population served, 2013

Population served Number Pepper spray Batons

Conducted 

energy weapons*

All sizes 12,326 94% 87% 81%

1,000,000 or more 16 100 100 100

500,000–999,999 36 100 100 83

250,000–499,999 53 96 98 93

100,000–249,999 224 98 96 90

50,000–99,999 446 98 95 87

25,000–49,999 878 98 93 85

10,000–24,999 1,986 96 91 83

2,500–9,999 3,873 93 87 85

2,499 or fewer 4,815 91 83 75

Note: See appendix table 3 for additional nonlethal weapons or actions authorized 

by local police departments. See appendix table 12 for standard errors.

*Includes Tasers and stun guns.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Law Enforcement Management and 

Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) Survey, 2013.

Table 2

Body armor wear requirements for patrol officers in local police 

departments, by size of population served, 2013

Population served Total At all times

In some 

circumstancces

All sizes 79% 71% 8%

1,000,000 or more 92 64 29

500,000–999,999 93 80 13

250,000–499,999 93 78 15

100,000–249,999 89 80 9

50,000–99,999 93 89 4

25,000–49,999 95 89 7

10,000–24,999 91 83 8

2,500–9,999 85 78 8

2,499 or fewer 62 54 7

Note: Detail may not sum to total due to rounding. See table 1 for the total number 

of departments by population size. See appendix table 13 for standard errors.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Law Enforcement Management and 

Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) Survey, 2013.
LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS, 2013: EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY | JULY 2015 3

Departments with a mandatory body armor requirement 

employed 82% of all local police officers in 2013, compared to 

67% in 2007, and 25% in 1990 (figure 2). An additional 8% of 

departments required uniformed field officers to wear armor 

in certain high-risk situations, such as when serving warrants. 

The 79% of departments with any type of body armor 

requirement in 2013 employed 92% of all officers, compared to 

80% in 2007, and 30% in 1990.

According to data published by the Federal Bureau 

of Investigation (FBI), 93% of the 511 nonfederal law 

enforcement officers feloniously killed in the line of duty 

between 2004 and 2013 were killed by a firearm.1 An FBI 

study on protection provided by body armor concluded that 

the risk of fatality for officers assaulted with a firearm while 

not wearing body armor was 14 times higher than for officers 

wearing body armor.2

About three-quarters of departments used in-car, bodyworn, or weapon-attached video cameras

From 2007 to 2013, the percentage of departments using 

in-car video cameras increased in all population categories 

(figure 3). By 2013, a majority of the departments in each 

population category were using in-car cameras. Overall, 68% 

(about 8,400) of all departments used in-car cameras in 2013, 

and these departments employed 73% of all officers.

1Federal Bureau of Investigation (2014). Law Enforcement Officers Killed and 

Assaulted, 2013.

Figure 2

Local police officers employed by a department with body 

armor wear requirements for patrol officers, 1990–2013

Note: See table 1 for the total number of departments by population size. See 

appendix table 14 for estimates and standard errors. 

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Law Enforcement Management and 

Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) Survey, 1990–2013.

0

20

40

60

80

100

In certain circumstances

At all times

1990 1993 1997 2000 2003 2007 2013

Percent of ocers

Year

Figure 3

Use of in-car video cameras by local police departments, 

by size of population served, 2000, 2007, and 2013

Note: See table 1 for the total number of departments by population size. See 

appendix table 15 for estimates and standard errors.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Law Enforcement Management and 

Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) Survey, 2000, 2007, and 2013.

Percent of departments

2007

2013

0 20 40 60 80 100

9,999 or fewer

10,000–49,999

50,000–249,999

250,000 or more

All sizes 2000

Population served

2Federal Bureau of Investigation (1995). Law Enforcement Officers Killed and 

Assaulted, 1994.
LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS, 2013: EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY | JULY 2015 4

For the first time in 2013, the LEMAS Survey asked local 

police departments about the use of body-worn and weaponattached cameras by their patrol officers. An estimated 32% 

(about 3,900) of departments reported they provided bodyworn cameras for at least some of their patrol officers (table 3). 

Departments using body-worn cameras employed 24% of all 

officers. Six percent (about 800) of departments, employing 

9% of all officers, used cameras attached to weapons.

Overall, 76% (about 9,300) of departments, employing 78% 

of all officers, used in-car, body-worn, or weapon-attached 

cameras in 2013. The LEMAS Survey did not ask agencies 

about the number of cameras that were used.

About 1 in 6 departments used automated license plate 

readers

An estimated 17% (about 2,000) of departments used 

automated license plate readers in 2013. This total included 

more than three-quarters of the departments serving 

100,000 or more residents. About half (49% or 6,000) of all 

departments used video cameras for surveillance of public 

areas, including more than two-thirds of the departments 

serving 25,000 or more residents.

Small percentages of departments in each population category 

of 50,000 or more reported using unmanned aerial vehicles 

(drones). Such systems typically use video or thermal cameras 

as a low-cost alternative to conventional aircraft (such as 

helicopters) to provide aerial, real-time information without 

placing personnel in potentially dangerous situations.

In total, 89% (about 11,000) of local police departments 

were using some type of video camera technology in 2013 

(not shown). Some departments also used advanced audio 

technology in the form of gunshot detection systems. Gunshot 

detection systems were used by 4% of departments, including 

50% of those serving 1 million or more residents (table 4).

