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Chapter 12

CRIME ANALYSIS AND COMING ATTRACTIONS IN THE INVESTIGATOR’S TOOLBOX

Criminal Investigation: A Method for Reconstructing the Past, 7th Edition

Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved

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Crime Analysis

• The Relational Database• Crime Mapping• Database Usage

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The Relational Database

• Identify suspects and acquaintances• Compare geospatial attributes• Analyze crime scenes and modus operandi• Develop various types of linking models• Analyze temporal aspects of specific criminal

activity• Analyze investigative effectiveness• Create operational plans• Analyze specific variables

Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved

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Crime Mapping

• Widely used to track trends and visualize a broad range of topics– Crime patterns– Traffic accidents– Personnel deployment– Building maps– Hot spots

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Database Usage• Ability to set and narrow search parameters

– Crime type– Locations– Property descriptions– Weapons– Acquaintances– Nicknames– Tattoos

• Artificial intelligence (e.g., algorithms)Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Inc. All

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Coming Attraction in the Investigator’s Toolbox

• Surveillance (e.g., GPS, drones)• Records

– Federal level– State level– Local level– Private sector

• Photography and Imaging• Crime Reconstruction

Copyright © 2014, Elsevier Inc. All Rights Reserved