NEWS RELEASE: SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT

DETAILS:  

The purpose of this supplemental news release is to provide more detailed information about Oxnard’s crime data for 2023.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) collects crime data annually through the national Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program. Over 18,000 law enforcement agencies nationwide,  including city, college and university, county, state, tribal, and federal agencies voluntarily contribute crime data.

The FBI retired the UCR Program’s traditional Summary Reporting System (SRS) and transitioned to the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) for data collection. The Oxnard Police Department began reporting NIBRS-compliant crime data on November 15th, 2022, meeting California Department of Justice (CA-DOJ) requirements specific to California through the California Incident-Based Reporting System (CIBRS).

NIBRS represents a substantial shift in how the Oxnard Police Department reports crime. As the new national data collection standard, NIBRS captures incident-specific details, including information on victims, known offenders, relationships between victims and offenders, arrestees, property, and drugs involved in crimes. Transitioning to NIBRS enables OPD to give context to specific public safety problems and provide more detailed, accurate, and meaningful information about crime.

The public should be aware that there are important differences between the two reporting systems that will affect the overall crime counts compared to prior years. Due to the change in reporting standards, comparing crime data collected under NIBRS to prior years’ data collected under SRS is not advisable.

Under NIBRS crime data collection, there are 9,874 Group A offenses reported that occurred in 2023, including the crimes in the following table:

Due to the change in reporting standards, the data provided is limited to the prior year (2023). For more information, the public is encouraged to visit the FBI website for the UCR Program:

https://www.fbi.gov/how-we-can-help-you/more-fbi-services-and-information/ucr/nibrs

Homicide Offenses

For crime classification and reporting purposes, the FBI and the California Department of Justice (CA-DOJ) define homicide offenses as “the killing of one human being by another.” NIBRS collects data on three types of homicide offenses: Murder and Nonnegligent Manslaughter, Negligent Manslaughter, and Justifiable Homicide (Not a Crime).

Two homicide offenses, Negligent Manslaughter and Justifiable Homicide (Not a Crime), are additional offenses under NIBRS Group A that were not previously reportable under the SRS Part 1 Schedule. As a result, no comparison to the prior year (2022) is provided for Negligent Manslaughter and Justifiable Homicide (Not a Crime).

Murder and Nonnegligent Manslaughter is defined as “the willful (non-negligent) killing of one human being by another.” Based on the reporting criteria, the Oxnard Police Department reported seven (7) murders for 2023. One (1) of the seven (7) homicides was gang-related.  Five (5) involved a firearm, and two (2) involved a knife.

Regarding the victim-offender relationship in the homicides, one (1) was a stranger, and six (6) had an unknown relationship with the offender.

Of the seven (7) homicides reported for 2023, one (1) homicide was cleared by arrest. Additionally, there were two (2) arrests for prior year homicides: one (1) homicide from 2022 and one (1) cold case homicide from 1981.

Negligent Manslaughter is defined as “the killing of another person through gross negligence.” Based on the reporting criteria, the Oxnard Police Department reported two (2) incidents for a total of three (3) negligent manslaughters for 2023. One incident included one (1) offense of involuntary manslaughter, and the second incident included two (2) offenses of vehicular manslaughter, one offense for each victim (2).

Justifiable Homicide is defined as “the killing of a perpetrator of a serious criminal offense by a law enforcement officer in the line of duty, or the killing, during the commission of a serious criminal offense, of the offender by a private individual.” For crime classification and reporting standards, Justifiable Homicide is reported for informational purposes and is not considered a crime.

Based on the reporting criteria, the Oxnard Police Department reported three (3) incidents of justifiable homicide for 2023. All three incidents involved a perpetrator committing an Aggravated Assault against a law enforcement officer in the line of duty: in two (2) incidents, the perpetrator was in possession of a knife; in one (1) incident, the perpetrator was in possession of a blunt object. While these incidents are reported as “Justifiable Homicide,” the legal determination by the Ventura County District Attorney’s Office and the California Department of Justice is still pending. 

Sexual Assault (Rape)

For crime classification and reporting purposes, the FBI and the CA-DOJ define Sex Offenses (i.e., Sexual Assault) as “any sexual act directed against another person, without the consent of the victim, including instances where the victim is incapable of giving consent.”

NIBRS collects data on two types of sexual assault: Rape and Fondling. Fondling is an additional offense under NIBRS Group A that was not previously reportable under the SRS Part 1 Schedule. As a result, no comparison to the prior year (2022) is provided for Fondling.

Based on the reporting criteria, the Oxnard Police Department reported 107 rape offenses for 2023.

