NCJ Number
59359
Date Published
1979
Length
201 pages
Annotation
A REFERENCE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES WANTING TO UPGRADE THEIR CRIME ANALYSIS, THIS MANUAL DESCRIBES VITAL CRIME ANALYSIS FUNCTIONS, DELINEATES THOSE TO AUTOMATE, AND DISCUSSES SYSTEM PROGRAM DESIGN.
Abstract
THE CRIME ANALYSIS SYSTEM SUPPORT (CASS) PROJECT CONDUCTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHIEFS OF POLICE AIMED AT IDENTIFYING AND DEFINING TACTICAL, STRATEGIC, AND ADMINISTRATIVE CRIME ANALYSIS FUNCTIONS AND ACTIVITIES THAT CAN BE SUPPORTED BY AUTOMATION, AND AT DETERMINING THE DATA REQUIREMENTS AND SOURCES NECESSARY TO SUPPORT THE AUTOMATION OF EACH. A LITERATURE SEARCH AND SURVEY OF RESPONSES OF 3,400 LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES THROUGHOUT THE U.S. INDICATED THAT THE FOLLOWING FUNCTIONS ARE PRIORITIES AND ARE POSSIBLE CANDIDATES FOR AUTOMATION: CRIME PATTERN DETECTION, SUSPECT CRIME CORRELATION, TARGET PROFILE ANALYSIS, FORECASTING OF CRIME POTENTIALS, EXCEPTION REPORTING, FORECASTING OF CRIME TRENDS, AND RESOURCE ALLOCATION. THIS MANUAL, PRODUCED BY CASS, ADDRESSES EACH OF THESE FUNCTIONS INDIVIDUALLY, OFFERING A METHODOLOGY FOR SYSTEMS/PROGRAM DESIGN, DISCUSSING AUTOMATION SUPPORT, AND PRESENTING AUTOMATED MODELS ALREADY USED BY SEVERAL DEPARTMENTS. IT COVERS THE IDENTIFICATION OF RELATED OR SIMILAR CRIMES BASED UPON GEOGRAPHY, TRENDS, AND COMMON SUSPECT AND METHODS OF OPERATION; THE METHODS FOR DEVELOPING CRIME FILES THAT WILL ASSIST IN IDENTIFYING PERPETRATORS BY SEVERAL MEANS, AFTER PATTERNS OF KNOWN MULTIPLE OFFENDERS EMERGE; AND USE OF DEMOGRAPHIC DATA WITH A DIRECT EFFECT UPON THE COMMUNITY TO INCREASE ANALYSIS OF THE HUMAN ENVIRONMENT AND TO CONSTRUCT CRIME PREVENTION PROGRAMS. ADDITIONAL CHAPTERS DISCUSS PREDICTION OF TIME AND LOCATION OF FUTURE CRIMINAL EVENTS AS AN INFERENTIAL STEP PROCEEDING FROM PATTERN ANALYSIS, ESTABLISHING LIMITS FOR CRIMES AND USING THE LIMITS FOR TRIGGERING OPERATIONAL PLANNING WHEN THE LIMITS ARE EXCEEDED, PREDICTING CRIME VOLUME IN THE TIME DOMAIN BASED UPON VARIOUS STATISTICAL TECHNIQUES, AND RESOURCE ALLOCATION BASED ON A SYSTEMATIC, COST-EFFECTIVE METHOD OF DISTRIBUTING POLICE MANPOWER AND EQUIPMENT. THE APPENDIX CONTAINS THE SUBCOMMITTEE REPORT ON INVESTIGATIONS RESOURCE ALLOCATION. CHARTS AND FORMS ARE PROVIDED FOR THE VARIOUS PROGRAMS.