Applicability and Scope
This article applies to the 2025.0 NIBRS Technical Specification and all subsequent versions.
Note on State-Specific Rules
This document outlines standard federal requirements and does not include state-specific validation rules. State repositories often enforce unique restrictions or mandatory data elements.
- Exclusions: For example, Tennessee does not accept Criminal Activity Type W.
- Additional Mandates: For example, Virginia requires Criminal Activity Types G, J, and N for a broader range of offenses than those listed in this article.
Always consult your specific state's NIBRS technical specification for local compliance rules.
Criminal Activity Type
Determining the correct Criminal Activity Type code for a specific offense can be challenging. Some offenses strictly require a code, some only allow them conditionally, and certain combinations will trigger validation errors.
The reference tables below map NIBRS Offense Codes to their valid Criminal Activity Type codes to help you avoid validation errors.
Error 219 - Acceptable Values May Be Given
| For any of these offenses | Any of these codes is acceptable | Notes |
| 250, 280, 35A, 35B, 370, 39C, 520 | B, C, D, E, O, P, T, U, W | |
| 720 | A, F, I S | |
| 09A, 09B, 100, 11A, 11B, 11C, 11D, 120, 13A, 13B, 13C, 200, 210, 220, 23A, 23B, 23C, 23D, 23E, 23F, 23G, 23H, 240, 26A, 26B, 26C, 26E, 26F, 26G, 270, 290, 35A, 35B, 39A, 39B, 39D, 40A, 40B, 510, 64A, 64B, 720 | J, G, N | Offense 280 has been removed because the FBI is currently rejecting it although their spec says it should be accepted. |
| 26F | D | |
| 64A, 64B | E, T, W | |
| 09A, 09B, 100, 11A, 11B, 11C, 11D, 120, 13A, 210, 520, 64A, 64B | R | |
| 09A, 100, 11A, 11B, 11C, 11D, 120, 13A, 13B, 13C, 200, 210, 220, 23A, 23B, 23C, 23D, 23E, 23F, 23G, 23H, 240, 26A, 26B, 26C, 26D, 26E, 26F, 26G, 270, 290, 39A, 39B, 39D, 40A, 40B, 510, 720 | O, W |
Error 220 - Mandatory Values Must be Given
| For any of these offenses | At least one of these codes must be provided | Notes |
| 250, 280, 35A, 35B, 370, 39C, 520 | B, C, D, E, O, P, T, U | |
| 720 | A, F, I, S |
See Also: