1.
Crime is one of the major problems in society. It is worth noting that there are various mechanisms that the criminal justice system uses to analyze and prevent criminal activities. Crime analysis s is a critical role that is associated with law enforcement agencies. It entails the systematic analysis for analyzing and identifying the trends and patterns in crime. Crime analysis continues to expand in law enforcement agencies around the world. In crime analysis, there are critical approaches of profiling; it includes the deductive and inductive approaches. There are the differences between inductive and deductive methods of crime analysis. The inductive method is based on the collected data concerning the mannerisms that criminals conduct during their crimes (Schutt, 2006). The law enforcement agencies gather the data and analyze the patterns that are associated with crime behaviors, and develop a theory that guide in crime analysis. Also, statistical base shows that even if criminals vary they commit the same crime, which creates a pattern. Therefore, it creates a theory that identifies various traits of a suspect. For example, criminal analysts may find that serial killers were found to have committed animal abuse and arson in the past. Inductively, it can be concluded that most of the serial killers conduct the same activities. The inductive method does not require specialized intuitive, forensic and psychological. The inductive process entails crime scene data, hypothesis, empirical analysis, and finally a theory.
On the other hand, the deductive approach requires a specialized forensic and psychological analysis. The results of the deductive method are based on forensic uniqueness. Also, the deductive method applies personal experiences on all instances of crime, unlike the inductive approach that is theoretically driven. The deductive investigator uses the crime scene to create a link between the victim and the perpetrators. Compared to inductive method, a deductive method is a time-consuming and more accurate profile (Holmes et al., 2002). The deductive process entails arrival at the crime scene, hypothesis, observation and confirmation after the arrest. The deductive methods begin with an assumption of behavior, while inductive method relies on police reports, data collected at the crime scene, and psychological evaluation. Notably, the process of the inductive method of crime analysis is the reverse of the deductive method. The deductive method moves from a general perspective to more specific objectives. Another difference is that deductive method can recognize modes operand between cases (Schutt, 2006). Despite the differences between deductive and inductive approach, both methods can be complementary. It means that both methods can be used for crime analysis. Law enforcement may not plan to use both methods, but as the investigation continue one of the methods leads to the other.
2.
Police use various approaches to responding to patterns identified by the crime analyst. It is worth nothing that the officers have different patterns to observe during criminal analysis. Police responses are influenced by numerous factors, which include time and period of the day. The type of response that the police use is streamlined towards deterring and arresting offenders. One of the methods that police officer uses includes clearing cases and investigating the patterns. It is a process that takes place on daily based on the cases. Detectives work together in ensuring that cases that are presented are solved (Santos, 2013). The method enables the detectives to solve cases efficiently and simpler. There are occasions whereby the crime patterns are related to other cases. In such situation, the patterns assist police in dealing with the current crimes. The crime patterns create a platform for handling other related crimes.
The second way that the police respond to patterns is by communicating with the victims of the cases under analysis and building field contact. The police get in contact with the victims to get more insights and analyze the situation. Getting in contact with the victims entails situation whereby the victim is alive. There are strategies that the police use, which enables the residents to provide information related to crime (Kappeler, & Gaines, 2011). The response method provides an avenue for the police to get information on the times, dates and potential areas of attack. The police can provide security on the environments that require. The response is useful for those victims who feel that the same crime could happen to them. Calling the victims is a response that the police can utilize in relation to patterns identified by crime analysts. The crime analysts should comprehend how the law enforcement agencies use the results of patterns. For example, if the pattern entails daytime burglary in the neighborhood, the police would respond by stopping daytime burglaries in the neighborhood.
The third response that the police use is working with the community members. The police use the public to assist in dealing with crime patterns in the community. It entails providing the public with pattern information. The police can receive additional information from the public and report crimes that the law enforcement agencies are not aware. On the same note, the offenders will comprehend that the police are aware of their activities in the society (Santos, 2013). Also, the response enables the public to protect themselves because they are aware of the patterns. The law enforcement agencies should be very careful when using this type of response. It might be avenues for offenders to change their behavior patterns.
