Crime analysis is an emerging profession in policing and a growing topic of interest in the criminal justice field. This book offers a thorough introduction to the field as well as guidelines for its practice, making it a useful asset for current and future crime analysts and police practitioners as well as for students.

Table of Contents

Part I: Introduction to the Crime Analysis and Crime Mapping Chapter 1: Introduction and Overview Chapter 2: Crime Analysis Defined Definition of Crime Analysis The Crime Analysis Process Types of Crime Analysis Summary Points Chapter 3: The Crime Analysis Profession History of Crime Analysis Current State of Crime Analysis Crime Analysis as a Career Track Summary Points Chapter 4: Introduction to Crime Mapping Definitions: GIS and Crime Mapping Geographic Features Types of Crime Mapping History of Crime Mapping Current State of Crime Mapping Crime Mapping as a Career Track Summary Points Chapter 5: Theory and Crime Analysis Environmental Criminology Situational Crime Prevention Repeat Victimization and the "80/20" Rule Displacement and Diffusion of Benefits Opportunity Summary Points Part II: Data and Technology Chapter 6: Crime Analysis Data Review of Terms Databases Used in Crime Analysis Geocoding Data Considerations Summary Points Chapter 7: Crime Analysis Technology Computer Hardware Data Collection and Storage Data Collation and Analysis Dissemination Specialized Crime Analysis Summary Points Part III: Tactical Crime Analysis Chapter 8: Tactical Crime Analysis Data Collection and Pattern Identification Collection and Collation of Tactical Crime Analysis Data Pattern Identification Methodology Identifying Investigative Leads Clearing Cases Summary Points Chapter 9: Describing, Analyzing, and Disseminating Known Patterns Describing and Analyzing Known Patterns Tactical Crime Analysis Products Summary Points Part IV: Strategic Crime Analysis Chapter 10: Analyzing Problems: Definition, Context, and Nature of the Problem What is a Problem? Context of the Problem Current Nature of the Problem Summary Points Chapter 11: Analyzing Problems: Temporal Analysis, Victimization, and Primary Data Collection Temporal Analysis Victims and Repeat Victimization Primary Data Collection Summary Points Chapter 12: Analyzing Problems: Spatial Analysis Displaying Data and Statistics Identifying and Categorizing Hotspots Summary Points Chapter 13: Strategic Crime Analysis Products Choosing Analysis Information to Disseminate Strategic Crime Analysis Products Templattes and Practical Examples Summary Points Part V: Administrative Crime Analysis Chapter 14: Administrative Crime Analysis Guidelines for Conducting Administrative Crime Analysis Administrative Crime Analysis Medium: The Internet Summary Points References Appendix A: Sample Problem Analysis Project Glossary of Terms

Author Biography

Rachel Boba (PhD and MA in sociology from Arizona State University and a BA in English and sociology from California Lutheran University) is an assistant professor at Florida Atlantic University in the Criminology and Criminal Justice program. At FAU, she teaches methods of research, criminal justice systems, crime prevention, problem solving, and analysis in policing as well as conducts research in the areas of problem solving, problem analysis, crime analysis, regional data sharing, and technology in policing. From 2000 to 2003, Dr. Boba was Director of the Police Foundation's Crime Mapping Laboratory where she directed federally funded grants in the areas of crime analysis and crime mapping, problem analysis, and school safety. Prior to her position at the Police Foundation, she worked as a crime analyst at the Tempe, Arizona, Police Department for five years where she conducted a wide variety of crime analysis and crime mapping work as well as applied research and evaluation.