SLED Takes Shared Data Culture in South Carolina To National Conference

SLED TAKES SHARED DATA CULTURE IN SOUTH CAROLINA TO NATIONAL CONFERENCE 

Members of the Association of State Uniform Crime Reporting Programs (ASUCRP) met in Wisconsin for their annual conference in November 2025. 

As 2nd Vice President of ASUCRP and South Carolina’s UCR Program Manager, SLED Lieutenant Bryan Ridgeway represented the state at the annual conference. He is one of three managers within SLED’s Criminal Justice Information Services (CJIS) Department and oversees the Computerized Crime Information Services (CCIS). 

Ridgeway explained that shared information was a critical component of the conference. 

“Each state has something to bring to the table regarding their experiences.” Ridgeway said. “For example, Virginia shared best practices while newer participants from Tennessee brought a fresh perspective, pointing out potential inefficiencies in training and compliance.” 

About 40 of the 50 states participated in this year’s conference, sharing experiences in the collection of crime data at the state level while engaging with federal partners. 

Discussions also focused on the distinction between those who collect crime data and those who use it, underscoring the need for more flexible data presentation tailored to different audiences. A legislator may seek one type of information, while an educator, business owner, or private citizen may look for insight into other crime trends. 

While states shared a range of approaches to collecting and using crime data, Ridgeway spoke about South Carolina’s emphasis on building a strong data culture as the foundation for effective reporting. 

“When purpose is shared, crime data collection becomes a collective responsibility,” Ridgeway said. “In South Carolina, we’ve focused on building a data culture that starts with understanding why the data matters - not just how to report it,” he added. “By reframing training and outreach around purpose rather than compliance alone, participation became more meaningful, engagement increased, and data quality followed.” 

This month, Ridgeway became First Vice President of the association and is slated to serve as its President in 2027. He also represents South Carolina as Vice-Chair of the FBI’s Advisory Policy Board UCR Subcommittee. 

Lt. Ridgeway worked with SLED Chief Mark Keel, Assistant Chief Richard Gregory, Major Charles Coats, Captain Natalie Crosland, S/A Amanda Moskaitis and Lara Gorick, as well as Analysts Abhinav Myadala and James Kennedy, Brittany Moore, Atikur Rahman, and Alexis Clark to compile and publish the 2024 Crime in South Carolina Annual Report. 

You can download the report by going to: www.sled.sc.gov/crimestatistics