Predictive Policing Essay

What term is used to describe the use of computer software to identify geographic “hot spots” where a majority of predatory crimes are concentrated?

Crime measurement and statistics for police departments are very important when it comes to money allotment, staffing needs or termination and it is also used to determine the effectiveness of new laws and programs. There are three tools used to measure major crime in the United States: Uniform Crime Reports, National Crime Victimization Survey and the National Incident Based Reporting System- which is currently being tested to replace the Uniform Crime Reports. Although there different tools used to measure crime, crime rates can be deceiving. Each different tool reports a different type of rate, crime rates, arrest

data concerning parcels, building, streets, roads, and highways, and to store aerial photographs and other geographic information to be used by various departments and agencies (e.g., planning, utilities). In addition, such agencies often obtain tabular and geographic data from other sources such as census information, demographic information, and typological information and store them along with local geographic data. It is important to note that crime analysts do not collect or maintain the data housed in geographic data systems; rather, they only borrow and use these data in their analyses.

San Francisco Crime spotting or mapping is a communicating map of crimes in San Francisco and an instrument for understanding crime. “If sirens are heard this mapping can identify which neighborhood it is” (ouLearn on YouTube, 2011). Crime spotting makes this possible with shared maps to see crimes in different areas of the city. It maps high crime places and places to avoid because of crime. Instead of merely being able to know where a crime took place crime mapping does more.

Crime Displacement entails the relocation of a crime an aspect that can result from the actions of Police in their crime prevention efforts. Crime displacement results from various reasons such as policies, community development, and migration of the targets that may force the criminals’ to move to other places. For instance, communities with good amenities such as street lighting and surveillance cameras may

Hot spots policing revolves around the idea that crime is focused in small problem locales, and that crime can be more efficiently reduced if police concentrate their efforts on those smaller areas (Papachristos & Hureau, 2012). By stopping crime in smaller areas, it is easy to prevent it from growing in larger parts. Activities like patrolling high crime areas and presence of law enforcement officers in the area are performed will reduced crime (Hot spots policing, 2017, What is the focus of the intervention?). “When authors calculated the overall

Accurate and timely intelligence and statistical crime information based on geographical settings and or areas.

Another advantage is that crime analyses can be made at the local and regional levels and meet the needs of local, state and national reporting. These crimes are clearly distinguishable between which ones are attempted and which ones are completed. Regionally, law enforcement agencies can share the data collected easily across jurisdictions. Law enforcement agencies are required to submit at least a brief account of each criminal offense and the resulting arrests. For each offense or incident known to the local law enforcement authorities, information within the categories is gathered.

Moving along, one of the biggest issues and trends facing law enforcement today and in the future is the use of technology. Today, police organizations have access to a wide range of technological tools, and they are continually advancing and improving. Some of these include records management systems, computer-aided dispatch, GPS technology, license plate readers, biometrics (facial recognition software, for example), crime mapping via geographical information systems, and less-than-lethal weapons (Tasers, beanbag rounds, tear gas,

The first method is through geographical profiling. Geographic profiling is where investigators use the past crime patterns of an offender to determine his/her current location. Investigators usually need a minimum of five crimes in order to come up with an accurate geographic pattern. Investigators use the different locations of the crime to narrow down a particular place where the offender could likely to be located. Offenders are usually located in their places of work, entertainment joints, and popular routes or even in his home. The other method of criminal profiling is investigative psychology. It uses peer-reviewed research to acquire facts about an offender. Another method of criminal profiling is criminal investigative analysis. In such an analysis, investigators identify the behaviors of the criminal and create a group based on such behaviors. The other method is behavioral evidence analysis. It involves examining evidence of when and how a particular event took place. It includes objects in the crime scene such as blood stains or footprints. These objects are used to establish the traits and patterns of the

In preparation for my debate on the topics of intelligence-led policing and Compstat policing, I have discovered the many advantages and disadvantages of using intelligence-led policing and Compstat policing. According to Carter & Carter (2009), intelligence-led policing is the collection of and analysis of data relating to crime, used by law enforcement in “developing tactical responses to threats and/or strategic planning related to emerging changing threats” (p. 317). When applied correctly, intelligence-led policing is a tool used for information sharing in identifying threats and developing responses to prevent those threats from reaching fruition (Carter, 2011). One of the advantages of using intelligence-led policing is its incorporation of data analysts. The role of the data analyst in the context of intelligence-led policing allows them to take specially trained analysts to take raw data from information found in reports and translate it into useful information for the officers, allowing the police to deploy resources more effectively and efficiently (Griffiths, 2016). Another advantage is its application through preventative and predictive policing (proactive policing), in which law enforcement take data and identify crucial variables such as terrorism or the emergence of criminal organizations, in hopes of stopping the problem at its roots (Carter, 2011). Terrorism is especially important and emphasized after the 9/11 terrorist attack on the World Trade Centers in

Coactive policing engages the public as the police seek to gather information concerning a particular problem that they

Historically, technological innovation has served as the substance for intense changes in the organization of police work and has presented both opportunities and challenges to police and other criminal justice practitioners, according to Janet Chan, a social scientist who has studied how information technology affects the way police do their jobs.1 Noting that .information is the stock-in- trade of policing,. Chan has identified three general imperatives driving law enforcement’s evening investment in information technology. Using information technology in policing has add that more efficiency to the police department. Comparing the old-fashioned way of patrolling the streets to combat crime to then use them of using technology to predict the crime area and patrolling in advance deters crimes from happening. There are many advantages associated with using information technology in policing. Comparative analysis shows that using information technology (IT) to combat crime has save lot of resources and time in the police department. There are a number of other advantages that can be associated with the use of information technology in the police department.

Both Goldstein & McEwen, (2009) and Button, Sharples & Harper (2007) studies agree that crime mapping is effective in uncovering and monitoring crime

The three most prevalent crime analysis methods that are tactical, strategical, and administrative(Wyckoff, 2014). Tactical crime analysis incorporates information analyzed for the purpose of short-term solutions(Wyckoff, 2014). Tactical crime analysis information is usually kept internal and produced on a daily basis(Wyckoff, 2014). Moreover, tactical crime analysis aids in the development of patrol and investigation practices along with deployment of resources(Wyckoff, 2014). Most of the data used for tactical crime analysis devises from police reports(Wyckoff, 2014). Some examples of tactical crime analysis are repeated incident analysis, crime pattern analysis, and linking known offenders to prior crimes(Wyckoff, 2014). Another type of crime analysis is strategic which data is analyzed for the purpose of creating and evaluating of long-term strategies, policies, and prevention techniques(Wyckoff, 2014). Strategic crime analysis is usually conducted slowly and at a deliberate pace(Wyckoff, 2014). The process of strategic crime analysis begins with police reports by is heavily influenced by outside sources of information which can be produced by quantitative or qualitative methods(Wyckoff, 2014). Some examples of strategic crime analysis are trend analysis, hot spot analysis, and problem analysis(Wyckoff, 2014). Lastly, there is administrative crime analysis which deals with management needs(Wyckoff, 2014). This crime analysis approach is very broad where actions are taken either regularly or upon request(Wyckoff, 2014). Analyzing information to develop patrol staffing, districting and re-districting, cost-benefits, and resource deployment for special occasions are some examples of the administrative crime analysis approach(Wyckoff,