Table 3

Use of selected video technologies by local police departments, by size of population served, 2013

Types used by patrol officers Other types

Population served Any type

In-car video 

cameras

Body-worn 

cameras

Weapon-attached 

cameras

Cameras for surveillance 

of public areas

License plate 

readers

Unmanned 

aerial drones

All sizes 76% 68% 32% 6% 49% 17% --

1,000,000 or more 71 57 21 14 86 93 7%

500,000–999,999 80 73 30 7 87 77 3

250,000–499,999 70 63 20 9 87 87 2

100,000–249,999 75 70 19 10 76 77 1

50,000–99,999 70 63 26 11 68 55 1

25,000–49,999 79 76 22 9 67 50 0

10,000–24,999 75 71 26 9 62 24 0

2,500–9,999 80 71 34 8 51 10 0

2,499 or fewer 72 64 35 3 35 6 0

Note: See table 1 for the total number of departments by population size. See appendix table 16 for standard errors.

--Less than 0.5%.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) Survey, 2013.

Table 4

Use of gunshot detection systems by local police departments, 

by size of population served, 2013

Population served Percent

All sizes 4%

1,000,000 or more 50%

500,000–999,999 30

250,000–499,999 28

100,000–249,999 11

50,000–99,999 12

25,000–49,999 6

10,000–24,999 5

2,500–9,999 6

2,499 or fewer 1

Note: See table 1 for the total number of departments by population size. See 

appendix table 17 for standard errors.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Law Enforcement Management and 

Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) Survey, 2013.
LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS, 2013: EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY | JULY 2015 5

About 9 in 10 local police officers were employed by a 

department that provided in-field computerized access to 

vehicle and driving records

In 2013, about two-thirds of all departments provided in-field 

computerized access to vehicle records (70%), driving records 

(70%), and outstanding warrants (67%) (table 5). More than 

90% of the departments serving 25,000 or more residents 

provided officers with in-field access to this information.

About half of departments provided officers with in-field 

access to information about prior calls for service at an 

address (55%) and criminal histories (53%). A majority of the 

departments serving 2,500 or more residents provided officers 

with access to this information.

The percentage of local police officers employed by a 

department that provided in-field computer access to various 

types of critical information increased from 2007 to 2013. For 

example, departments providing patrol officers with in-field 

computer access to vehicle records employed 93% of all officers 

in 2013, compared to 86% in 2007 (figure 4). 

Figure 4

Local police officers employed by a department providing 

in-field computer access to information, 2000, 2007, and 2013

Note: See table 1 for the total number of departments by population size. See 

appendix table 19 for estimates and standard errors.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Law Enforcement Management and 

Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) Survey, 2000, 2007, and 2013.

Percent of ocers 

2007

2000

0 20 40 60 80 100

Criminal histories

Prior calls for service

Driving records

Vehicle records

2013

Type of information

Table 5

Types of computerized information accessible to in-field officers in local police departments, by size of population served, 2013

Population served Vehicle records Driving records Outstanding warrants Protection orders Prior calls for service Criminal histories

All sizes 70% 70% 67% 61% 55% 53%

1,000,000 or more 100 100 100 93 86 93

500,000–999,999 100 97 93 83 76 76

250,000–499,999 98 98 93 85 89 91

100,000–249,999 97 96 92 87 88 74

50,000–99,999 97 97 94 87 86 71

25,000–49,999 95 96 92 86 86 70

10,000–24,999 87 86 81 74 73 65

2,500–9,999 76 76 72 66 59 59

2,499 or fewer 50 50 47 43 33 38

Note: See table 1 for the total number of departments by population size. See appendix table 18 for standard errors. 

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) Survey, 2013.
LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS, 2013: EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY | JULY 2015 6

About two-thirds of departments had patrol officers 

transmit incident reports electronically from the field to a 

central information system

In 2013, more than three-quarters of the departments 

serving 10,000 or more residents used electronic methods to 

transmit criminal incident reports from the field to a central 

information system, and nearly two-thirds of the departments 

serving fewer than 10,000 residents transmitted incident 

reports electronically (figure 5). In 2000, fewer than a third 

of departments in any population category used electronic 

methods. Overall, 68% of departments transmitted incident 

reports electronically from the field in 2013. An estimated 

25% of departments used paper reports, and 7% used voice 

transmission (table 6).

Among departments serving 10,000 or more residents, 

more than 90% had their own website and more than 80% 

used social media

A majority of the local police departments in each population 

category of 2,500 or more maintained a website and used social 

media in 2013 (table 7). Among departments serving 10,000 or 

more residents, more than 90% maintained a website, and 

more than 80% used social media. More than 90% of the 

departments serving 50,000 or more residents used social 

media. Departments using social media were more likely to 

report using Facebook (75%) than Twitter (24%) or YouTube 

(10%) (not shown). Overall, more than 7,000 departments had 

a website and used social media. These departments employed 

about 90% of all officers. 

Figure 5

Local police departments using electronic methods for 

transmitting criminal incident reports to a central information 

system, by size of population served, 2000, 2007, and 2013

Note: Electronic methods include computer medium, data device, telephone 

line, or wireless transmission. See table 1 for the total number of departments by 

population size. See appendix table 20 for estimates and standard errors.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Law Enforcement Management and 

Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) Survey, 2000, 2007, and 2013.

