Critique of two law enforcement crime analysis and mapping websites

¶ … Law Enforcement Web Sites

Web Site No. 1: Police Foundation at http://www.policefoundation.org/

Positive Components. This Web site provides a comprehensive overview of its history and mission, as well as presenting a wide range of law enforcement-related resources that are available online as well as in print. Established in 1970 following the publication of the 1965 Presidential Commission report, "The Challenge of Crime in a Free Society," as well as subsequent reports from the Commission on Civil Disorders and the Commission on the Causes and Prevention of Violence, the Police Foundation has a stated goal to assist law enforcement agencies across the country become more effective.

The Police Foundation offers an array of professional services on its Web site, including training, technical assistance, and consulting services through its Crime Mapping and Problem Analysis Laboratory based on its mission to "promote the substantive application of problem analysis, crime analysis, and crime mapping, and work to develop the physical and theoretical infrastructure necessary for further innovations in police and criminological theory."

In collaboration with four other law enforcement organizations, the Police Foundation has played a leading role in the introduction, implementation and sustainment of community-based policing in the United States. In the past 2 decades or so, the Police Foundation has provided community policing education, training, and technical assistance to more than 1,000 law enforcement agencies and communities across the country.

The Web site features a site map that makes navigation through the various resources a straightforward matter, including links to the following:

1. About the Police Foundation (this includes the foundation's history, a listing of its professional services, a summary of its community-based policing initiatives, special projects, foundation leaders, a description of its fellowship program, available employment and internships, and more);

2. A "What's new" component that reports current issues of interest.

3. Research, evaluation and professional services (this component includes information concerning research and evaluation, additional information concerning available professional services; current initiatives and recent projects as well as staff member information).

4. A description of the RAMS II/QSI software application (this component includes a menu, overview of the application and its features/benefits, a testimonials page in support of its use as well as supplemental information and a PDF file entitled "Early-Warning Systems for Law Enforcement"; this component also features a frequently asked questions page and a contact link).

5. A communication component that features press releases from the foundation for the past 15 years or so.

6. A publications component that provides a list of publications available from the foundation as well as links to PDF files and an electronic library that is organized according to law enforcement topic.

7. A search function that allows the use of key words to search the foundation Web site.

8. A contact link to the foundation as well as links to other law enforcement resources.

Negative Components.

1. The search function was not available and no explanation was given nor an estimated date when it would be available.

2. Additional plug-ins were required in order to view all of the Web site's contents.

3. The site map was not prominently displayed.

Recommendations for Improvement.

1. Eliminate the need for additional plug-ins to make the Web site more accessible.

2. Indicate when the search function will be available (or better yet, fix it).

3. Place the site map prominently on the Web site's main page.

Web Site No. 2: U.S. Department of Justice's Bureau of Justice Statistics (BJS) at http://bjs.ojp.usdoj. gov/.

Positive Components. Established in 1979 pursuant to the Justice Systems Improvement Act of 1979, the stated mission of the BJS is to "collect, analyze, publish, and disseminate information on crime, criminal offenders, victims of crime, and the operation of justice systems at all levels of government."

1. The Web site's site map is prominently displayed in a tool bar at the top of the site's home page as well as a navigation tool to the left of the page.

2. As a leading resource for law enforcement agencies, the BJS provides crime mapping resources that are available in graphic form as well as data table and spreadsheet formats; this function can also be sorted according to the desired topic.

3. A multitude of law enforcement publications are available through the Web site.