3.
Crime analysis have to use various steps in investigating the crime. In the United States, a criminal investigation is a mandatory process within the criminal justice system. It is believed that the process enhances trust, efficiency, and credibility of the criminal justice system. The crime analysis entails strategic, tactical and administrative perspectives. Each strategy is streamlined towards acquiring timely and comprehensive information and trend correlations. One of the stage that analysts use to examine events is planning and direction (Santos, 2013). The crime analysis has to identify the event and plan on how to deliver finished product to the law enforcement agencies. They should be guided by what is to be achieved after analyzing an event. Direction and preparation stage is essential because it determines the outcome of the analysis.
The second stage entails the collection and management of information. The crime analyst has to gather information through a collection of raw data that is linked to the event. Each of the information collected should be analyzed, and relevant relationship identified. The information need to be developed objectives to arrive at a comprehensive conclusion regarding the event (Cole, 2016). The data collected is analyzed and translated into a finished product that could assist in understanding the event.
The crime analyst focuses on the event through the aftermath stages. It is part analyzing the problems associated with the event. It entails the activities and occurrence after the event has taken place (Eck & Clarke, 2014). The issues to be analyzed include offender feeling the scene of crime, use of stolen documents such as credit card, as well as fencing of stolen property. The initial information about the events are qualitative and can be collected by the crime analysis through the reading of police reports and talking to victims.
One of the hypothetical problems that require the application of the stages is the burglary cases. The analyst has to focus on the reasons that led to the problem, which entails driving through the neighborhood. Also, the other issues are analyzing the event. The stage entails collecting and managing relevant information that may assist in solving the problem, In this case; it entails the problematic behaviors such as breaking the windows of the house. Also, the aftermath stage is focused on the use of stolen credit cards or fleeing from the crime scene by the offender (Santos, 2013). Notably, problematic behavior and crime can be committed to the aftermath stage. The hypothesis of events can be used to guide crime analyst on the additional analysis and data collection.
4.
Crime in society is evenly or randomly distributed across space. Hot spots refer to the geographical are of higher than average disorder or crime. Identification of hot spots plays a tremendous role in how the police and other law enforcement agencies address crime problems in society. Crime analysts are expected to identify the hot spots in society objectively. Identification of crime hot spots creates a platform for crime reduction and prevention. There are numerous methods that are used to identify hot spots. Notably, there is no standard inception for what constitute hot spots. One of the methods is visualizing the high crime areas using the crime maps. Crime maps detect the areas with high level of crime (Boba, 2006). For example, the analysis may identify the business that has been burglarized many times within a specific period. Crime maps detect the high crime areas, which assist in answering various theories associated with hot spots.
Manual analysis is another technique that assists in identifying hot spots in society. It entails visualization of the distribution of crime areas. It is part of a mapping technique that is used in crime analysis (Boba, 2006). One of the challenges is that it is complex to identify the size and location of hot spots when data is represented as points.
Statistical tests is another method to identify hot spots. It entails the use of statistical software to determine whether the clustering of crimes randomly occur or are concentrated in one area. The concentration of points in one shows that it is a hot spot. Some of the software’s include the GeoDa and CrimeStat III. Other methods include the Kernel Density Estimation. It is a non-parametric way of identifying the probability of density function (Hart, & Zandbergen, 2014). Hot spots are identified using the technique. It is a data smoothing problem because finite data sample is used to infer about a population.
The best method that a crime analyst should use is the geographical methods that use crime maps. It is efficient because it is more accurate compared to other methods. Also, more of the information is based on the guided police actions and crime theories. Crime analysis should be aware of the various methods of identifying hot spots. It is recommended that analyst uses multiple methods before making a conclusive decision (Ratcliffe, & Chainey, 2013). Also, multiple datasets should be used when examining the areas that are hot spots. Crime analysts are encouraged to incorporate crime and non-crime data when identifying the hot spots in the community. Identification of hot spots is useful to law enforcement agencies and the community. It enhances crime preparedness and prevention.