Percent of departments

2000

2013

2007

0 20 40 60 80 100

9,999 or fewer

10,000–49,999

50,000–249,999

250,000 or more

All sizes

Population served

Table 6

Methods used by local police departments for transmitting 

criminal incident reports to their central information system, 

by size of population served, 2013

Population served Total

Computer/

data device Paper report Voice

All sizes 100% 68% 25% 7%

1,000,000 or more 100% 72 21 7

500,000–999,999 100% 83 17 0

250,000–499,999 100% 74 22 4

100,000–249,999 100% 76 21 3

50,000–99,999 100% 83 14 3

25,000–49,999 100% 78 18 4

10,000–24,999 100% 77 17 6

2,500–9,999 100% 77 17 6

2,499 or fewer 100% 53 38 9

Note: See table 1 for the total number of departments by population size. See 

appendix table 21 for standard errors.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Law Enforcement Management and 

Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) Survey, 2013.

Table 7

Local police departments using websites and social media, by 

size of population served, 2013

Population served With own website Using social media

All sizes 60% 58%

1,000,000 or more 100 100

500,000–999,999 100 97

250,000–499,999 98 93

100,000–249,999 97 91

50,000–99,999 97 89

25,000–49,999 93 82

10,000–24,999 90 79

2,500–9,999 67 63

2,499 or fewer 30 36

Note: See table 1 for the total number of departments by population size. See 

appendix table 22 for standard errors.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Law Enforcement Management and 

Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) Survey, 2013.
LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS, 2013: EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY | JULY 2015 7

Sixty-six percent of all departments provided citizens with 

the ability to submit crime reports, complaints, questions, 

feedback, and other information electronically using the 

department’s website and other methods, such as emailing or 

texting (table 8). More than 90% of the departments serving 

50,000 or more provided these services, compared to 47% of 

the departments serving fewer than 2,500 residents.

Overall, 60% of departments were able to electronically 

provide crime statistics and other crime-related information 

to citizens. An estimated 37% of departments provided such 

information through their website, and 49% provided it 

through other electronic means, such as emailing, texting, 

or pre-recorded phone messages. More than 90% of the 

departments serving 25,000 or more residents provided crimerelated information electronically to citizens, compared to 

37% of the departments serving fewer than 2,500 residents.

Most websites operated by departments serving 250,000 

or more residents included crime statistics at the district, 

neighborhood, beat, or street level

A majority of the websites operated by departments 

serving 50,000 or more residents provided citizens with 

jurisdiction-wide crime statistics, compared to 13% of websites 

operated by departments serving fewer than 10,000 residents 

(figure 6). About 3 in 4 websites operated by departments 

serving 250,000 or more residents provided crime statistics at 

the district, beat, neighborhood, or street level during 2013.

Table 8

Local police departments using electronic methods to exchange information with citizens, by size of population served, 2013

Receiving crime reports or other 

crime-related information from citizens 

Providing crime statistics or other 

crime-related information to citizens 

Population served Total electronic Agency website Other electronic means Total electronic Agency website Other electronic means

All sizes 66% 44% 49% 60% 37% 49%

1,000,000 or more 100 100 43 100 100 64

500,000–999,999 97 97 48 100 100 90

250,000–499,999 98 96 56 98 96 82

100,000–249,999 90 85 53 91 83 76

50,000–99,999 92 88 52 93 84 77

25,000–49,999 81 75 45 89 71 72

10,000–24,999 83 73 54 79 59 62

2,500–9,999 71 49 53 65 41 50

2,499 or fewer 47 15 44 37 11 33

Note: See table 1 for the total number of departments by population size. See appendix table 23 for standard errors.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) Survey, 2013.

Figure 6

Level of crime statistics provided on local police department 

websites, by size of population served, 2013 

Note: Percentages exclude departments without a website. See table 1 for the total 

number of departments by population size. See appendix table 24 for estimates and 

standard errors. 

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Law Enforcement Management and 

Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) Survey, 2013.

Percent of departments

0 20 40 60 80 100

Street 

District, beat, 

or neighborhood 

Jurisdiction-wide 

250,000 or more

50,000–249,999

10,000–49,999

9,999 or fewer

Level of crime statistics
LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS, 2013: EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY | JULY 2015 8

Methodology

Survey overview

The LEMAS Survey periodically collects data from more 

than 3,000 general purpose law enforcement agencies, 

including state police and highway patrol agencies, local 

police departments, and sheriffs’ offices. The survey includes 

all agencies that employ 100 or more sworn officers and a 

nationally representative sample of smaller agencies.

Previous LEMAS data collections occurred in 1987, 1990, 

1993, 1997, 2000, 2003, and 2007. These past surveys obtained 

data on functions performed, operating expenditures, job 

functions of sworn and nonsworn employees, officer salaries 

and special pay, demographic characteristics of officers, 

education and training requirements, community policing 

activities, types of weapons authorized, body armor policies, 

computers and information systems, types of vehicles operated, 

the use of special units, and task force participation. A more 

limited data collection that focused on community policing 

was conducted in 1999. Survey questions are updated with 

each iteration to reflect emerging issues in the field of law 

enforcement. Publications based on prior LEMAS Surveys can 

be accessed on the BJS website.

Sampling frame

The sampling frame used for the 2013 LEMAS Survey was the 

2008 BJS Census of State and Local Law Enforcement Agencies 

(CSLLEA) (the most recent available). At the time of the 2008 

CSLLEA, nearly all of the more than 12,000 police departments 

were operated at the sub-county level by individual municipal 

(85%) or township (13%) governments. The remainder were 

operated by tribal governments, multiple local governments 

(regional or joint departments), or county governments.

The agency universe represented by the CSLLEA is more 

inclusive than that of the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting 

(UCR) program. Some agencies are excluded from the UCR 

counts because they do not have an Originating Agency 

Identifier (ORI) assigned by the FBI. (Some agencies without 

an ORI are still included in the UCR employee counts (but not 

in the agency counts) because they report their data to another 

agency, which reports it to the FBI.)

