I started tracking national murder trends in 2015 with a spreadsheet and data from around 25 random agencies that published at different cadences. That spreadsheet became a Google Sheet which became a dashboard with around 100 agencies with murder data which became the Real-Time Crime Index with seven categories of crime data from around 550 agencies nationwide.
A sample of that size and quality is only possible because of massive advances in how the FBI collects and publishes crime data over the last few years and today I am talking with the man in charge of that operation: FBI Assistant Director Tim Ferguson.
Tim runs the FBI’s Criminal Justice Information Services Division which, among other things, produces the FBI’s Uniform Crime Report. CJIS has made dramatic leaps in producing fast, accurate crime data that makes it possible to better understand our crime trends in near real-time.
Tim shares his unexpected journey from a small farming town in Illinois to a leadership role within the FBI, detailing his diverse experiences in law enforcement, including violent crime and narcotics investigations. He emphasizes the importance of stepping outside one’s comfort zone and embracing new challenges, which ultimately led him to his current position at CJIS, where he oversees a vast array of services and technologies that support law enforcement across the nation.
This is a special, inside look at how the crime data sausage gets made.
And be sure to check out these other recent great episodes of the Jeff-alytics podcast!
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