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CCPD tracks animal cruelty cases but they’re not felonies in all states

Posted at 6:39 PM, Jan 31, 2019
and last updated 2019-01-31 19:42:33-05

As of 2016, the FBI has classified animal cruelty acts as Class A felonies allowing them to be tracked in the same database category as arson, rape, and murder.

The system is called the National Incident-Based Reporting System

NIBRS is not only a way to stop cases of animal abuse but also help identify people who might commit other violent crimes.

“It’ll give us an idea of how many animal cruelty cases we have,” said Deputy Chief Bowers. “How many we’re getting and convictions so it’s just going to give us a way to target those crimes just like we will all the crimes.”

Although the FBI uses NIBRS to track animal cruelty, not every state has the same laws.

“In fact, it’s the very first crime listed alphabetically is animal cruelty,” said Bowers.

But a recent push by two congressmen could make animal abuse a felony nationwide, pulling them under the same umbrella.

And anyone convicted could face up to seven years in prison.