Police Technology
Chapter Twelve
Crime Analysis
Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Learning Objectives



Understand the definition of Crime
Analysis and underpinning theories
Understand the applications of Crime
Analysis
Be exposed to how Crime Analysis can
be used to solve community problems
and advanced crime mapping topics
Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Introduction
Without the component of criminal
investigations, neither the Community
Policing nor Problem-Oriented Policing
models have value.
Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Introduction



At the core, the functions
of state and local law
enforcement remain:
Prevention
Investigation, and
Apprehension
Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Crime Analysis
and Community-Oriented Policing
Problem solving is a critical
component of the COP model.
 An essential part of problem
solving is an examination of
incidents, their relationships to
each other, and their relationships
to underlying problems.

Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Crime Analysis
One of the ways police officers use
their expertise in problem solving is
through the analysis of crime.
 Crime Analysis starts with crime
mapping.
 A crime may be the result of a variety
of other factors.

Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Crime Analysis
Crime mapping is about:
 Problem solving
 The identification of
the problem
 Using the information
gained from analysis
to mitigate the
problem
Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
SARA
Scanning-Analysis-Response-Assessment:
One of the most prevalent problem-solving
methodologies used by police departments
Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
What Are the Benefits
of Crime Analysis?
The ability to show relationships
between crime and casual factors.
 Promotes information integration
and cooperation among different
police agencies and other
government agencies

Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Crime Analysis and COP
A COP enhancer because they can
assist in the establishment of
partnerships with other non-law
enforcement agencies.
 Can enhance communication within
and without the police department.

Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Time, Space and Crime
These relationship factors may be:
 Spatial in nature (resulting from its
proximity to a location).
 Temporal – Having to do with a
certain time period
Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Displacement

Crime Analysis information is used to
deploy more officers in an area that is
experiencing a higher crime rate.
 The deployment of more officers
stops the crime form occurring there
and then – It is displaced.
 Displacement can be spatial or
temporal.
Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Incapacitation
Most crime is committed by a very
small percentage of a community.
 The police should be targeting their
efforts on those individuals
 If an offender is arrested instead of
being displaced, incapacitation
occurs.

Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Serial Crimes


Multiple crimes committed by an
offender or group of offenders, which
occur over a period of time.
Crime Analysis is moving towards the
identification of serial crimes and the
targeting of serial offenders
Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Rational Choice, Situational Crime
Prevention, and Crime Analysis
Situational Crime
Prevention is
based on two things:
 Offender
opportunity and
 Rational Choice
Theory
Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Offender opportunity
Offenders choose to commit crimes
when:
 The opportunity is right
 They have enough information that
the value of the crime is more than
the risk of punishment (risk vs. value)
Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Routine Activity Theory
Three parts to this
theory:
 An offender
 A victim
 The absence of an
interfering or
restraining force –
something that adds to
the risk of detection.
Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
The Basic Requirements
for Crime Analysis
You cannot conduct modern
crime analysis without mapping
capabilities
 You cannot conduct geographic
and statistical analysis without
minimal hardware and software

Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
At minimum you need . . .



A laptop or desktop
computer with
sufficient speed
Hard disk storage to
accommodate your
data and functions
A high-quality printer
that can handle color
maps and workload.
Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Where does the data come from?
Two types of data needed:
 Mapping data – general data
about your community
 Crime data – specific data about
criminal occurrences in your
community
Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
The Analysis of a Crime
Crime Analysis begins with
statistical analysis. Mapping is
critical to Crime Analysis, but it is
not the starting point.
Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Burglaries 2003/4
Jan
82
Feb
78
Mar
75
Mean number
April
74
the average
May
75
June
80
July
72
993 / 12 = 82
Aug
75
Sept
78
Oct
80
Nov
110
Dec
114
Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal
993
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
The Analysis of a Crime

Begins with look at average occurrences
as compared to another period.


This can indicate a rise in crime.
After initial statistical analysis that
indicates a rise, the search for patterns
begins.

A search for patterns – time, date, method of
operation, etc, can lead to potential solutions
Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Hot Spots


An area that traditionally has a
lot of crime or
An area with an unusual
increase in crime
Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Forecasting

The use of
mathematical models
to predict the next
likely occurrence
Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Forecasting

Attempting to predict
future events by using
past events as a
guide.


Temporal analysis is
the most common type
of forecasting
Spatial analysis is less
common
Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Crime Analysis
and Problems


A problem is a cluster of incidents.
The relationship of the problem to
space and time may provide information
about the solution.


Perhaps causation like driving under the
influence arrests and the location of
locations that sell alcoholic beverages
Perhaps causation like the presence of an
active offender
Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Geographic Profiling


Used with serial crimes (typically the
most serious crimes)
Used to determine offender’s
geographic attributes (where they
might live, work, and socialize).
Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Geographic Profiling
Takes the attributes of time, space,
behavior, target, and offender and
analyzes their spatial and temporal
information in order to determine an
offender’s activity space (the hunting
area).
Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster
Police Technology
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Copyright 2005 - 2009: Hi Tech Criminal
Justice, Raymond E. Foster