The CSLLEA data include all officers with full arrest powers 

regardless of function, while the UCR data exclude officers not 

paid out of police funds. This exclusion generally pertains to 

officers working exclusively for jails or courts. The CSLLEA 

definition excludes many of these officers, but not all of them.

The UCR program defines law enforcement officers as 

individuals who ordinarily carry a firearm and a badge, have 

full arrest powers, and are paid from governmental funds set 

aside specifically for sworn law enforcement representatives. 

The CSLLEA definition relies exclusively on whether the officer 

possesses full arrest powers. Regardless of the arrest powers 

of their officers, agencies included in the CSLLEA that do 

not have a primary jurisdictional area for which they provide 

law enforcement services are considered out of scope for the 

LEMAS Survey because of its policing focus.

In 2008, the CSLLEA counted 765,246 full-time sworn officers, 

which was about 57,000 (or 8%) more than the 708,569 

reported by the UCR. A similar difference was observed for 

the 2004 and 2000 CSLLEA collections. Although the CSLLEA 

counts are larger than those of the UCR, the employment 

growth trends recorded by the CSLLEA over time have been 

consistent with those recorded by the UCR.

Sample design and selection

Local police departments and sheriffs’ offices are chosen for the 

LEMAS Survey using a stratified sample design based on the 

number of sworn personnel. The original 2013 LEMAS sample 

included 3,336 state and local law enforcement agencies. It 

was designed to be representative of all general purpose state 

and local law enforcement agencies in the United States, 

with separate samples drawn of local police departments and 

sheriffs’ offices. All 50 primary state law enforcement agencies 

(state police and highway patrol) were included. Agencies 

serving special jurisdictions (such as schools, airports, or 

parks), or with special enforcement responsibilities (such as 

conservation laws or alcohol laws), were considered out of 

scope for the survey.

The 2013 LEMAS sample design called for 2,353 local 

police departments, divided into 7 strata based on the 

number of sworn officers employed, to receive the survey. 

During the initial contact phase, it was determined that 

26 of these departments had closed since the 2008 CSLLEA 

and were dropped from the sample. Of the remaining 

2,327 departments, the sample design called for all 

659 departments employing 100 or more full-time sworn 

personnel to be self-representing (SR) and receive the survey. It 

was later determined that 29 of these SR departments did not 

receive the survey because of inaccurate contact information. 

As a result, the base weight for SR departments is 1.046 

instead of the expected 1.000. The 6 remaining strata and their 

corresponding base weights are 50 to 99 officers, 2.572; 25 to 

49 officers, 4.225; 10 to 24 officers, 6.260; 5 to 9 officers, 7.288; 

2 to 4 officers, 14.611; and 1 officer, 31.302.

Agency response rate

Of the 2,327 eligible local police departments that received the 

survey, 2,059 completed it, for a response rate of 88%. By size, 

the response rate ranged from 91% for departments with 50 or 

more officers to 84% for those with fewer than 10 officers. An 

adjustment factor unique to each stratum was used to account 

for nonresponse. These nonresponse adjustments and the 

resulting final analytical weights for each stratum are included 

in appendix table 9.
LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS, 2013: EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY | JULY 2015 9

Item nonresponse and imputations

All departments, regardless of size, were asked to complete 

the 80-item CJ-44 survey questionnaire. A majority of the 

responses were received electronically through a survey 

website. For the 2,059 departments completing the survey, item 

nonresponse rates due to omission or invalid data were low for 

the data elements used in this report (appendix table 10).

When a department did not supply a response to a numerical 

item, a ratio imputation method was used. The ratio 

imputation used the value of the ratio of the numerical variable 

to the number of full-time sworn personnel for departments 

that provided the numerical data. This ratio was computed 

for each population category and applied to the number of 

full-time sworn personnel in departments with the missing 

data to produce the imputed value. Imputations were not used 

for categorical variables.

Accuracy of the estimates

The accuracy of the estimates presented in this report depends 

on two types of error: sampling and nonsampling. Sampling 

error is the variation that may occur by chance because a 

sample was used rather than a complete enumeration of the 

population. Nonsampling error can be attributed to many 

sources, such as the inability to obtain information about all 

cases in the sample; inability to obtain complete and correct 

information from the administrative records; and processing 

errors. In any survey, the full extent of the nonsampling error is 

never known.

The sampling error, as measured by an estimated standard 

error, varies by the size of the estimate and the sample size. 

Because the LEMAS data were collected from a sample, the 

results are subject to sampling error. Variance and standard 

error estimates for the 2013 LEMAS were generated using the 

SUDAAN statistical software package. The Taylor linearization 

method for a “stratified without replacement” design was used 

for these calculations. See appendix tables for the standard 

error estimates.

These standard error estimates may be used to construct 

confidence intervals around percentages in this report. For 

example, the 95%-confidence interval around the percentage 

of local police departments using body-worn cameras is 

32% ± 1.96 × 1.4% (or approximately 29% to 35%).

