Historic landmarks mentioned in the article include the committee's publication of the book 'Uniform Crime Reporting,' the committee selection of a data base of crimes known to the police, and congressional enactment of legislation authorizing the FBI to serve as the national clearinghouse for data collected under the program. The article lists four distinct groups of comprehensive statistical data produced by the Uniform Crime Reports: (1) the volume of certain serious offenses known to the police; (2) the number of known offenses which are cleared by arrest; (3) the age, sex, and race of persons arrested; and (4) police employee information. Notable program changes include the discontinuance of fingerprint records received at the FBI as a source of arrrest data and removal of statutory rape as a Crime Index offense; the dropping of both larceny of articles worth less than $50 and manslaughter by negligence as Crime Index offenses in 1958; and the addition of arson as a Crime Index offense in 1978. More revealing data from other elements in the criminal justice system are needed to determine who has committed the crimes and why they have occurred. Photographs are included.