Introduction: Crime AnalysisThe primary purpose of crime analysis is to determine trends or patterns. Identifying trends and patterns helps law enforcement administrators and public officials to direct resources appropriately in order to prevent and respond to crime. There are three types of crime analysis: tactical, strategic, and administrative. Each of these types of crime analysis involves gathering, collecting, and analyzing aggregate crime data. Administrative crime analysis helps municipalities plan their resources, and is especially important for making financial and human resources decisions, as well as evidence-based changes to public policy. Strategic crime analysis helps police departments make their own administrative decisions with the resources they have available, using crime data to distribute human and financial resources accordingly. Finally, tactical crime analyses are for making immediate decisions. While all of these types of crime analysis use data to drive evidence-based decision-making, the data collected will be different for each type of crime analysis. Furthermore, the research questions way the data is used will differ depending on the type of crime analysis needed.

To perform any type of crime analysis, for administrative, strategic, or tactical purposes, crime researchers use various tools and products including maps or statistical reports. These reports can be gleaned from a number of sources. The International Association of Crime Analysts...

This report indicates the number of auto thefts and car break-ins resulting in the theft of GPS devices and stereos, using a graph to show what time of day those crimes are taking place. Knowing what time of day the property crimes are taking place helps law enforcement work with private security personnel to come up with immediate tactical interventions. For example, most stereo and auto thefts have been occurring between 17:00 and 20:00, whereas the GPS thefts are occurring between 12:00 and 6:00. The product also lists the most vulnerable days of the week and specific areas of the parking lot. Knowing this, law enforcement can place additional patrol officers in the high risk areas of the mall parking lot during those hours or hire additional personnel to monitor the CCTV footage live during those times.
Strategic

The Albany Monthly Crime Brief (https://www.iaca.net/CAUDC/Products/AlbanyMonthlyCrimeBrief.pdf) is a perfect example of a product or tool that can be used to make important strategic decisions within a specific police department. The…