Fondling is defined as “the touching of the private body parts of another person for the purpose of sexual gratification, without the consent of the victim, including instances where the victim is unable to give consent because of his/her age or because of his/her temporary or permanent mental or physical incapacity.” Based on the reporting criteria, the Oxnard Police Department reported 89 offenses for 2023.

Regarding the victim-offender relationship in the sexual assaults, in almost three-fourths of offenses (70.9%, or 139 of 196 offenses), the relationship was family, domestic, or acquaintance-related.

As stated, multiple offenses per incident are reportable under NIBRS that were not previously reportable under the SRS hierarchy rule. For 2023, several reported incidents of rape included multiple rape offenses, up to four (4) offenses in a single incident.

Sexual Offenses (Non Forcible)

NIBRS collects data on non forcible (i.e., consensual) sexual offenses in the Crimes Against Persons category not previously reportable under the SRS Part 1 Schedule for Violent Crimes. For crime classification and reporting, the FBI and the CA-DOJ defines Sexual Offenses (non forcible) as “unlawful sexual intercourse.” NIBRS collects data on two types of nonforcible sex offenses: Incest and Statutory Rape.

Incest is defined as “nonforcible sexual intercourse between persons who are related to each other within the degrees wherein marriage is prohibited by law.” Based on the reporting criteria, the Oxnard Police Department reported no offenses for 2023.

Statutory Rape is defined as “nonforcible sexual intercourse with a person who is under the statutory age of consent.” Based on the reporting criteria, the Oxnard Police Department reported fourteen (14) offenses for 2023.

Assault Offenses

For purposes of crime classification and reporting, the FBI and the CA-DOJ define Assault Offenses as “an unlawful attack by one person upon another.” NIBRS collects data on three types of assault offenses: Aggravated Assault, Simple Assault, and Intimidation.

Simple Assault and Intimidation are additional offenses under the NIBRS Group A offenses that were not previously reportable under the SRS Part 1 Schedule. Additionally, the Aggravated Assault definition was adjusted under NIBRS to include a broader set of offenses than previously reported as Aggravated Assault under SRS. As a result, no comparison to the prior year (2022) is provided for the Assault Offenses.

Aggravated Assault is defined as “an unlawful attack by one person upon another wherein the offender uses a dangerous weapon or displays it in a threatening manner or the victim suffers obvious severe or aggravated bodily injury, or where there was a risk for serious injury/intent to seriously injure.” Based on the reporting criteria, the Oxnard Police Department reported 846 offenses for Aggravated Assaults.

Almost half of Aggravated Assault offenses involved the use of a personal or bodily weapon i.e.,  hands, feet, fists (46.6% or 394 of 846 offenses). A firearm (handgun, rifle, shotgun, etc.) was reported to be present in 98, or 11.6%, of aggravated assault offenses. In accordance with NIBRS reporting standards, this includes when a firearm is suspected but cannot be confirmed.

Regarding the victim-offender relationship in the Aggravated Assaults, more than half (53.3%, or 451 of 846 offenses) were domestic- or family-related.

Regarding law enforcement officers killed or assaulted (LEOKA), there were 61 offenses of law enforcement officers assaulted in the line of duty.

Simple Assault is defined as “an unlawful physical attack by one person upon another where neither the offender displays a dangerous weapon, nor the victim suffers obvious severe or aggravated bodily injury involving apparent broken bones, loss of teeth, possible internal injury, severe laceration, or loss of consciousness.” Intimidation is defined as “unlawfully [placing] another person in reasonable fear of harm through the use of threatening words and/or other conduct without displaying a dangerous weapon or subjecting the victim to an actual physical attack.”

Based on the reporting criteria, the Oxnard Police Department reported 1,098 simple assaults and 139 intimidation offenses for 2023.

Kidnapping and Human Trafficking

NIBRS collects data on two (2) additional offenses in the Crimes Against Persons category not previously reportable under the SRS Part 1 Schedule for Violent Crimes: Kidnapping and Human Trafficking.

Kidnapping is defined as “the unlawful seizure, transportation, and/or detention of a person against his/her will or of a minor without the consent of his/her custodial parent(s) or legal guardian.” Human Trafficking is defined as “the inducement of a person to perform a commercial sex act, or labor, or services, through force, fraud, or coercion.” Based on the reporting criteria, the Oxnard Police Department reported 34 kidnapping offenses and no human trafficking offenses for 2023.