These standard errors may also be used to test the significance 

of the difference between two sample statistics by pooling the 

standard errors of the two sample estimates. For example, the 

standard error of the difference between departments serving 

10,000 to 24,999 residents and those serving 2,500 to 9,999 

residents for using license plate readers would be 2.3% (or the 

square root of the sum of the squared standard errors for each 

group). The 95%-confidence interval around the difference 

would be 1.96 × 2.3% (or 4.6%). Because the observed 

difference of 14% (24% minus 10%) is greater than 4.6%, the 

difference would be considered statistically significant.
LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS, 2013: EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY | JULY 2015 10

Appendix Table 1

Local police departments and full-time employees, by size of population served, 2013

Departments Full-time sworn personnel Full-time civilian personnel

Population served Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent

All sizes 12,326 100% 477,317 100% 127,642 100%

1,000,000 or more 16 0.1 103,609 21.7 32,599 25.5

500,000–999,999 36 0.3 56,355 11.8 13,170 10.3

250,000–499,999 53 0.4 37,364 7.8 10,284 8.1

100,000–249,999 224 1.8 58,588 12.3 18,167 14.2

50,000–99,999 446 3.6 50,764 10.6 14,578 11.4

25,000–49,999 878 7.1 51,007 10.7 13,720 10.7

10,000–24,999 1,986 16.1 59,559 12.5 14,529 11.4

2,500–9,999 3,873 31.4 43,808 9.2 8,527 6.7

2.499 or fewer 4,815 39.1 16,264 3.4 2,069 1.6

Note: Detail may not sum to total due to rounding. See appendix table 2 for standard errors.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) Survey, 2013.

Appendix Table 2

Standard errors for appendix table 1: Local police departments 

and full-time employees, by size of population served, 2013

Full-time sworn personnel Full-time civilian personnel

Population served Number Percent Number Percent

All sizes 16,470 ~ 6,389 ~

1,000,000 or more 5,518 0.3% 1,872 1.5%

500,000–999,999 3,903 0.8 971 0.8

250,000–499,999 2,138 0.4 609 0.5

100,000–249,999 1,515 0.3 503 0.4

50,000–99,999 1,624 0.3 494 0.4

25,000–49,999 1,804 0.4 642 0.5

10,000–24,999 1,901 0.4 629 0.5

2,500–9,999 1,348 0.3 415 0.3

2,499 or fewer 719 0.2 255 0.2

~Not applicable.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Law Enforcement Management and 

Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) Survey, 2013.

Appendix Table 3

Additional nonlethal weapons or actions authorized by local police departments, by size of population served, 2013

Weapons/devices Actions

Population served

Leg hobble or other 

severe restraints

Other impact 

weaponsa Soft 

projectiles

Other chemical 

agentsb Open-hand techniques

Takedown 

techniques

Closed-hand 

techniques

Neck 

restraints

All sizes 59% 44% 37% 27% 91% 89% 85% 18%

1,000,000 or more 79 50 100 79 100 100 93 43

500,000–999,999 66 73 90 60 97 100 86 3

250,000–499,999 70 61 85 59 96 100 96 39

100,000–249,999 73 59 88 59 96 95 90 37

50,000–99,999 69 60 83 54 98 95 95 27

25,000–49,999 68 48 71 39 99 96 92 20

10,000–24,999 57 45 58 29 95 93 90 17

2,500–9,999 58 43 29 19 92 89 82 13

2,499 or fewer 56 42 21 25 86 85 81 18

Note: See table 1 for the total number of departments by population size. See appendix table 4 for standard errors.

aExcludes batons.

bExcludes pepper spray.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) Survey, 2013.
LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS, 2013: EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY | JULY 2015 11

Appendix Table 4

Standard errors for appendix table 3: Additional nonlethal weapons or actions authorized by local police departments, by size of 

population served, 2013

Weapons/devices Actions

Population served

Leg hobble or other 

severe restraints

Other impact 

weapons

Soft 

projectiles

Other chemical 

agents

Open-hand 

techniques

Takedown 

techniques

Closed-hand 

techniques

Neck 

restraints

All sizes 1.5% 1.5% 1.3% 1.4% 1.1% 1.2% 1.2% 1.2%

1,000,000 or more 2.0 2.4 0.0 2.0 0.0 0.0 1.2 2.4

500,000–999,999 1.6 1.5 2.0 1.6 1.2 0.0 1.1 1.2

250,000–499,999 2.4 2.6 1.9 2.6 1.1 0.0 1.1 1.3

100,000–249,999 1.2 1.5 0.8 1.5 1.1 0.5 1.2 1.4

50,000–99,999 2.0 2.0 1.7 2.2 0.3 0.9 0.4 2.2

25,000–49,999 2.4 2.7 2.5 2.6 0.6 1.1 1.5 2.2

10,000–24,999 2.4 2.4 2.4 2.2 1.1 1.2 1.5 1.8

2,500–9,999 2.3 2.2 2.0 1.7 1.2 1.7 1.9 1.4

2,499 or fewer 3.3 3.3 2.8 3.0 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.6

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) Survey, 2013.

Appendix Table 5

Number of 4-wheel motorized vehicles operated by local police departments, by size of population served, 2013

Total Marked Unmarked

Population served Total Per 100 officers* Total Per 100 officers* Total Per 100 officers*

All sizes 343,758 72 220,779 46 122,979 25

1,000,000 or more 51,106 49 30,415 29 20,691 20

500,000–999,999 36,325 64 22,686 40 13,640 24

250,000–499,999 27,747 74 15,749 42 11,998 32

100,000–249,999 48,484 83 28,772 49 19,712 34

50,000–99,999 40,846 80 25,983 51 14,862 29

25,000–49,999 40,378 79 26,009 51 14,369 28

10,000–24,999 45,405 74 30,442 50 14,963 24

2,500–9,999 35,860 73 26,346 54 9,515 19

2,499 or fewer 17,607 81 14,378 66 3,229 15

Note: Detail may not sum to total due to rounding. See appendix table 6 for standard errors.

