Crime analysis is a function in law enforcement that systematically analyzes patterns and trends for the purpose of identifying potential criminal activity. As such, this information is critical to law enforcement agencies as it provides bearing on the deployment of policing resources effectively, thereby enabling law enforcement officers to identify and swiftly apprehend suspects. Due to its unique utilization of information, crime analysis is also effective in developing solutions to crime problems and developing effective crime reduction and prevention strategies. One significant problem in the United States is that of gang activity and related homicides. The gang problem is a major one in the country, with an estimated 27,000 gangs operating in the country with over 850,000 members as of 2012. Almost half of these gangs operate within larger cities, where suburban and large cities account for 80 percent of gang activity (National Gang Center, 2013). The result is crime analysis is critical for crime reduction, as it will result in a significantly lower number of gang-related homicides and deaths. This paper reviews how crime analysis could be used to counter this crime problem.
Crime analysis can be used by law enforcement agencies as part of criminal mapping. Crime analysts are responsible for studying arrest reports, police calls and crime reports. The effect is to come up with sufficient information to detect series, patterns and trends as soon as possible and thereby divert resources to these areas. Criminal mapping will therefore obtain demographic and geographic data from the police resources and determine the gang-related violence activities and provide recommendations to the police service on courses of action. This is because such information could be useful in predicting future occurrences, thereby saving the law enforcement agencies from unnecessary strain. For instance, street profile mapping has been developed as a new technology to aid police in identifying potentially dangerous streets and provide additional resources for these areas (Spicer, Song, Brantingham, Park, & Andresen, 2016).
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Crime prevention is also an objective of crime analysis. As seen above, crime analysis can be used for mapping purposes. By developing crime analysis strategies aimed at reducing gang-related homicides, different mechanisms have been used to develop deterrence programs. For instance, the Group Violence Deterrence Strategy has been applied in New Orleans to reduce the incidence of gang-related violence and homicides. Using crime analysis, the program has effectively reduced firearm assaults, firearm-related homicides and overall homicides within the city after the post-test period. Moreover, New Orleans shows decreased homicide rates compared with other cities which have similar crime rates (National Institute of Justice, 2016).
Crime analysis could also be used for the purpose of criminal apprehension. In instances where gang-related activity has already been documented and criminal prevention is already an alternative, criminal apprehension is one of the strategies that could be implemented using crime analysis. Hot Spots policing is an example of a program is Lowell, MA which seeks to implement disorder policing within crime hotspots, thereby reducing instances of gang-related violence (National Institute of Justice, 2011). Finally, different crime strategies are developed using research obtained during crime analysis. Where a multi-faceted approach will be required to reduce crime levels in an area, research during crime analysis could provide research for future approaches to law enforcement (Weisburd, 2018).
In conclusion, it becomes evident how crime analysis could be used to counter gang-related violence, which is a major problem in the United States. By using such methods to map crime, prevent future incidents and apprehend criminals. Moreover, this information could be used for future research and aid in developing law enforcement strategies that work.
References
National Gang Center. (2013). Measuring the Extent of Gang Problems . Retrieved from National Gang Center: https://www.nationalgangcenter.gov/survey-analysis/measuring-the-extent-of-gang-problems
National Institute of Justice. (2011). Program Profile: Hot Spots Policing (Lowell, Mass.) . Retrieved from National Institute of Justice: https://www.crimesolutions.gov/ProgramDetails.aspx?ID=208
National Institute of Justice. (2016). Program Profile: Group Violence Reduction Strategy (New Orleans, Louisiana) . Retrieved from National Institute of Justice: https://www.crimesolutions.gov/ProgramDetails.aspx?ID=490
Spicer, V., Song, J., Brantingham, P., Park, A., & Andresen, M. A. (2016). Street profile analysis: A new method for mapping crime on major roadways. Applied Geography, 69 , 65-74.
Weisburd, D. (2018). From criminals to criminal contexts: Reorienting crime prevention research and policy. In D. Weisburd, Crime and social organization (pp. 215-234). New York: Routledge.
