However, this rule only applies to crime reporting and does not affect the number of charges for which a defendant may be prosecuted in the courts. Arrest data is also collected from the agencies. Data is collected on arrests for all crimes, Part I and Part II, except for traffic violations. Part II crimes include approximately 21 categories of offenses ranging from simple assaults to runaways. When reviewing crime data, it is important for the reader to note the difference between offenses and arrests.
Offenses relate to events and arrests relate to persons.
This law created and allowed for the establishment of a uniform crime reporting system in our state. At that time, The Louisiana Uniform Crime Reporting Program began working toward the establishment of a state program. At the time, LCLE created the necessary infrastructure for the program to become recognized as a state program. In order to become a certified program certain conditions had to be met. The state criminal justice agency must have a proven, effective statewide program and have instituted acceptable quality control procedures.