LCA Last Chance for
Animals
June 2018
On January 1, 2016, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) began tracking crimes against animals via the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS). New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles police departments do not report to NIBRS at all. The FBI animal cruelty database can only succeed if law enforcement agencies participate and citizens like you can help make this happen.
On January 1, 2016, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) began
tracking crimes against animals via the National Incident-Based Reporting
System (NIBRS). Animal cruelty crimes are now listed in the database as
Group A offenses -- the same category as arson, rape and murder. This is the
first federal effort to track animal crimes, and it's a major step forward.
The NIBRS database will now include all animal cruelty cases investigated by
participating law enforcement, which will fall under four categories: gross
neglect, torture, organized abuse (such as dogfighting and cockfighting),
and sexual abuse (bestiality).
Finally, there will be a national, authoritative resource for animal cruelty
information. LCA’s campaign is targeted at increasing participation from
citizens and law enforcement for the database to succeed.
How NIBRS Can Succeed
Law enforcement agencies throughout the United States contribute crime data
to NIBRS [National
Incident-Based Reporting System] - but their involvement is on a voluntary basis. Of the nearly
18,000 law enforcement agencies in the country - including city police,
university/college police, county police and sheriffs, state police, tribal
police, and even some federal agencies - only about 30% contribute crime
data to NIBRS. If you live in one of the many jurisdictions that does not
report to NIBRS, animal crimes that occur in your area are not currently
entered into the database.
From LCA interview with FBI Unit Chief Amy Blasher, 2016
In order for animal cruelty to be properly tracked and studied by the
FBI, NIBRS must be implemented by law enforcement agencies throughout the
United States.
Unfortunately, many of the largest law enforcement agencies in the country
-- including the New York, Chicago, and Los Angeles police departments -- do
not report to NIBRS at all. The FBI animal cruelty database can only succeed
if law enforcement agencies participate -- and citizens like you can help
make this happen.
From LCA interview with Deputy Executive Director John Thompson, 2016
LCA's Campaign: Animal Cruelty = Human Cruelty
It's a proven fact that serial killers like the Boston Strangler, Son of
Sam, and Jeffrey Dahmer tortured and killed animals before they began
murdering human victims. LCA actively campaigns against animal abusers
because we know where it leads:
As Chris DeRose has been saying for years: "There is a direct correlation between animal abuse and violent offenders."
What You Can Do to Help the Database Succeed:
1. Use
THIS MAP to check your state's NIBRS participation. If your state does
not participate - or only partially participates - in NIBRS, use the contact
information provided in the map and urge them to join.
CLICK HERE FOR SAMPLE LETTER.
2. If you live in a state with partial NIBRS participation, CHECK HERE to see
if your local jurisdiction is participating. If your local law enforcement
agency is not listed, that means they do currently participate. Contact the
agency directly and urge them to join the system.
CLICK HERE FOR SAMPLE LETTER.
3. Report all animal cruelty, and encourage others to do the same. For the
database to succeed, your local law enforcement must be notified of crimes
against animals and report them.
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