GlossaryCrime reporting systems
Part II offense
A Part II offense is an offense in the FBI Summary Reporting System's grouping outside Part I.
A Part II offense is an offense in the FBI Summary Reporting System's grouping outside Part I. In that historical system, agencies supplied arrest data for Part II offenses rather than the same offenses-known counts collected for Part I. A Part II arrest total is therefore not a total of all reported Part II incidents.
Why the collection basis matters
The FBI's 2018 offense definitions state the arrest-only collection basis for Part II. The grouping includes varied subjects, such as fraud, embezzlement, drug-law violations, and other assaults. It should not be interpreted as one uniform legal level of seriousness.
A dataset that reports arrests measures enforcement events under its counting rules. It cannot, by itself, show all underlying conduct, including matters reported without an arrest. This is especially important when a table places Part I offense counts beside Part II arrest counts without explaining the different units.
Example
Hypothetical example: An old city report lists 120 Part I property offenses and 18 Part II fraud arrests for the year. A reader adds them and calls the result “138 reported crimes.”
That sum mixes offense counts with arrest counts. It cannot establish the number of reported crimes. The 18 arrests do not disclose how many fraud incidents were reported or how many reports resulted in no arrest. The table's two sections need separate descriptions.
Common confusion
Part II is not equivalent to NIBRS Group B. Some subjects historically collected through Part II arrest reporting appear among NIBRS Group A offense categories. A change in system can therefore change what information is collected for the same general conduct.
Part II also does not mean “misdemeanor.” Legal offense severity depends on applicable law, not this statistical heading.
Reading historical comparisons
Identify whether the source reports persons arrested, arrest events, offenses, or cases. When an agency carries the phrase into a newer publication, consult its methodology for a crosswalk rather than assuming the original SRS meaning remains intact.