Offense Type Dropdown: A Simpler, More Accurate Audit

We live in a time where both public safety technology and the political and legal landscape governing public safety technology is constantly evolving. And law enforcement officers need to balance solving cases quickly while adhering to these shifts.

Our goal is to make compliance easier by building simple, built-in product features that support consistent documentation, clearer oversight, and more confident collaboration, without adding friction to every day workflows.

Starting this week, Flock has introduced a new, required step in every ALPR Search: Offense Type Dropdowns.

This update adds a standardized, NIBRS-based offense selection (expanded through customer feedback and data analysis) so agencies can capture the purpose of their search in a clear, consistent way, while keeping searches as fast and seamless as you should always expect with Flock.

An Offense Type for Every ALPR Search

Beginning this week, “Offense Type” will be the first required field on any ALPR Search run in Flock. This applies to all forms of Search - on your own cameras, on Statewide Lookup, and on National Lookup. 

The existing Search Reason field will still be available as an optional place to add extra detail, and agencies still have the option to require it.

Here’s how the Offense Type Dropdown works within the search experience:

1) Users must select at least one Offense Type before they can perform a search.

2) Users can select multiple Offense Types when needed, but at least one is required.

3) Users can also start typing and the relevant Offense Type will populate to maximize speed.

4) The admin can configure which Offense Type categories to include in the dropdown, except where legally required to keep them all.

5) If a user believes the Offense Type dropdown does not contain the correct description, she can select “Other.” However, if “Other” is selected, the system will require the user to enter a Search Reason for that search, so there’s always context when a standard category doesn’t apply.

‍Enabling Seamless Transparency

The Offense Type dropdown was designed to make documentation more consistent and oversight more straightforward, without creating extra steps in an officer or detective’s workflow.

Offense Types, along with any associated Search Reasons and Case Numbers, are included in Organization and Network Audits. Similar to Search Reason and Case Number, Offense Type can also be included in automated Public Search Audit exports in an agency’s ALPR Transparency Portal.

Our Commitment: Keeping ALPR Usage Fast, Clear, and Accountable

At Flock, we’re committed to helping agencies solve crime while supporting responsible, transparent use of public safety technology. Offense Type Dropdown is a simple change that makes a big difference: clearer documentation, more consistent audits, and an even stronger foundation for community trust.