Massachusetts officials say animal cruelty a major problem

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http://www.wcvb.com/news/massachusetts-officials-say-animal-cruelty-a-major-problem/33830042



Christine Allenberg is an MSPCA law enforcement officer who deals specifically with cases of animal cruelty across central and western Massachusetts. In 2014, the Federal Bureau of Investigation made animal cruelty a felony offense; a legal shift aiming to keep closer track of offenders and also bolster prosecutions.

Massachusetts officials say animal cruelty a major problem
By PAULA OWEN Telegram&Gazette
Published 8:00 AM EDT Jul 05, 2015

WORCESTER, Mass. —The link between animal abuse and other violent crimes is well-documented, and law enforcement agencies and courts are recognizing that people who commit serious acts of animal abuse frequently have past criminal histories or are more apt to commit violent crimes against humans.

Beginning January 2016, the U.S. Department of Justice Federal Bureau of Investigation will collect data on animal cruelty offenses as separate offenses in the National Incident Based Reporting System. Up until now, data on animal cruelty offenses was collected under "all other offenses."

The National Sheriff's Association and the Animal Welfare Institute submitted proposals to the agency's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program to add animal cruelty as a separate offense in the system, according to the FBI.

Animal cruelty will be added as a Group A offense under "Crime against Society." The offense will include four types of animal abuse: simple/gross neglect, intentional abuse and torture, organized abuse (dogfighting and cockfighting) and animal sexual abuse.