CrimeReports.com FAQ

What is CrimeReports.com?

CrimeReports.com is an online mapping and analysis service provided by Public Engines, Inc., headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah. CrimeReports.com combines the value of police data with the ease-of-use of Google-based mapping and an analytics module so that members of the public can view police data in a high-impact map or summary descriptive format. Members of the public may also sign up to receive free email alerts based on user-defined parameters (e.g., geography, crime types, frequency, etc.).

What type of Salinas PD data is used in CrimeReports.com?

The CrimeReports.com service utilizes police reports entered into the Salinas Police Department's Records Management System (RMS). The Salinas Police Department's RMS maintains crime and incident reports which initiated by members of the police department and is available to police officers, detectives, community service officers, and other law enforcement agencies.

How often is the data updated? How long does a police report take to show up on CrimeReports.com?

When a Salinas Police officer completes a police report it is entered into our Records Management System. Once the report is entered into the RMS it usually takes up to 24 hours to map the report to CrimeReports.com. Several factors come into play to determine when the report will be entered into the RMS. Reports where an individual was arrested are entered first. Reports involving violent felonies, requests for the issuance of an arrest warrant, and reports requiring immediate investigation are entered next. All other reports are entered in chronological order of the report being completed. As a general rule, you can expect to see most police reports available on CrimeReports.com within 7-10 days from the time the report was taken.

Is there a description for the RMS data fields included in CrimeReports.com? Yes:

• Date: This is the date that the report was first taken by the Police Department.
• Location: This is the 100th block address and intersection information. CrimeReports.com translates address data into block level data. This means that if an incident occurs at 123 Main Street, it will show up as 100 Block Main Street in the CrimeReports.com application. Some location fields will be populated with “address could not be mapped” if the data was
  not geo-processed accurately.




The table below provides several examples to demonstrate the block translation process:

Street #	Block Translation
0 – 99	0 Block
100 – 199	100 Block
1000 – 1099	1000 Block
12000 – 12099	12000 Block



• Identifier: This is the unique Police Report Number generated by the Police Department’s CAD system for this report. The Police Report number consists of 9 numeric characters.
•     Example Event Number 08-101041
      08 = year, 10 = Month, 1041 = sequential number (begins the 1st of each month)
• Crime Sections: This is the first three crime codes associated with the police report. It does no necessarily indicate the charges of an arrested person but the crimes associated with the crime report that was initiated. Following the first three crime sections is a listing of the MO (Modus Operandi) items identified by the officer investigating the incident.

How can I use the data from CrimeReports.com in support of community
safety goals?

Data from CrimeReports.com can be reviewed and used to improve community safety. CrimeReports.com data is appropriate to consider and discuss as part of coordinated crime prevention initiatives. Members of the community are encouraged to continue partnering and problem-solving with the SPD while using CrimeReports.com data toward shared police-community goals.

How often is data updated in CrimeReports.com?

CrimeReports.com data is updated automatically once per day and contains the most recent six months of data online.

If I find an event and have additional information to provide to the police,
what do I do?

Information provided within CrimeReports.com is intended for the expressed purpose of educating the public on police activity in the City of Salinas. Beyond that intended outcome, the Police Department is hoping to enhance our partnerships with the community and is asking the public to provide the Department with any information that would assist the SPD to resolve crimes. Follow-up information should be directed to the Police by either calling (831) 758-7090 or the Salinas Police Department Crime Tip line at (831) 775-4222. You may also use our online forms. Information of an emergency nature should be passed through the Department's 9-1-1 emergency dispatch center.

Under no circumstances should any member of the public take any action on their own behalf as it relates to the information provided on this website, other than notifying the Salinas Police Department with information they wish to share.

Who can I contact if I have trouble using the CrimeReports.com website?

Click here for assistance in utilizing CrimeReports.com.

What are the minimum Browser requirements to use CrimeReports.com?

The CrimeReports.com system takes advantage of advanced features that are only available in more recent versions of web browsers. To ensure an optimal experience while using the site, you may need to update your web browser. In addition, JavaScript and cookies must be enabled to use the site (these features are usually enabled by default).

The CrimeReports.com system supports the following web browsers; which are all free downloads.

Windows Users
• Firefox 0.9 or newer (Firefox is recommended for best performance)
• Mozilla 1.4 or newer
• Internet Explorer 5.5 or newer

Apple Users
• Firefox 0.9 or newer (Firefox is recommended for best performance)
• Mozilla 1.4 or newer
• Internet Explorer 5.5 or newer

Linux Users
• Firefox 0.9 or newer (Firefox is recommended for best performance)
• Mozilla 1.4 or newer

Does CrimeReports.com have a FAQ site?

Yes. FAQ and other related information (e.g., company, partners, legal) can be found near the bottom of the CrimeReports.com site at http://www.crimereports.com

Does CrimeReports.com have a DISCLAIMER?

Yes. Disclaimer: The information displayed on this website is susceptible to some degree of error due to the collection, entry, and geo-processing of the data. No warranty or guarantee is made nor implied regarding the content, geographic accuracy, timeliness, completeness, sequence, or accuracy of any of the information provided herein. The reader should not rely on the data provided herein for any reason. The information is provided strictly as a courtesy to the public.

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