*Includes part-time officers with an assigned weight of 0.5.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) Survey, 2013.

Appendix Table 6

Standard errors for appendix table 5: Number of 4-wheel motorized vehicles operated by local police departments, by size of 

population served, 2013

Total Marked Unmarked

Population served Total Per 100 officers Total Per 100 officers Total Per 100 officers

All sizes 4,895 1.0 3,090 0.6 1,805 0.4

1,000,000 or more 1,846 1.8 1,160 1.1 687 0.7

500,000–999,999 1,327 2.3 843 1.5 484 0.9

250,000–499,999 803 2.1 446 1.2 357 1.0

100,000–249,999 1,352 2.3 810 1.4 542 0.9

50,000–99,999 1,290 2.5 821 1.6 468 0.9

25,000–49,999 1,640 3.2 1,073 2.1 567 1.1

10,000–24,999 1,733 2.8 1,182 1.9 551 0.9

2,500–9,999 1,640 3.3 1,073 2.2 567 1.1

2,499 or fewer 1,733 8.0 1,182 5.4 551 2.6

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) Survey, 2013.
LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS, 2013: EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY | JULY 2015 12

Appendix Table 7

Vehicles other than automobiles operated by local police departments, by size of population served, 2013

Population served All-terrain vehicles Motorcycles Boats Helicopters Airplanes

All sizes 21% 16% 7% 1% --

1,000,000 or more 79 100 86 100 29%

500,000–999,999 62 97 63 73 23

250,000–499,999 50 91 50 46 17

100,000–249,999 39 91 26 8 1

50,000–99,999 42 71 20 2 0

25,000–49,999 32 51 10 -- --

10,000–24,999 26 32 12 0 0

2,500–9,999 17 7 5 -- 0

2,499 or fewer 15 1 2 0 0

Note: See table 1 for the total number of departments by population size. See appendix table 8 for standard errors.

--Less than 0.5%.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) Survey, 2013.

Appendix Table 8

Standard errors for appendix table 7: Vehicles other than automobiles operated by local police departments, by size of population 

served, 2013

Population served All-terrain vehicles Motorcycles Boats Helicopters Airplanes

All sizes 1.1% 0.5% 0.5% 0.1% --

1,000,000 or more 1.9 0.0 1.7 0.0 2.2%

500,000–999,999 3.2 1.2 1.6 1.4 1.4

250,000–499,999 2.6 1.5 1.2 1.3 0.2

100,000–249,999 1.4 0.8 1.4 0.7 0.0

50,000–99,999 2.1 2.3 0.6 0.2 0.2

25,000–49,999 2.4 2.7 1.5 0.1 0.3

10,000–24,999 2.1 2.2 1.5 0.0 0.0

2,500–9,999 1.8 1.0 0.9 0.2 0.0

2,499 or fewer 2.2 0.3 0.6 0.0 0.0

--Less than 0.5%.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) Survey, 2013.

Appendix Table 9

Base weights, nonresponse adjustment factors, and final analytical weights for local police departments, Law Enforcement 

Management and Administrative Statistics Survey, 2013

Number of full-time sworn personnel

Number of departments Base sample 

weight

Nonresponse 

adjustment factor

Final analytical 

In universe Sampled Responded weight

Total 12,326 2,327 2,059 ~ ~ ~

100 or more 659 630 574 1.046 1.095 1.148

50–99 800 311 284 2.572 1.098 2.817

25–49 1,542 365 325 4.225 1.123 4.745

10–24 2,842 454 399 6.260 1.138 7.123

5–9 2,507 344 289 7.288 1.139 8.675

2–4 2,630 180 158 14.611 1.190 16.646

0–1 1,346 43 30 31.302 1.433 44.867

~Not applicable.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) Survey, 2013.
LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS, 2013: EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY | JULY 2015 13

Appendix Table 10

Item nonresponse rates for the 2013 Law Enforcement 

Management and Administrative Statistics Survey

Item Percent of cases missing 

Number and category of paid employees 0.0%

Types of nonlethal weapons authorized 0.7

Types of defensive physical tactics authorized 0.8

Body armor wear policies 3.5

Types of video cameras used 0.4

Use of gunshot detection system 0.4

Types of information accessible to officers in the field 0.4

Method used by field officers to transmit incident reports 1.3

Maintains a website 1.6

Level of crime statistics provided on website 1.6

Use of social media 1.3

Number of marked and unmarked vehicles operated 3.0

Types of vehicles other than cars operated 1.4

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Law Enforcement Management and 

Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) Survey, 2013.

Appendix Table 11

Estimates and standard errors for figure 1: Local police departments authorizing the use of conducted energy weapons by size of 

population served, 2000, 2007, and 2013

Estimates Standard errors

Year All sizes 9,999 or fewer 10,000–49,999 50,000–249,999 250,000 or more All sizes 9,999 or fewer 10,000–49,999 50,000–249,999 250,000 or more

2013 81% 79% 84% 88% 91% 1.3% 2.0% 1.0% 1.0% 1.0%

2007 60 56 68 77 89 1.5 3.0 2.0 1.0 1.0

2000 7 6 9 18 25 0.5 1.2 1.5 1.1 0.9

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) Survey, 2000, and 2013.

