In response to a growing concern about hate crimes, in 1990 Congress enacted the "Hate Crime Statistics Act of 1990" which
resulted in the UCR Program collection of data ". . . about crimes that manifest evidence of prejudice based on race, religion,
sexual-orientation, or ethnicity . . ." Although the mandate required data collection for only five years, the collection of hate
crime data has become a permanent addition to the UCR Program. In September 1994, the Hate Crime Statistics Act was amend-
ed to include bias against persons with disabilities. In UCR, disability bias is defined as " a preformed negative opinion of or atti-
tude toward a group of persons based on their physical or mental impairments/challenges, whether such disability is temporary
or permanent, congenital, or acquired by heredity, accident, injury, advance age, or illness." (Crime in the United States, 1995,
Pg. 3, UCR Handbook, Pg. 2)
Q13. What are classifying and scoring?
A13. Classifying is determining the proper crime category in which to report an offense in UCR. Classification is based on facts
resulting from an agency's investigation of the crime. Scoring is counting the number of offenses after they have been classified
and entering the total on the appropriate reporting form.
Classifying and scoring are the two most essential functions performed by a participant in the Uniform Crime Reporting Program.
The data provided to the UCR Program are based on these two functions and, subsequently, are only as good as an agency's effort
to follow UCR guidelines. (UCR Handbook, Pg. 33)
Q14. What is the Hierarchy Rule?
A14. The Hierarchy Rule states: In a multiple-offense situation (i.e., one where several offenses are committed at the same time
and place), after classifying all Part I offenses, score only the highest ranking offense, and ignore all others, regardless of the
number of offenders and victims. (UCR Handbook, Pg. 33)
Example:
Incident: During the commission of an armed bank robbery, the offender strikes a teller with the butt of a handgun. The robber
runs from the bank and steals an automobile at curb side.
Classification: Robbery, Aggravated Assault, and Motor Vehicle Theft are three Part I offenses apparent in this situation. Each of
these offenses appears on the report listed in a certain order, and of these three crimes, Robbery is the "highest" on the list.
Therefore, this incident would be classified as Robbery, and, accordingly, one offense would be scored. All of the other offenses
would be ignored. (UCR Handbook, Pg. 33)
Q15. Are there any exceptions to the Hierarchy Rule?
A15. Yes. The Hierarchy Rule does not apply to Arson, which is always reported, even in multiple-offense situations. In addition,
when Larceny and Motor Vehicle Theft occur in a multiple offense situation, Motor Vehicle Theft is always reported over Larceny.
Other multiple offense exceptions to the Hierarchy Rule occur with instances of Justifiable Homicide. (UCR Handbook, Pgs. 6, 7,
35, & 57)
Q16. How can an offense be cleared?
A16. Part I offenses reported on the Return A of a UCR report can be cleared either by arrest or exceptional means. (UCR
Handbook, Pg. 41)
Q17. How is a crime cleared by arrest?
A17. An offense is "cleared by arrest" or solved for crime reporting purposes when at least one person is (1) arrested, or (2)
charged with the commission of the offense and turned over to the court for prosecution (whether following arrest, court sum-
mons, or police notice). Although no physical arrest is made, a clearance by arrest can be claimed when the offender is a per-