NCJ Number
210845
Journal
Law Enforcement Technology Volume: 32 Issue: 7 Dated: July 2005 Pages: 144,146,150
Date Published
July 2005
Length
6 pages
Annotation
In the face of mounting crime double the national average, the Camden Police Department (New Jersey) implemented a series of internal changes and technology enhancements to improve public safety, including a Web-based intranet crime analysis and mapping system.
Abstract
The new technology supported the department's transition to a CompStat-based (computerized statistics) management model. Prior to this change, the department was unable to make effective use of the crime and incident data it received hourly from various sources. This article describes the organizational steps taken by the department in developing a distributed crime analysis and mapping solution with a computer aided dispatch (CAD) and records management system (RMS). This was facilitated under the expertise of GeoDecisions, an information technology company based in Camp Hill, PA. The GeoDecisions Crime Analysis and Mapping System (GeoCAMS) was implemented for the department, with direction from the Camden County Prosecutor's Office. GeoCAMS enables the department to focus on peak times and "hot spots" of criminal activity, allocating personnel where they are most needed, i.e., in high-crime neighborhoods at peak times for various criminal activities. This system has produced a measurable reduction in crime in the targeted neighborhood of East Camden, according to the county prosecutor. GeoCAMS has the potential and features to become a model in metropolitan areas generally. The open nature of the technology allows the system to be easily implemented elsewhere. Flexible and adaptable, GeoCAMS can also be made available on a public Web site, which would allow community residents to be informed about crime rates in their neighborhoods.