Introduction to Crime Analysis: Basic Resources for Criminal Justice Practice

by Osborne; Deborah

• ISBN13: 9780789018687
• ISBN10: 0789018683
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-09-02
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Successfully analyze crime at any level of law enforcement! This book is a practical resource guide for the development of crime analysis in local law enforcement. The tragedy of September 11, 2001, has raised awareness on how crucial it is to analyze information and intelligence. Smaller agencies that cannot financially justify hiring a full-time analyst will find strategies and techniques to teach officers the methods of analysis. Introduction to Crime Analysis: Basic Resources for Criminal Justice Practice provides basic tools and step-by-step directions that will improve the skills and knowledge of new crime analysts. From the editors: Military strategists have used analysis for centuries; it makes sense to know as much as possible about the enemy and about the conditions and causes of a situation if we hope to institute any kind of significant change for the better. Career criminals are the enemies of a community's well being. Now that advances in information technology give us the means and methods to fully examine and find meaningful knowledge in the vast amounts of existing information on crimes and criminals, we have an obligation to use our technological strength to protect innocent people. Systematic crime analysis as a law enforcement and public safety asset has become not only possible, but also truly necessary as a weapon in the war against crime.” Along with defining the various roles of the crime analyst, Introduction to Crime Analysis demonstrates how to: improve the personal skills necessary to make you a good crime analyst successfully work through the five stages--collection, collation, analysis, dissemination, and feedback and evaluation--of analysis select the appropriate crime mapping software for your agency evaluate the usefulness of your crime analysis products benefit from email discussion groups and professional associations create a crime analysis unit-including policies and procedures as well as marketing and funding This clearly written resource includes case studies, figures, and appendixes that will simplify the learning process. Links to Internet pages also offer resources and information beneficial to both new and experienced crime analysts. Introduction to Crime Analysis will benefit crime analysts, police officers, intelligence analysts, community groups focused on crime prevention, criminal justice students, and police departments and sheriff's agencies.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
Acknowledgments	xv
Chapter 1. What Is Crime Analysis?	1	(12)
The Challenge of Defining Crime Analysis	1	(1)
The Present State of Crime Analysis in Law Enforcement	2	(2)
Why Analyze Crime?	4	(1)
Types of Crime Analysis	5	(6)
Summary	11	(1)
Suggested Readings	11	(2)
Chapter 2. The Crime Analyst's Toolbox	13	(16)
Overview	13	(3)
Equipment	16	(1)
Knowledge of the Law	16	(1)
Knowledge of Investigative Processes	17	(1)
Knowledge of Modern Policing Strategies	18	(3)
Linkage Analysis	21	(1)
Statistical Analysis	22	(2)
Profiling	24	(1)
Spatial Analysis	25	(1)
Summary	26	(1)
Suggested Readings	27	(2)
Chapter 3. Moving Through the Stages of Crime Analysis	29	(14)
Collection	29	(2)
Collation	31	(2)
Analysis	33	(3)
Dissemination	36	(2)
Feedback and Evaluation	38	(2)
The Intelligence Cycle: Another View of the Stages of Analysis	40	(1)
Summary	40	(3)
Chapter 4. Geographic Information Systems: Issues and Resources	43	(10)
Overview	43	(1)
Points to Remember When Creating Crime Maps	44	(2)
Mapping Other Data with Crime Data for Analysis	46	(1)
Privacy Issues	47	(2)
Resources for Crime Mapping	49	(2)
Suggested Readings	51	(2)
Chapter 5. Crime Analysis Products	53	(14)
Creating Bulletins for Tactical Crime Analysis	53	(8)
Types of Administrative Crime Analysis Reports	61	(1)
Other Crime Analysis Products	62	(1)
Intelligence Analysis Products	63	(1)
Evaluation of Crime Analysis Products	63	(2)
Resources for Crime Analysis Products	65	(2)
Chapter 6. Advice for the New Crime Analyst	67	(20)
"A Day in the Life of a Crime Analyst"	67	(2)
Tips for the New Crime Analyst	69	(12)
"The Ten Commandments of Crime Analysis"	81	(6)
Chapter 7. Creating a Crime Analysis Unit	87	(26)
Policies and Procedures for Crime Analysis	87	(1)
Considerations in Creating a Crime Analysis Unit	88	(13)
Crime Analysis Units on the Web	101	(1)
"Marketing" and Funding Crime Analysis	102	(4)
How Do We Measure Success?	106	(1)
Crime Analysis Success Stories	107	(6)
Chapter 8. Education and Training Resources	113	(10)
Overview	113	(1)
Training Options for Those Employed in Law Enforcement	114	(4)
Education and Training Offered by Colleges and Universities	118	(5)
Chapter 9. Other Resources	123	(8)
Recommended Agency Resources	123	(3)
Recommended Publications	126	(1)
Recommended Internet Sites	127	(4)
Appendix. Examples of Crime Analysis Products	131	(12)
Bibliography	143	(8)
Index	151