ORGANIZED CRIME ANALYSIS PROGRAM (OCAP) - A COMPUTER-BASED SYSTEM FOR THE ANALYSIS OF COMPLEX ACTIVITY

• NCJ Number: 60244
• Author(s): D H HARRIS
• Date Published: Unknown
• Length: 18 pages
• Corporate Author: Anacapa Sciences, Inc
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

THIS BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ORGANIZED CRIME ANALYSIS PROGRAM (OCAP) SUMMARIZES DEVELOPMENTS IN INTELLIGENCE ANALYSIS, THE LIMITATIONS OF MANUAL METHODS, AND THE DEVELOPMENT AND OPERATION OF OCAP.

Abstract

OCAP, A COMPUTER-BASED INTELLIGENCE ANALYSIS PROGRAM, HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED AT THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE AND AT THE COORDINATED LAW ENFORCEMENT UNIT OF THE DEPARTMENT OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA. THE PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO (1) HELP THE ANALYST SELECT AND ORGANIZE INFORMATION, (2) PROVIDE A FLEXIBLE AND SELECTIVE SYSTEM OF ANALYTICAL PRODUCTS, AND (3) MINIMIZE THE ANALYST'S TIME AND EFFORT IN COMPLETING ANALYTICAL ROUTINES. CURRENT INTELLIGENCE ANALYSIS METHODS ARE SOMETIMES LIMITED BY LACK OF SCOPE, FLEXIBILITY, AND PRECISION IN DEALING WITH MORE COMPLEX CASES. THEY MAY BE TIME CONSUMING AND LIMITED IN THEIR SELECTIVITY. OCAP'S SET OF COMPUTER ROUTINES, DESIGNED TO HELP THE ANALYST ASSEMBLE THE BEST POSSIBLE PICTURE OF AN ORGANIZED CRIMINAL OPERATION, IS BASED ON THE IDEA THAT VALID INFERENCES ABOUT ORGANIZED CRIME MUST BE BASED ON AN UNDERSTANDING OF THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND CRIMINAL ACTIVITIES INVOLVED. OCAP COMPUTER ROUTINES OPERATE ON FOUR KINDS OF INFORMATION: ENTITY, LINKTYPE, STRENGTH, AND VALIDITY. ENTITIES ARE PERSONS OR THINGS THAT MIGHT BE LINKED TO ONE ANOTHER IN SOME WAY; LINKTYPES ARE DESCRIPTIONS OF THESE LINKS OR RELATIONSHIPS; STRENGTH IS AN ESTIMATE OF THE STRENGTH OF THE LINK BETWEEN TWO ENTITIES AS JUDGED FROM INFORMATION AVAILABLE; AND VALIDITY IS THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE LINK OF SPECIFIED STRENGTH EXISTS AS DESCRIBED. OTHER FEATURES AND PRODUCTS OF OCAP ARE SUMMARIZED INCLUDING DATA BASE PRINTOUT, ASSOCIATION LISTING, SELECTIVE LINK NETWORKS, LINK PATH LISTING, LINKTYPE EMPHASIS, AND AN OPERATIONAL OVERVIEW. FIGURES ILLUSTRATING DATA BASE PRINTOUT, ALPHABETICAL LINK-SOURCE LISTING, A SAMPLE LINK NETWORK, MONEY FLOW CHART, SAMPLE LINK PATH, AND MAJOR OPERATION FLOW CHART, ARE ATTACHED. (AOP)