Crime Analysis and Crime Analysis and MappingMapping

Crime Analysis and Crime Analysis and MappingMapping

Jonathan LewinJonathan Lewin

Impacting CrimeImpacting CrimeImpacting CrimeImpacting CrimeConsiderations in Developing a Crime

Mapping ApplicationConsiderations in Developing a Crime

Mapping Application

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What Is Crime Analysis?What Is Crime Analysis?

The qualitative and quantitative study of crime and law enforcement information in combination with socio-demographic and spatial factors to apprehend criminals, prevent crime, reduce disorder, and evaluate organizational procedures.

Introductory Guide to Crime Analysis and Mapping by Dr. Rachel Boba, Police Foundation, 2001.

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What is GIS?What is GIS?

Geographic Information System A system of hardware and

software used for storage, retrieval, mapping, and analysis of geographical data.

nwgis.com

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Components of GISComponents of GIS

Hardware (computers, network)

Software Commercial, off-the-shelf (ArcView, MapInfo) Free (ArcExplorer) Custom (in-house or out-sourced development)

People Users, programmers, support staff

Training For people: users, programmers, support staff

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Why Implement GIS?Why Implement GIS?

Presents information in a format that’s easy to understand for: Police officers, managers, members of the public

Encourages problem-solving

Builds credibility in the community- helps convey the impression that we know what we’re

doing and are aware of the problems in the community

Supports crime analysis

Supports resource allocation

Supports management accountability

Supports event command and control operations

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ConsiderationsConsiderations

What are the goals of your GIS? Crime analysis Evaluation of trends Community policing problem-solving Investigative support (gang, narcotics info) Resource allocation Management accountability External (community) access Conduct NEEDS ANALYSIS, focus groups

with users!

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ConsiderationsConsiderations

The mapping layer contains geographic reference information for the illustration of data points Street file will contain address information Boundary files may contain beats, districts,

service areas, political boundaries, census tracts, neighborhoods, gang territories, churches, schools, businesses, aerial photographs, building outlines, parks, etc.

These maps must be continuously updated to ensure accuracy

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Key Decision Points Key Decision Points in Developing GISin Developing GIS

Will the GIS be a separate application, or integrated into your Records Management System (RMS)?

Will development occur using in-house resources, or will you outsource? Do you have adequate technical resources to

develop and maintain the application in-house?

Does an off-the-shelf product meet your needs? CrimeView, CrimeStat (See what’s out there!)

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Maps are just another way of visualizing information. There must be an underlying information base for the GIS to utilize. Which systems will be the source of records

for your GIS? Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD)- 911 Records Management System (RMS)

Access to Source Access to Source Data Is CriticalData Is Critical

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Does Your CAD/RMS Does Your CAD/RMS Support Mapping?Support Mapping?

Are the CAD and RMS integrated? How will the GIS access source data from

these two systems? Can the data be queried? Is it accurate?

Do the source records have appropriate, consistent geographic information to allow for geocoding? Addresses must be consistent, error-

checked

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Key Decision Points In Key Decision Points In Developing GISDeveloping GIS

Will the application be stand-alone (installed only on selected computers) or networked?

How will licensing issues be addressed? If using an existing mapping program like ArcView or MapInfo, each instance of the application must be licensed

Can you utilize an Intranet-based solution, where each workstation only needs a web browser? (ArcExplorer)

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Will the GIS access real-time data, or will a “data warehouse” (separate copy of the data designed specifically to support queries) be utilized? How “real-time” do you want your data to be? How often will the data warehouse be updated? In Chicago, we use a data warehouse that is

updated at least once a day The data warehouse is a subset of the full

operational data, designed for fast queries

Key Decision Points In Key Decision Points In Developing GISDeveloping GIS

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Training is required for personnel at all levels within the organization Data Systems Support staff must be extensively

trained to be able to support, maintain, and ideally expand the application- in Chicago, we worked directly with the vendor during all stages of development

Additional support staff must be trained to be able to maintain and update maps as needed

Users must be trained at different need levels: police officers (basic), detectives (advanced)

Personnel IssuesPersonnel Issues

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Customized, out-sourced development can be labor-intensive and result in high costsAn Off-the-shelf application will generally be less expensiveUtilizing in-house personnel can result in large training requirements, and staff turnover can be an issue (once trained, they leave)Allow for delays, this is a complex process

Cost IssuesCost Issues

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Lessons LearnedLessons Learned

Set design goals first Utilize focus groups Make it easy enough for the average police officer

to use– simple, graphical interface

Own the source code If out-sourcing custom development, make sure you

own the code so you can make changes

Direct interface to timely source data

Market the features and benefits (Sell it!)

Train the users and support staff

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ResourcesResources

Police Foundation Crime Mapping Laboratory www.policefoundation.org

COPS www.usdoj.gov/cops

NIJ Mapping & Analysis for Public Safety www.ojp.usdoj.gov/nij/maps

Vendors www.esri.com www.mapinfo.com

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ICAM ExamplesICAM Examples

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Questions?Questions?