Robbery

For crime classification and reporting, the FBI and the CA-DOJ define Robbery as “the taking of anything of value from the control, custody, or care of another person by force or threat of force and/or by putting the victim in fear of immediate harm.” Robbery offenses are counted as Crimes Against Property in the NIBRS Group A offenses and were previously reported as Violent Crimes (i.e., Crimes Against Persons) under the SRS Part 1 Schedule.

Based on the reporting criteria, the Oxnard Police Department reported 221 robberies for 2023. More than one-third involved the use of a personal or bodily weapon i.e.,  hands, feet, fists (36.2%, or 80 of 221 offenses). A firearm was reported to be present in 69, or 31.2%, of robbery offenses. In accordance with NIBRS reporting standards, this includes when a firearm is suspected but cannot be confirmed.

Burglary

For purposes of crime classification and reporting, the FBI and the CA-DOJ define Burglary as “the unlawful entry into a building or some other structure to commit a felony or a theft.” Based on the reporting criteria, the Oxnard Police Department reported 451 burglaries for 2023.

As stated, multiple offenses per incident are reportable under NIBRS that were not previously reportable under the SRS hierarchy rule. For 2023, there were several reported incidents of rape that included multiple rape offenses, up to four (4) offenses in a single incident.

Larceny (Thefts)

For purposes of crime classification and reporting, the FBI and the CA-DOJ define larceny as “the unlawful taking, carrying, leading, or riding away of property from the possession or constructive possession of another person.”

Based on the reporting criteria, the Oxnard Police Department reported 2,425 offenses for 2023.

Regarding shoplifts, the top three business types for shoplift are Department/Discount Stores (41.3%, or 287 offenses), Clothing Stores (16.3%, or 113 offenses), and Grocery/Supermarkets (10.8%, or 75 offenses).

The most shoplifted property types are clothing and consumable goods. These account for almost half of all shoplifted property (48.4%). The average value of shoplifted property is less than $50 (44%).

Motor Vehicle Theft

For crime classification and reporting purposes, the FBI and the CA-DOJ define motor vehicle theft as “the theft of a motor vehicle.” A motor vehicle is defined as a self-propelled vehicle that runs on land or surface. Based on the reporting criteria, the Oxnard Police Department reported 666 stolen vehicles for 2023.

It is estimated that over one-fifth of motor vehicle thefts in 2023 were preventable (22.8%, 147 of 666). The Oxnard Police Department considers a vehicle theft crime preventable when the vehicle is left unlocked, vehicle keys are available, and/or the vehicle is left unattended while running.

The top two stolen motor vehicles in 2023 were Chevrolet Silverados and Honda Civics. These two vehicle types represented over one-fifth of all stolen vehicles (22.4%, or 149 of 666 stolen vehicles).

Arson

For purposes of crime classification and reporting, the FBI and the CA-DOJ defines Arson as “to unlawfully and intentionally damage or attempt to damage any real or personal property of another person or entity by fire or incendiary device.” Based on the reporting criteria, the Oxnard Police Department reported 52 arsons for 2023.

Additional Crimes Against Property

NIBRS collects data on seven (7) additional offenses in the Crimes Against Property category not previously reportable under the SRS Part 1 Schedule for Property Crimes. As a result, no comparison to the prior year (2022) is available for these offenses.

For more information on these offenses and definitions, see the FBI’s NIBRS website and NIBRS User Manual.

Crimes Against Society

NIBRS collects data on an additional category, Crimes Against Society, not previously reportable under the SRS Part 1 Schedule. Crimes Against Society include six (6) offenses: Drug/Narcotic Offenses, Gambling Offenses, Pornography, Prostitution, Weapons Law Violations, and Animal Cruelty. No comparison to the prior year (2022) is available for these offenses.

For more information on these offenses and definitions, see the FBI’s NIBRS website and NIBRS User Manual.

A Final Look at UCR 2023

2023 marks the first full year of NIBRS crime data for the City of Oxnard. Due to the change in reporting methodology, it is difficult to directly compare crime numbers in 2023 to prior years reported under the SRS. Despite this, crime in corresponding categories for 2023 remains lower than in seven of the last 10 years of reported UCR crimes.

Future press releases will contain comparisons to prior years also reported under NIBRS and provide a more detailed picture of crime in the City of Oxnard.

* Chart is generated based on the following offenses that were reportable under both the SRS Part 1 Schedule and NIBRS Group A offenses: Murder, Rape, Aggravated Assault, Robbery, Burglary, Larceny, Motor Vehicle Theft, and Arson. The numbers on this chart do not account for any other differences in definitions or reporting methodologies and is provided as a courtesy for informational purposes only.