Mark broke into Laura's home in the middle of the night intending to steal Laura's flat-screen television, laptop, and whatever money he could find. In the middle of the burglary, Laura, hearing some noises, woke up and grabbed her gun to protect herself. As she entered the hallway, she saw Mark, screamed, and then shot him. Laura then dropped the gun and ran out of her home to her neighbor's, where she called the police. When the police arrived, Mark had died. How is this incident likely to be reported under the uniform crime reports? If Laura lives in a state participating in the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS), how differently would it be reported? Are there any other reporting mechanisms that will reflect this incident? What "costs" will Laura likely incur?

Q&A Education