NCJ Number
16681
Date Published
1974
Length
43 pages
Annotation
TWO COMPUTER DATA ANALYSIS SYSTEMS WHICH PROVIDE CONCLUSIONS DRAWN FROM INPUT DATA TO BE USED IN CRIME PREVENTION AND CONTROL, MANPOWER ALLOCATION, AND RESEARCH ON CRIME PROBLEMS AND CAUSES.
Abstract
CAPER PROVIDES A COUNTY-WIDE SYSTEM FOR SCIENTIFIC CRIME ANALYSIS USED FOR CONCEPTUALIZING AND DEVELOPING CRIME REDUCTION PROGRAMS, CREATING STRATEGIC AND TACTICAL PROJECTS TO REDUCE THE INCIDENCE OF CRIME AND IMPROVE THE ADMINISTRATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE, AS WELL AS PROVIDING A BASE FOR EVALUATING IMPLEMENTED PROGRAMS AND PROJECTS. IN COMPARISON TO PREVIOUS DATA-HANDLING SYSTEMS, CAPER IS CONSIDERED CAPABLE OF PROVIDING BETTER SERVICE AT NO MAJOR INCREASE IN COST. ITS SUCCESS, HOWEVER, IS NOT JUDGED TO BE NOTABLY GREATER THAN THAT OF SIMILAR SYSTEMS. IN OPERATIONAL CHARACTERISTICS, CAPER AND PREWARNS ARE IDENTICAL, BUT HAVE DIFFERENT GOALS IN THEIR USE. BESIDES PROVIDING MANAGEMENT AND PROJECT DEVELOPMENT INFORMATION, PREWARNS EMPHASIZES THE DEVELOPMENT OF PREDICTIVE AND EXPLANATORY MODELS OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. PREWARNS IS CONSIDERED TO BE ONE OF THE FIRST SUCCESSFUL USES OF APPLIED RESEARCH IN SOCIAL SCIENCE. IT IS DEEMED PARTICULARY EFFECTIVE IN COMMUNICATING IMMEDIATELY INFORMATION NEEDED BY OFFICERS ON PATROL. THE ONLY WEAKNESS MENTIONED HAS TO DO WITH THE GAP THAT OFTEN EXISTS BETWEEN THE SOPHISTICATED ANALYSES OF THE SYSTEM AND THE LACK OF EXISTING ATTITUDES OR STRUCTURES TO APPLY THEM.