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"VICAP and the National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime have been developed to serve State and local law enforcement."

The VICAP Crime Analysis Report Form

The VICAP Crime Analysis Report form was released in July 1986. It is both shorter and simpler than the pro­totype. Most of the 15 pages to be com­pleted are checklists, which can be answered in 15-20 minutes.

Information which was submitted to VICAP on the first form and which is already in the VICAP computer system will not be lost or need to be reported again. It will be converted automatically to be compatible with information reported using the new form.

From the perspective of the VICAP staff, the report is expected to be both more effective and efficient. Efficiencies will be gained in the review and data entry functions, as well as in the time required for computer processing of the data. The relative simplicity of the infor­mation, a brief narrative of the case, and the amenability of the data to analytical manipulation will all serve to enhance effectiveness.

Local law enforcement agencies have expressed concern with regard to the security of the cases they submit to VICAP. As originally planned, VICAP is a confidential system. Based upon Privacy Act guidelines, the substance of each case remains within the VICAP system and will not be disseminated without prior approval of the submitting agency. When cases are linked through VICAP, the investigators in the local agencies are given each others' names and telephone numbers so they can coordinate their efforts.

The availability of the VICAP Crime Analysis Report form will also be im­proved. It is the desire of the VICAP staff to have the report distributed to and stocked by every law enforcement agency in the country. The initial distribution may be limited to jurisdic­tions over 50,000 in population, but as additional copies are printed, the distribution will widen.

If you need a copy or copies of the form and your department has not received them, contact either the nearest FBI field office or resident agency or write or call VICAP directly. The address is:

VICAP

NCAVC

FBI Academy

Quantico, VA 22135

Or call (703) 640-6131 and ask to be connected with VICAP.

VICAP and the National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime have been developed to serve State and local law enforcement. VICAP is a no-cost resource to enhance the ability of law enforcement, nationally, to identify and apprehend the most violent of all criminals in society today-the serial murderer. If it helps just one officer iden­tify and arrest just one serial murderer, how many lives will have been saved? We may not know the precise answer to that question, but if it's just one life, VICAP will have served law enforce­ment well. FBI