In a first, FBI to begin collecting national data on police use of force

[SummerMadness]

In a first, FBI to begin collecting national data on police use of force

The FBI is set to begin collecting data that will track use-of-force incidents reported by law enforcement, but experts say the collection could prove problematic and the data could provide an incomplete picture of the scale of the incidents across the country.

The National Use-of-Force Data Collection will track use-of-force incidents by police that result in death or serious bodily injury, and also incidents in which an officer fired a gun at a person, the FBI announced Wednesday. Local, state, tribal, and federal jurisdictions can begin submitting data to the FBI via a web application on Jan. 1, 2019. Once the information is collected, it will be released at least twice a year.

 

[Tanj]

Why is the FBI collection this? Oh that's right, because the CDC isn't allowed.

 

[Aryeh Jay]

Why is the FBI collection this? Oh that's right, because the CDC isn't allowed.

Well, to be fair, the FDIC and ADA isn’t allowed to collect police use of force data either.

 

[grasping the after wind]

In a first, FBI to begin collecting national data on police use of force

Am I mistaken or does the article imply that this a voluntary thing to be submitted by local officials and not something collected first hand by FBI investigation? If it is the former then this program would be more likely to portray a picture of less police malfeasance than would be the real life situation as local enforcement would be more likely to not participate or not be fully candid if they thought it would make them look bad.