POLICE CRIME ANALYSIS UNIT HANDBOOK

1 A n POLICE CRIME ANALYSIS unit HANDBOOK DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE ADMINISTRATION NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE If you have issues viewing or accessing this file contact us at HANDBOOK is one of a senes of "Prescriptive Packages" sponsored by the National Institute of Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice. Prescriptive Packages are designed to provide criminal justice administrators with operating guidelines in impor-tant program areas. Based on research findings and recent program experience in various parts of the country, they are specifically designed for practical application.

2 ,1 POLICE CRIME ANALYSIS unit HANDBOOK GEORGE A. BUCK, Project Director Contributing Authors ROBERT AUSTIN JOHN HODGES GARY COOPER KAI MARTENSEN DON GAGNON MICHAEL O'NEAL This project was supported by Grant Number 73-TA-99-1000 awarded by the National Institute of Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice, Law Enforcement Assistance , Department of Justice, under the Omnibus CRIME Control and Safe Streets Act of 1968, as amended. Points of view or opinions stated in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the Department of Justice.

3 November 1973 DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE Law Enforcement Assistance Administration Natignal Institute of Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice ~--------------------------------------- -------11 LAW ENFORCEMENT ASSISTANCE ADMINISTFJATION Donald E. Santarelli, Administrator Richard W. Velde, Deputy Administrator Charles R. Work, Deputy Administrator NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AND CRIMINAL JUSTICE Gerald M. Caplan, Director Department of Justice National Institute of Justice 143486 This document has been reproduced. exactl~ as rec~ived from t~e person or organization originating It.

4 POints of view or oplnl~ns stated In this document are those of the authors and do not ~ecessanlY r~present the official position or policies of the National Institute of Juslice. Permission to reproduce this Qf!l I!!eIiJII"I material has been gra~tyic ])cr[1ain/LEAA U S. Departrnentof Justice to the National Criminal Justice Reference Service (NCJRS). Further reproduction outside of the NCJRS system requires permission of the ~owner. For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, Government Printing Office Washington, 20402 - Price $ Stock No.

5 2700-00232 .., ABSTRACT The purpose of this project was to develop a relevant and useful CRIME ANALYSIS HANDBOOK and to encourage local law enforcement agencies to make use of it. the development of the HANDBOOK this goal has been accomplished in two ways. First, the HANDBOOK describes the benefits derived from the implemen-tation of a formal CRIME ANALYSIS unit ; and second, the HANDBOOK shows how such a unit may be established. The HANDBOOK breaks down operational units into three categories and describes how each unit would operate.

6 The categories are: (1) manual units for small agencies; (2) semi-automated unitrs for medium agencies; and (3) fully automated units for large agencies. Issues dealt with in each category include goals, staffing, evaluation, operation, etc. HANDBOOK preparation was undertaken with depth in POLICE expertise in a staff role utilizing a Users Advisory Committee for review and recommendations. The committee consisted of POLICE administrators and line supervisors who were involved with CRIME ANALYSIS units. Also, extensive use was made of consultants with far ranging experience in the field.

7 An extensive literature search was completed, numerous inter-views with agencies in the field were performed, and draft reports were reviewed by the Advisory Committee prior to the completion of the HANDBOOK . The findings of this report concluded that: 1. There is an insufficiency in the availability of literature on the subject of CRIME ANALYSIS . 2. There is an overall lack of the use of formal CRIME ANALYSIS . 3. Increased use of these units will be realized with a greater understanding of their capabilities. 4. From the intense interest shown by contributing agencies, the HANDBOOK will be of significant use to law enforcement agencies.

8 111 iv GOT A MOMENT We'd like to know what you think of this Prescriptive Package. The last page of this publication is a questionnaire. Will you take a few moments to complete it? The postage is prepaid. Your answers will help us provide you with more useful Prescriptive Packages.. ' ~----CONTENTS Page FOREvVORD .. xi ., PREFACE .. XIII SUMMARY .. xv Chapter I INTRODUCTION .. :.. 1 A. Scope and Use of CRIME ANALYSIS Information.. 1 B. Use of CRIME ANALYSIS HANDBOOK .. , .. , .. 2 C. CRIME ANALYSIS Development .. 3 Chapter II BASIC ELEMENTS OF CRIME ANALYSIS .

9 7 A. Definition of Goals and .. 7 B. CRIME ANALYSIS as a Step-By-Step Process .. 7 C. Prerequisites for Establishing a CRIME ANALYSIS unit .. 9 Chapter III DATA BASE .. 15 A. Identification of Data Sources .. 15 B. Data Collection Methods and Procedures .. 26 C. Data Storage .. 30 Chapter IV DATA ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES AND STATISTICAL METHODS .. 33 A. Identification of Specific Crimes and Data Elements Most Applicable to ANALYSIS .. 33 B. Geographical ANALYSIS .. 40 C. Data Correlation Techniques .. 46 D. : ?f CRIME Trends and the Projecting of Cnmmal ActiVity.

10 47 Chapter V. DISSEMINATION AND UTILIZATION OF CRIME ANALYSIS INFORMATION .. 49 --A. Dissemination Techniques .. 49 B. Informal Information Dissemination.. 78 ChapterVI. EVALUATION .. 79 A. Purpose of Evaluation .. 79 B. Evaluation Methods and Procedures .. 79 Chapter VII. MODEL CRIME ANALYSIS SYSTEMS .,. 85 A. Manual CRIME ANALYSIS System .. 85 B. Semiautomated CRIME ANALYSIS System .. 88 C. Automated CRIME ANALYSIS System .. 90 v ,.-------------------------------------- -----VI Appendix A SAMPLE GRANT PROPOSAL; MANUAL CRIME ANALYSIS 95 Appendix B SAMPLE GRANT PROPOSAL; SEMI-AUTOMATED CRIME ANALYSIS 103 Appendix C SAMPLE GRANT PROPOSAL; A UTO-MATED CRIME ANALYSIS unit .