Crime Mapping : Using Gis And Geographic Information Systems Of University Of Nairobi

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.

Demographics provide the specifics necessary to obtain knowledge pertaining to a city’s inhabitants. Attaining this type of detailed information is vital to the creation of a flourishing municipality. Demographic data can offer crucial material in relation to the particulars, such as the districts residents reside, the districts most preferred, the areas more highly safeguarded, high crime areas, the elementary schools most preferred and what type of developments residents want to see within the area. Verification is made by evaluating the demographic attributes of the populace, areas of

There is the crime pattern theory that explains how individual’s routine activities affect their knowledge of criminal activities and the above leads to spatial concentrations of crimes in some places. Individual developmental maps determine their regular activities and spaces that are represented as topological features. The routine operations act as nodes or sites where people spend time most of time and criminals will move there depending on the level of security anticipated. The offenders will decide where to attack depending on how well they understand the routine activities of their clients (Carlo, and Marie-Noële, 15). On that note, it is not possible for criminals to just attack a place without evaluating the dynamics of the

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

Beginning in the 1990’s, crime numbers began to fall and and there are many explanations for the decrease in crime. To begin, the police began using new catching approaches by changing aspects such as an increase in enforcement of nuisance activities. Additionally, they began to invest in their technology and started to identify crime hot spots. The hot spots are where crime is found most often but never recognized.

Different states in America have varying demographics when it comes to race, income, joblessness, and more, and states also vary when it comes to crime rates. The relationships between economic factors and crime rates are not direct, for example, Alaska has had the 3rd highest median house income but also has had some of the highest violent crime rates in the country. Being able to predict crime rates in a geographical area such as a state is important for public policy and law enforcement regarding making informed decisions. These decisions can help create efficient anti-crime policies. The United States of America was used as the geographical unit of study excluding Alaska, New Jersey, and Hawaii due to missing data. This paper examines which factors related to economics and demographics are linked to the crime rate. Inequality has been theorized to increase crime rates due to ecological factor of crime (Merton, 1938; Shaw & McKay, 1942; Becker, 1968). Certain factors including race are more prevalently associated with inequalities which is why they are included in the analysis.

Environmental criminology examines how geographical location and features in that location affect crime. It argues that some environments are more prone to crime that others.

To conduct this type of analysis the data that would be needed is the exact locations of the areas that you want to cover, a report of past burglaries, and attempted burglaries. The data needed would be the Gradated Color Map or Choropleth Map which are sometimes called symbol mapping. This map shows the locations, target neighborhoods or areas of the jurisdiction. Limitations would also be the type of map that called GIS that is a computer tool that allows criminality, violence, and fear to work or solve. The Pie Chart Map is relative the percentage of the value within a variable. The sizes of the pies are graduated to depict the total amount of crime, the slices reflect the percentage of the type of crime. Data can be broken down by category

On the other hand, random patrols of the streets is the older method in preventing crime in geographical locations. The random patrol of the streets was set for pre-determined pattern of crime in design locations. After repeated research of this method alone, it has been address the method demonstrates how deployment models have been repeatedly use to access the quality of district designs, without the suggested method of optimally determining those designs. According to (Karen, 2007), there were more issues that occur when given combinatorial complexity of deployment solution procedure; when information technology were not involved. Dating back 15 years before 2004, less optimal determination of patrol areas were directed when police make calls for design patrol areas, in maximal coverage and backup when crime occurred (Karen, 2007).

and so forth, to identify crime patterns, clusters, suspects, and hot spots. Strategies are then

Nevertheless, Button, Sharples & Harper (2007) cited that at the time its full benefits could not be fully realized due to a number of reasons. To begin with, matching data to maps was unrealistic both in terms of time and efforts spend. In addition, technology at the time was either inferior or expensive. For example in the 1970s main frame computers were popular only with large organizations, which were financially strong (Button, Sharples & Harper 2007). Nevertheless, things begun to take a turn in 1980s, whereby prices begun to decline and hence desktops become essential in storing crime reports. More recently, the cost of both computer software and hardware has reduced substantially. In turn its application in, analyzing, investigating, and preventing, crime in its context is equally increasing. At Present crime mapping is possible due to the fact that it utilizes Geographic Information System (GIS). Crime records, which are stored in police desktops, should contain information about the location of the crime and other indication of the crime pattern. If that is the case, the GIS and mapping software will integrate this information with geographical coordinates to provide more detail report on the crime incidents (Goldstein & McEwen, 2009).

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,