Appendix Table 12

Standard errors for table 1: Selected nonlethal weapons 

authorized by local police departments, by size of population 

served, 2013

Population served Pepper spray Batons

Conducted 

energy weapons

All sizes 0.9% 1.2% 1.3%

1,000,000 or more 0.0 0.0 0.0

500,000–999,999 0.0 0.0 2.4

250,000–499,999 1.1 0.8 1.3

100,000–249,999 0.3 0.5 0.8

50,000–99,999 0.5 1.0 1.4

25,000–49,999 0.6 1.4 1.8

10,000–24,999 0.9 1.5 1.8

2,500–9,999 1.1 1.7 1.6

2,499 or fewer 2.0 2.6 3.0

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Law Enforcement Management and 

Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) Survey, 2013.

Appendix Table 13

Standard errors for table 2: Body armor wear requirements 

for patrol officers in local police departments, by size of 

population served, 2013

Population served Total At all times

In some 

circumstances

All sizes 1.4% 1.5% 0.8%

1,000,000 or more 2.5 2.3 2.2

500,000–999,999 1.6 2.6 0.8

250,000–499,999 1.3 2.2 1.9

100,000–249,999 0.8 1.1 0.8

50,000–99,999 1.1 1.2 0.6

25,000–49,999 1.1 1.6 1.3

10,000–24,999 1.3 1.8 1.3

2,500–9,999 1.6 1.9 1.2

2,499 or fewer 3.4 3.4 1.8

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Law Enforcement Management and 

Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) Survey, 2013.
LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS, 2013: EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY | JULY 2015 14

Appendix Table 14

Estimates and standard errors for figure 2: Local police officers 

employed by a department with body armor requirements for 

patrol officers, 1990–2013

Estimates Standard errors

Year At all times

In certain 

circumstances At all times

In certain 

circumstances

1990 25% 5% 1.3% 0.4%

1993 4 8 1.4 0.5

1997 52 11 1.5 0.6

2000 56 13 1.5 0.7

2003 59 15 1.5 0.7

2007 67 13 1.3 0.7

2013 82 1 1.5 0.8

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Law Enforcement Management and 

Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) Survey, 1990–2013.

Appendix Table 15

Estimates and standard errors for figure 3: Use of in-car video 

cameras by local police departments, by size of population 

served, 2000, 2007, and 2013

Estimates Standard errors

Population served 2000 2007 2013 2000 2007 2013

All sizes 37% 61% 68% 1.4% 1.4% 1.5%

250,000 or more 33 49 66 0.9 1.0 1.8

50,000–249,999 42 60 65 1.0 1.3 1.7

10,000–49,999 46 64 73 2.5 2.4 1.6

9,999 or fewer 34 61 67 2.5 2.5 2.0

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Law Enforcement Management and 

Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) Survey, 2000, 2007, and 2013.

Appendix Table 16

Standard errors for table 3: Use of selected video technologies by local police departments, by size of population served, 2013

Types used by patrol officers Other types

Population served Any type

In-car video 

cameras

Body-worn 

cameras

Weapon-attached 

cameras

Cameras for surveillance 

of public areas

License plate 

readers

Unmanned 

aerial vehicles

All sizes 1.4% 1.5% 1.4% 0.6% 1.5% 0.8% --

1,000,000 or more 2.2 2.4 2.0 1.7 1.7 2.5 2.5%

500,000–999,999 2.6 2.9 3.0 1.6 2.2 2.8 1.2

250,000–499,999 2.4 2.6 2.1 1.5 1.8 1.8 0.8

100,000–249,999 1.2 1.2 1.0 0.8 1.3 1.1 1.0

50,000–99,999 2.1 2.2 2.0 1.3 2.2 2.2 1.0

25,000–49,999 2.2 2.3 2.3 1.6 2.6 2.7 0.0

10,000–24,999 2.1 2.2 2.1 1.4 2.4 2.0 0.0

2,500–9,999 1.8 2.0 2.1 1.2 2.2 1.2 0.0

2,499 or fewer 3.0 3.2 3.2 1.5 3.1 1.6 0.0

--Less than 0.05%.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) Survey, 2013.

Appendix Table 17

Standard errors for table 4: Use of gunshot detection systems 

by local police departments, by size of population served, 

2013

Population served Standard errors

All sizes 0.4%

1,000,000 or more 2.4

500,000–999,999 3.0

250,000–499,999 2.4

100,000–249,999 0.8

50,000–99,999 1.2

25,000–49,999 1.2

10,000–24,999 1.0

2,500–9,999 1.0

2,499 or fewer 0.4

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Law Enforcement Management and 

Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) Survey, 2013.
LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS, 2013: EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY | JULY 2015 15

Appendix Table 18

Standards errors for table 5: Types of computerized information accessible to in-field officers in local police departments, by size of 

population served, 2013

Population served Vehicle records Driving records Warrants Protection orders Prior calls for service Criminal histories

All sizes 1.5% 1.5% 1.5% 1.5% 1.5% 1.5%

1,000,000 or more 0.0 0.0 0.0 2.5 3.4 2.5

500,000–999,999 0.0 1.2 1.7 2.5 2.9 2.9

250,000–499,999 0.8 0.8 1.3 1.9 1.6 1.5

100,000–249,999 0.4 0.5 0.7 0.9 1.2 1.2

50,000–99,999 1.0 1.0 1.1 1.4 1.5 2.0

25,000–49,999 1.0 1.0 1.4 1.7 1.9 2.4

10,000–24,999 1.6 1.6 1.9 2.1 2.1 2.3

2,500–9,999 1.9 1.9 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.2

2,499 or fewer 3.4 3.4 3.4 3.3 3.1 3.3

Note: Detail may not sum to total due to rounding.

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) Survey, 2013.