5.
Repeat victimization analysis is very important for crime analysts. The concept of repeat victimization is useful in enhancing crime prevention mechanisms and identifying the crime patterns in society. Crime analyst reviews the reports of the police on a daily basis. Repeat victimization assists crime analyst in identifying the patterns of crime. Crime analyst uses the information to inform the law enforcement and community on the occurrence of crime. Repeat victimization facilitates the forecasting of future crimes in society (Moss, & Stephens, 2006). Crime analyst uses information on repeat victimization to link the local intelligence to the crime. Also, it is useful in assisting police on patrol to operate efficiently and effectively. The police can engage in problem-solving efficiently because of the guidelines of a crime analyst.
Repeat victimization is useful to crime analyst because it strengths the partnership between them and the police. The information analyst by the crime experts can be used to map out hot spots in society. Additionally, repeat victimization analyst assists in profiling offenders. It enables the law enforcement agencies and crime analyst to adjust their priorities to the right people and areas (Clarke, & Eck, 2003). Repeat victimization analysis assists in the development of programs and strategies that are streamlined towards crime prevention. For example, is a specific are is linked to repeat victimization the law enforcement and crime analyst can develop programs that inform the community members. Crime analyst believes that repeat victimization is an indication of a hot spot. It enables the police to prevent crimes on the suspected hot spots.
Repeat crimes assist crime analyst in decreasing the likelihood of crimes in the future. They use the information to create a database that is linked to criminal activities. Also, it enables the crime analyst to identify the main factors that led to crime in society. The identification of risk factors creates a platform towards crime prevention. Additionally, repeat victimization enhances data accuracy and sharing. The police can share data of repeat victimization to enhance information networks (Moss, & Stephens, 2006). The individual victims may relocate to avoid re-victimization. Repeat victimization improves the quality of data through mapping of crime activities. The data that is used by crime analyst are precise and more accurate. Repeat victimization increase effectiveness of crime reduction strategies in society. The law enforcement agencies can allocate resources based on demands (Clarke, & Eck, 2003). The crime analyst uses the repeat victimization to help the police comprehend the surge of data collected. In the general perspective, repeat victimization is useful to crime analyst. The benefits of repeat victimization are redistributed to the criminal justice system through crime analyst.
References
Boba, R. (2006). Crime analysis and crime mapping. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications.
Clarke, R. V. G., & Eck, J. (2003). Become a problem-solving crime analyst: In 55 small steps. London: Jill Dando Institute of Crime Science, University College London.
Cole, G. F. (2016). Criminal justice in America. New York: Wadsworth.
Eck, J., & Clarke, R. (2014). Become a Problem-Solving Crime Analyst. London: Routledge.
Hart, T & Zandbergen, P. (2014). "Kernel density estimation and hotspot mapping: Examining the influence of interpolation method, grid cell size, and bandwidth on crime forecasting," Policing: An International Journal of Police Strategies & Management, Vol. 37 Iss: 2, pp.305 – 32.
Holmes, R.M., & Holmes, S.T. (2002). Profiling Violent Crimes, an Investigative Tool. Thousand Oaks, CA. Sage Publications.
Kappeler, V & Gaines, L. (2011). Policing in America. London: Wiley.
Moss, M., & Stephens, M. (2006). Crime Reduction and the Law. London: Wiley.
Ratcliffe, J., & Chainey, S. (2013). Gis and crime mapping. Hoboken, N.J: Wiley.
Santos, R. B. (2013). Crime analysis with crime mapping. Thousand Oaks, Calif: SAGE.
Schutt, R. K. (2006). Investigating the social world: The process and practice of research. Thousand Oaks, CA: Pine Forge Press.
