Geospatial Intelligence Applications in Law Enforcement Analysis Gregory Thomas

Law Enforcement Analysis Supports Law Enforcement Analysis Supports Crime Prevention  Shows patterns of criminal incidents.  Forecasts community threats.  Assists in the effective deployment of patrol.  Supports community policing efforts.

Crime Mapping The process of using a geographic information system to conduct spatial analysis of crime problems and other police-related issues.  Facilitates visual and statistical analyses of crime.  Allows linkage based on common variables.  Helps to communicate results of analysis. (Crime Analysis and Crime Mapping, R. Boba, 2005, pp )

Environmental Criminology  Rational Choice Theory  Choices made based on opportunities and rewards.  Crime Pattern Theory  Crimes occur where offender’s space overlaps w/victim’s.  Routine Activity Theory  Opportunities change based on changes in behavior.  Environmental Design Theory  Identify and alter geographical characteristics that contribute to criminal predation.  Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (Defensible Space, O. Newman, 1972) (See also: R. Boba, 2005; T. Baker, 2005)

Geographic Distribution Analysis  Occurrence of activity over a particular geographic area.  Plot events and summarize what it depicts.  Map depicting the flow of activities or services from one location to another.  Illustrates flow chart on a map.

Geographic Flow Chart Cocaine Flow to the United States Source: ONDCP, Annual Assessment of Cocaine Movement.

Spatial Pattern Analysis  Analyze and correlate data sources.  Create snapshot of crime incidents and related factors within a geographical area.  Look for patterns:  Locations  Distances  Direction  Hot spots

Geographic Distribution Analysis Crime Mapping

Crime Data Includes:  Crime Incidents  Arrests  Calls for Service  Accidents Philadelphia Police Department Crime Maps

Sex Offenders – Child Abductions  National Sex Offender Registry 

Motor Vehicle Theft  OnStar  Stolen Vehicle Slowdown   Lowjack  Stolen Vehicle Recovery System  Vehicle Theft Hot Spots

Travel of Suspects  Cell phone towers  The snitch in your pocket, Newsweek (  Road tolls  Purchase receipts

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Operational Information  Surveillance  Raids  Pre-op plans  Gunshot detection systems Target location

On-line Resources/Reading National Institute of Justice Mapping and Analysis for Public Safety Introductory Guide to Crime Analysis and Mapping Manual of Crime Analysis Map Production

Other References  R. Boba, 2005, Crime Analysis and Crime Mapping.  T. Baker, 2005, Introductory Criminal Analysis.