Appendix Table 19

Estimates and standard errors for figure 4: Local police officers 

employed by a department providing in-field computer access 

to information, 2000, 2007, and 2013

Type of information

Estimates Standard errors

2000 2007 2013 2000 2007 2013

Criminal histories 29% 56% 75% 1.4% 1.5% 1.5%

Prior calls for service 37 65 80 1.4 1.4 1.5

Driving records 58 80 92 1.5 1.1 1.5

Vehicle records 67 86 93 1.4 1.1 1.5

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Law Enforcement Management and 

Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) Survey, 2000, 2007, and 2013.

Appendix Table 20

Estimates and standard errors for figure 5: Local police 

departments using electronic methods for transmitting 

criminal incident reports to a central information system, by 

size of population served, 2000, 2007, and 2013

Estimates Standard errors

Population served 2000 2007 2013 2000 2007 2013

All sizes 25% 60% 68% 1.3% 1.5% 1.5%

250,000 or more 22 53 76 1.4 1.8 1.6

50,000–249,999 21 61 8 1.1 1.4 1.2

10,000–49,999 33 70 78 2.3 2.2 1.6

9,999 or fewer 23 57 64 2.3 2.5 2.1

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Law Enforcement Management and 

Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) Survey, 2000, 2007, and 2013.

Appendix Table 21

Standard errors for table 6: Methods used by local police 

departments for transmitting criminal incident reports to their 

central information system, by size of population served, 2013

Population served

Computer/

data device Paper report Voice

All sizes 1.5% 1.4% 0.8%

1,000,000 or more 4.3 3.9 2.5

500,000–999,999 2.7 2.5 0.0

250,000–499,999 2.3 2.2 1.1

100,000–249,999 1.4 1.3 0.4

50,000–99,999 1.7 1.6 0.6

25,000–49,999 2.2 2.1 1.0

10,000–24,999 2.1 1.8 1.3

2,500–9,999 1.9 1.7 1.0

2,499 or fewer 3.3 3.3 2.0

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Law Enforcement Management and 

Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) Survey, 2013.
LOCAL POLICE DEPARTMENTS, 2013: EQUIPMENT AND TECHNOLOGY | JULY 2015 16

Appendix Table 22

Standard errors for table 7: Local police departments using 

websites and social media, by size of population served, 2013

Population served With own website Using social media

All sizes 1.3% 1.4%

1,000,000 or more 0.0 0.0

500,000–999,999 0.0 1.2

250,000–499,999 0.8 1.3

100,000–249,999 0.4 0.7

50,000–99,999 0.3 1.4

25,000–49,999 1.5 2.2

10,000–24,999 1.6 2.0

2,500–9,999 2.2 2.2

2,499 or fewer 2.9 3.1

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Law Enforcement Management and 

Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) Survey, 2013.

Appendix Table 23

Standard errors for table 8: Local police departments using electronic methods to exchange information with citizens, by size of 

population served, 2013

Receiving crime reports or other crime-related 

information from citizens through

Providing crime statistics or other crime-related 

information to citizens through

Population served Total electronic Agency website Other electronic means Total electronic Agency website Other electronic means

All sizes 1.5% 1.1% 1.6% 1.4% 1.1% 1.4%

1,000,000 or more 0.0 0.0 2.4 0.0 0.0 2.3

500,000–999,999 1.2 1.2 3.3 0.0 0.0 2.0

250,000–499,999 0.8 1.1 2.7 0.8 1.1 2.0

100,000–249,999 0.8 1.3 1.4 0.7 1.0 1.1

50,000–99,999 0.9 1.0 2.2 0.7 1.3 1.7

25,000–49,999 2.1 2.3 2.7 1.7 2.4 2.4

10,000–24,999 1.9 2.2 2.4 2.0 2.4 2.4

2,500–9,999 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.2 2.2 2.3

2,499 or fewer 3.4 2.0 3.4 3.1 1.7 3.0

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) Survey, 2013.

Appendix Table 24

Estimates and standard errors for figure 6: Level of crime statistics provided on local police department websites, by size of 

population served, 2013

Estimates Standard errors

Population served Street 

District, beat, or 

neighborhood Jurisdiction-wide Street 

District, beat, or 

neighborhood Jurisdiction-wide 

250,000 or more 74% 74% 83% 1.7% 1.7% 1.4%

50,000–249,999 52 48 64 1.6 1.6 1.4

10,000–49,999 24 23 39 1.7 1.6 1.9

9,999 or fewer 4 7 13 1.2 1.6 2.1

Source: Bureau of Justice Statistics, Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics (LEMAS) Survey, 2013.
Office of Justice Programs

Innovation • Partnerships • Safer Neighborhoods

www.ojp.usdoj.gov

Celebrating

 35 years

NCJ248785

The Bureau of Justice Statistics of the U.S. Department of Justice is the principal 

federal agency responsible for measuring crime, criminal victimization, criminal 

offenders, victims of crime, correlates of crime, and the operation of criminal and 

civil justice systems at the federal, state, tribal, and local levels. BJS collects, analyzes, 

and disseminates reliable and valid statistics on crime and justice systems in the 

United States, supports improvements to state and local criminal justice information 

systems, and participates with national and international organizations to develop 

and recommend national standards for justice statistics. William J. Sabol is director.

This report was written by Brian A. Reaves. Marshay Lentini verified the report. Data 

were collected and processed by the Urban Institute. 

Lynne McConnell and Jill Thomas edited the report. Tina Dorsey produced 

the report.

July 2015, NCJ 248767