# DOJ NCVS Crime Data MCP > DOJ NCVS Crime Data connects your agent directly to US victimization statistics from official government sources. Stop writing complex API queries for crime data. You can instantly get personal, household, regional, or yearly victim count rates just by asking a natural question. ## Overview - **Category:** data - **Price:** Free - **Tags:** doj-crime, ncvs-data, victimization-stats, crime-audit, public-safety-api ## Description This MCP lets you treat massive public safety datasets like a conversation. Instead of navigating technical portals and wrestling with database schemas, your agent acts as an instant research assistant. It retrieves official statistics on crime victimization—covering personal assaults, household burglaries, or regional trends—all within your chat window. You don't need to know which specific government dataset tracks what. The system handles the complexity behind the scenes, giving you intelligence grounded in verified federal data. When you connect this MCP through Vinkius, your agent becomes a real-time safety analyst. You can audit historical trends by year or pinpoint exactly where certain crimes are spiking across US regions. This is vital for anyone doing sociological research or monitoring community risk—you get the raw facts without ever touching a technical data portal. ## Tools ### check_api_status Checks if the DOJ NCVS API is currently operational and available for data queries. ### get_crime_by_region Retrieves crime statistics for a specific US geographical area you name. ### get_crime_by_year Gets all available crime statistics collected during one specified year. ### get_household_victimization Pulls official data on property crimes and victimization rates within households. ### get_personal_victimization Retrieves statistics focused on the individual, detailing personal assaults or theft incidents. ### list_crime_attributes Lists every available category and data attribute in the NCVS database for you to reference. ## Prompt Examples **Prompt:** ``` What were the personal victimization rates in the US for 2022? ``` **Response:** ``` I've retrieved the 2022 statistics. The personal victimization rate was approximately 23.5 per 1,000 persons. This includes assault and theft data. Would you like the breakdown by offense type? ``` **Prompt:** ``` Show household crime data for the 'South' region. ``` **Response:** ``` I've retrieved the household victimization data for the South region. Notable trends include burglary and property theft rates. Would you like to compare this with national averages? ``` **Prompt:** ``` List all categories in the NCVS database. ``` **Response:** ``` I've scanned the NCVS catalog. It includes over 50 attributes, from 'Offense Type' and 'Victim Demographic' to 'Reporting to Police'. I can help you query any of these markers. ``` ## Capabilities ### Check API operational status Confirms if the DOJ NCVS data feed is currently active and running. ### Get statistics for a specific region Retrieves crime rates, like burglary or theft, tied to any specified US geographic area. ### Audit historical data by year Fetches all victimization and crime statistics that occurred during a selected calendar year. ### Analyze household security risk Provides detailed stats on property crimes affecting residences, like theft or burglary. ### Track individual personal loss Retrieves victimization data focused on the person, including details on assault and theft. ### Discover available data fields Lists all possible categories and attributes in the NCVS database so you know what to ask for next. ## Use Cases ### Comparing regional crime spikes A policy analyst needs to know if property theft rates in the 'Midwest' region changed dramatically after a certain date. They ask their agent, and it uses get_crime_by_region combined with get_crime_by_year to provide a clean comparison chart. ### Verifying historical assault trends A journalist is writing about the rise of street crime. They need data on assaults over 15 years. The agent uses get_personal_victimization and gets accurate, verifiable rates year after year. ### Assessing residential security risk An insurance assessor wants to model the impact of burglaries in a new development area. They use get_household_victimization paired with get_crime_by_region to scope out potential risks accurately. ## Benefits - Track shifts in safety patterns. Instead of pulling data one year at a time, use get_crime_by_year to instantly audit multi-decade trends across the country. - Pinpoint local risks. Use get_crime_by_region to compare crime rates between specific states or metropolitan areas without manual mapping work. - Separate individual risk from property risk. You can isolate personal victimization data using get_personal_victimization, or focus only on home invasions with get_household_victimization. - Always know the limits of the data. Before querying anything, run list_crime_attributes to see every available category and attribute marker in the NCVS catalog. - Stay connected. Use check_api_status before a major query to ensure the DOJ NCVS API is fully operational when you need it most. ## How It Works The bottom line is you talk to your agent, and it translates that conversation into complex government statistics. 1. First, subscribe to this MCP through Vinkius. You don't need an API key; it’s a public federal data source. 2. Next, connect your preferred AI client or agent to the catalog. The connection handles all authentication and data mapping. 3. Finally, just ask your agent questions in plain language, like 'What were theft rates in Texas last year?' and get structured results. ## Frequently Asked Questions **How do I check if DOJ NCVS Crime Data is working with check_api_status?** Running the check_api_status tool confirms if the API is currently active. If it reports 'Operational,' you can trust your agent to run queries for regional or yearly data. **What's the difference between get_personal_victimization and get_household_victimization?** get_personal_victimization tracks crime against an individual, like assault. get_household_victimization focuses on property crimes affecting a residence, such as burglary. **Can I audit regional data for multiple years using get_crime_by_region and get_crime_by_year?** Yes. You can combine these two functions in a single prompt to compare how crime rates changed across a specific region over time. **Do I need an API key for list_crime_attributes?** No, because the DOJ NCVS is a public and free service, you don't need to worry about keys or subscriptions just to view available attributes. **What does the `list_crime_attributes` function help me determine?** It gives you a comprehensive list of every attribute available in the NCVS database. This lets your agent know exactly what variables you can filter by when running specific queries like `get_personal_victimization`. **If I use `get_crime_by_region` with an incorrect state name, what happens?** The MCP returns a structured error message indicating the invalid input or missing region code. You simply need to verify your US regional names against official data sources before sending the query. **Are there any usage limits when I use `get_crime_by_year`?** Although this is a public service, extremely high volumes of requests can trigger rate limiting. We suggest grouping related queries together to manage your throughput and avoid unnecessary interruptions. **Does `get_household_victimization` cover digital or cyber crime statistics?** No, this MCP sources records directly from the NCVS for physical theft and property loss. It does not track digital victimization data that falls outside of the official census reporting scope. **Is an API Key required for DOJ Crime Data?** No. The DOJ NCVS API is a public and free service. This server works out of the box without any static credentials required. **What types of crime are included in the statistics?** The NCVS includes data on personal crimes (assault, theft) and household crimes (burglary, motor vehicle theft). Use the `list_crime_attributes` tool to see the full catalog. **Is the data national or state-level?** The API provides national-level victimization data, often categorized by broad geographic regions (e.g., South, West) and population sizes.