ADVISING GUIDE
CRIME ANALYST
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, SACRAMENTO
DIVISION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
Crime Analysis is one of the fastest growing and
most interesting professions in the field of law
enforcement. Crime Analysts are employed in a
wide range of police and security agencies at
the federal, state and local levels, and
increasingly by private firms, as well. Crime
Analysts support law enforcement agencies
through analysis of crimes, criminals and
criminal events. To this end, crime analysts
regularly use computer technology such as
spreadsheets, database management systems,
the internet, word processing, presentation
software and Geographic Information Systems
software. Additionally, crime analysts make
regular use of descriptive and inferential
statistics, both to help track and predict criminal
events. Crime Analysts’ duties can be classified
into three broad categories: Strategic Crime
Analysis, Tactical Crime Analysis and
Administrative Crime Analysis.
Tactical Crime Analysis is concerned with
supporting efforts to control and combat specific
and immediate crime problems. This type of
crime analysis is used to ensure quick response
to problems in the field. Chronic recidivists are
responsible for the majority of street crimes and
there are several approaches to combat the
problems these offenders cause. Crime
mapping is a technique which affords a visual
representation of the crime patterns/series.
Mapping is done through Geographic
Information Systems (GIS) which allows the
analyst to conduct both geographic profiling and
target profiling. In addition, the analyst can
conduct Criminal Investigative Analysis (criminal
profiling) and intelligence analysis. These
differing types of analysis allow the analyst to
determine who is doing what to whom. Once
this has been understood, the analyst makes the
information available to patrol officers and to
investigators so they have added information
with which to combat crime and criminals.
Strategic Crime Analysis is concerned with long
term planning for law enforcement agencies.
This form of crime analysis includes “operations
analysis” which aids in the determination of
personnel workload distribution for the most
effective and efficient deployment of officers.
Another form of strategic crime analysis is
determining what kinds of long term problems
exist in the community. Pockets of crime persist
in different areas. There may be social,
economic or demographic reasons for this which
both patrol officers and investigators, and
increasingly community service officers, depend
on crime analysts to help them identify.
Administrative Crime Analysis provides a wide
variety of statistical data (crimes by type,
changes over time, arrests, property seizures,
etc.) to law enforcement administrators to help
support the decision making process.
Administrative crime analysts also respond to
requests from the news media, politicians,
private businesses and citizens for information
of all kinds.
Crime analysts are increasingly civilian
personnel who are hired for their different
perspectives and skills. Individuals who are
creative, inquisitive and persistent do well in this
field. Increasingly, police departments are
looking for analysts with computer skills,
statistical skills, crime mapping abilities, and
who have the knowledge and skills to apply
these skills to real-world problems.
Agencies that employ crime and intelligence
analysts include the Sacramento Police
Department, the Sacramento Sheriff’s
Department, and a growing number of other
local agencies, the Highway Patrol, the state
Department of Justice, the federal DEA, FBI,
DOJ, and many other agencies at all levels.
FACULTY
The following faculty advisors may be of
assistance in both career and academic
planning:
 Tim Croisdale
SUGGESTED COURSE
SEQUENCE
Freshman Year
CRJ 001
CRJ 002
CRJ 005
Intro to CRJ & Society
Law of Crimes
Community & the Justice System
Suggested GE Electives
SOC 001 (D1A)
Sophomore Year
CRJ 004
Gen. Investigative Techniques
CRJ 101
Intro to CRJ Research Methods
CRJ 102
Crime & Punishment
CRJ Elective SOC 101 Intro to Stats for Soc
CRJ Elective SOC 106 Demography *
Suggested GE Electives
HIST 163 (D2)
Suggested Electives
Electives must be drawn from at least three of the
listed “Areas of Interest,” of which one must be
“Supporting Courses.” The University Advanced
Study graduation requirement may be completed in
the major or as part of the GE pattern. An approved
minor may be substituted for up to 12 units of the
major elective courses and fulfills the requirement for
selection of a course from the “Supporting Courses.”
The following is an excerpt. Consult the Major
Planning Worksheet for the full list of electives .
Area of Interest I - Administration
CRJ 168
CRJ 191A
CRJ Information Systems
Topics in CRJ Administration
Area of Interest II - Investigations
CRJ 153
CRJ 156
Advanced Criminal Investigation
Intro to Crime & Intelligence Analysis
Area of Interest III - Corrections
none
Area of Interest IV – Offenses & Offenders
Junior Year
CRJ 121
CRJ 130
CRJ 141
CRJ 160
CRJ Elective
CRJ Elective
CRJ Elective
CRJ 106
CRJ 112
CRJ 114
CRJ 115
CRJ 117
CRJ 118
Struct & Func of American Courts
Fundamentals of Corrections
Police & Society
Criminal Justice Administration
GEOG 109 Geographic Info
Sys *
Analysis of Career Criminals
Gangs & Threat Groups in America
Sexual Offenses & Offenders
Violence & Terrorism
American CRJ & Minority Groups
Drug Abuse & Criminal Behavior
Area of Interest V - Law
none
Area of Interest VI – Additional Courses
Senior Year
CRJ 123
CRJ 190
CRJ Elective
CRJ Elective
CRJ Elective
CRJ 195
Law of Arrest, Search, & Seizure
Contemporary Issues in CRJ
Area of Interest VII – Supporting Courses
ENGL 118T
ETHN 100
ETHN 110
ETHN 131
ETHN 140
ETHN 170
ETHN 173
SOC 110 Urban Life &
Problems *
Suggested GE Electives
SOC 158 (E)
Note: This is a suggested sequence for a full time
(15 units) student. Course sequence may have to be
modified in response to course availability. Students
interested in pursuing a minor should seek advice
from a CRJ advisor.
Foreign language is strongly recommended
(especially Spanish).
* A substitution petition needs to be on file to use
these electives for graduation in the Criminal Justice
major. Students are advised to seek guidance early
in their academic careers.
Internship
*
*
*
*
*
GEOG 109
GEOG 110
GEOG 163
GEOG 181
HIST 163
PSYC 168
SOC 101
SOC 106
SOC 110
SOC 155
SOC 156
SOC 158
Technical Writing
Ethnic America
Asian Americans: Status & Identity
La Raza Studies
Native American Experience
African American Experience
The Black Family in the U.S.
Geographic Information Systems
Advanced Geographic Information Systems
Applied GIS
Spatial Analysis
The City of United States History
Abnormal Psychology
Intro to Stats for Sociologists
Demography
Urban Life & Problems
Criminology
Delinquency
Sociology of Deviance