Technology Assessment on GIS and Crime Mapping 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.

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.

In 1994, the New York City Police Department adopted a law enforcement crime fighting strategy known as COMPSTAT (COMPuter STATistics). COMPSTAT uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to map the locations of where crimes occur, identify “ hotspots”, and map problem areas. COMPSTAT has amassed a wealth of historical crime data. Mathematicians have designed and developed algorithms that run against the historical data to predict future crimes for police departments. This is known as predictive policing. Predictive policing has led to a drop in burglaries, automobile thefts, and other crimes in some cities.

Crime analysis is a tactic that police officers need in order to enhance their prevention, investigation, and apprehension skills (Foster, 2013). Crime analysis is a set of organized, diagnostic processes that furnish prompt, relevant information about crime patterns and trend correlations to assist police in criminal apprehension, crime prevention, evaluation of organizational procedures, and disorder reduction (Flash Card Machine, 2012). Crime mapping plays a key role in conducting modern crime analysis (Foster, 2013). The minimum type of technology required for accurate crime analysis is: a laptop or desktop computer with sufficient speed, enough hard disk storage to accommodate data and functions, and a high-quality printer that can handle color maps and workload (Foster, 2013).

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.

Everyday in the United States major crimes are committed which cause risk and much destruction to the many neighborhoods and communities of America. For many years it has been a job for investigators to figure out why these crimes are being committed and where they are most likely to occur. The National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS) and the Uniform Crime Reports (UCR) are just two of the many methods used by the government in order to keep track of criminal activities and to collect data.

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).

through software called PredPol. It takes crime data, runs it through an algorithm, and then

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.

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,