This article presents the real-world implementation of the DDACTS (Data-Driven Approaches to Crime and Traffic Safety) initiative by the Baltimore County Police Department.
In 2008, the Baltimore County Police Department began implementation of Phase I of its DDACTS (Data-Driven Approaches to Crime and Traffic Safety) initiative. Results from Phase I show that overall, traffic crashes decreased by 6 percent and injury crashes decreased by 14.7 percent, a statistically significant decrease. As a result of these findings, Phase II of the DDACTS initiative was implemented on April 1, 2009 and as of November 30, 2009 the following changes occurred in the targeted areas: burglaries deceased 16.6 percent, robberies decreased by 35.5 percent, motor vehicle thefts decreased by 40.9 percent, thefts from motor vehicles deceased by 1.1 percent, and traffic stops increased by 42.5 percent. This article examines in detail how and why the Baltimore County Police Department chose to incorporate and implement the DDACTS model as part of its overall data-driven policing strategy. Results from the evaluation of Baltimore County's use of DDACTS are encouraging and show that DDACTS can be used to efficiently and effectively deploy scarce police resources. 1 figure and 7 notes