Real-Time Crime Index

"The tool’s purpose is to enable users to see national crime trends as they develop through a data sample from hundreds agencies nationwide."   "

Crime data is typically reported slowly with national estimates published in October after a year ends. The first information on crimes committed in January, therefore, is formally published nearly two years after the offense occurs. Additionally, certain types of crime are frequently underreported to police while not all agencies report complete or accurate information to the FBI every year.  As a result, national crime estimates are imprecise, even if they deliver an accurate representation of the nation’s crime trends.

The RTCI seeks to aid in the need for a faster understanding and visualization of national, state, and local crime trends. The RTCI aggregates and visualizes preliminary monthly crime data from hundreds of local police departments creating a comprehensive view of crime trends across the United States. The data any given agency reports may change slightly over time, but imperfection is inherent in crime data."