GIS APPLICATIONS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE Melanie Tennant, Research Associate Gisela Bichler-Robertson, Director CPAL-CSU, San Bernardino Association for Criminal

GIS APPLICATIONS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE

Melanie Tennant, Research AssociateGisela Bichler-Robertson, Director

CPAL-CSU, San Bernardino

Association for Criminal Justice Research

Oct. 18-19, 2001, San Diego

http://cjrc.csusb.edu/CPAL/CPAL.html

CPAL- CSU San Bernardino

I. What is GIS?

Geographic spatial realities

Information data and their

meaning

System computer

technology


The GIS Funnel

Source: Davis, B., (1996). GIS a Visual Approach. Onward Press. Pg. 26.


GIS Analysis:

Techniques using maps to explore data and identify patterns.

• Pin Maps

• Cloropleth or Thematic Maps

• Density Maps


Current GIS Applications inCriminal Justice

• Law Enforcement– Arson Investigation– Border Patrol– Police Departments

• Courts• Corrections• Probation/Parole


II. Police Use of GIS

1. Augment Traditional Functions– Crime Analysis– Information Dissemination

2. Enhance Problem Solving– Community and Problem-oriented

Policing – Task Forces


Enhancing Traditional Crime Analysis

Strategic– Identify unusual activity

levels by time or location

– Forecast potential crime events/ concentration

CPAL- CSU San BernardinoSource: Bueermann, J. (1999). Mapping for

Managers. CMRC 10th Annual Conference.


Tactical– Day to day– For series, patterns, sprees, hot spots– Used for Deployment & Administration


Source: Bueermann, J. (1999). Mapping for Managers. CMRC 10th Annual Conference.


Investigative– crime scene, psychological &

forensic information

– link serial or related events

– Temporal, geographic, DAN evidence to develop trends

CPAL- CSU San BernardinoSource: Rossmo, 1999. Figure 6.1. In: K. Harries. Mapping Crime:Principle and Practice. NIJ.P.153


Intelligence

– linkage between crime organizations & enterprises

– Relate elements such as companies, agencies, people, times, days, to crimes & places




Operations – Assess needs (calls for service,

population of data & demographics)

– Generate projections for deployment & resource allocation

CPAL- CSU San BernardinoSource: Hayes, (2001). “Patrol Deployment/ Redistricting ®” IACA Training Conference, Long Beach Sept. 20th 2001.


Academic or Administrative – reports or statistical summaries for

grant funding, commanders & public

– Policy implications beyond law enforcement


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Source: Bueermann, J. (1999). Mapping for Managers. CMRC 10th Annual Conference.


III. Challenges to Using GIS

Ethical Issues– Redlining– Privacy Issues/Liability

Technological limitations– Learning curve– Data Compatibility (format)

Data Limitations– Large scales/ detail of basemaps– Availability and Currency– Lack of micro-level data


Making Data & Mapping Available to the Community

Advantages

Public awareness

Partnerships

Involvement/ Empowerment

Accountability

Disadvantages

Privacy

Commercialization

Redlining

Insurance rates

Misinterpretation


There are some important things that you needto know about before using this data!

1. ALL ASPECTS OF THE DATA PROVIDED HEREIN ARE SUSCEPTIBLE TO A DEGREE OF ERROR DUE TO THE COMPLEXITIES OF THE PROCESS INVOLVED IN COMPILING AND PROGRAMMING THE DATA. NO WARRANTY, REPRESENTATION OR GUARANTY IS MADE OR IMPLIED REGARDING THE CONTENT, SEQUENCE, ACCURACY, TIMELINESS OR COMPLETENESS OF THE DATA PROVIDED HEREIN.

2. THIS VISUAL PRESENTATION OF DATA IS BEING PROVIDED STRICTLY AS A COURTESY, AND NOT AS AN OBLIGATION, TO ITS READERS. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT DOES NOT HAVE STAFF AVAILABLE TO ASSIST IN THE INTERPRETATION OF THE DATA PRESENTED HEREIN

I have read and understand the above Continue I do not wish to continue Back to main menu

Sacramento Police Department http://citymaps.sacto.org/GISAPPS2/cdisclaimer.htm


• Lack of micro-level data in digital form

• Aggregation of community information

Place Intensive Research

Data Limitations impact Problem Solving

LEADS TO


GIS Analysis – Aggregated

information – Large scale analysis – Data and

technological limitations

Place Intensive Methods

–Resource limitations–Scale & boundaries–Lost community context

SOLUTION

Blended Approach


Blended Approach

Phase 1. Community-level Analysis

Crime Analysis provides a framework and focus.

Phase 2. Contextual-level Analysis

Abbreviated User Analysis identifies micro, community level attributes that influence crime.


Copies of this Presentation are available from:

Crime Prevention Analysis Lab

California State University

San Bernardino

cjrc.csusb.edu/CPAL/CPAL.html

Documents

GIS APPLICATIONS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE Melanie Tennant, Research Associate Gisela Bichler-Robertson, Director CPAL-CSU, San Bernardino Association for Criminal