Crime analysis is a significant method used by law enforcement agencies that assists them in a number of areas that include reducing and preventing crime. Using data that is gathered by several sources, Crime Analysts help answer questions about the people involved in the crime, where the crime occurred and the reasons of crime.
During crime analysis, a specific process is followed by the analyst. The steps in the process include: data collection, data organization, data analysis, dissemination and lastly feedback. The media plays a great role in the crime analysis process. An example that can be adequately cited is that of an investigative journalist. In order for an investigative journalist to air an article or feature, he has to go through each and every step named above and sometimes even use simulations in order to answer all the questions that crime analysis begs answers. (Boba, 2012)
Crime analysis in many ways utilizes systematic methods and information to support the mission of the police agency and to provide information to a wide range of audiences: police management, police officers, students, citizens, as well as, other analysts and the media.
The reasons why crime analysis is a valuable asset include: The findings of a crime analyst’s research and evaluation of police responses to crime problems assist police agencies in assessing their effectiveness. Temporal spatial (crime mapping), and social demographic factors are key areas of focus in crime analyst’s examination of crime, disorder and other police related issues. Interpreting and disseminating crime figures and other associated material to be utilized as aids for more effectual along with efficient operation of the department. Preparing and distributing periodical statistical reports. Processing and preparing crime reports for keypunch and tabulating operations. Interpreting and disseminating crime statistics and other related matter.
At one extreme, some researchers have argued that the news media is extremely controlling, and that it can instill particular perspectives into its audience. The other extreme has scholars who contend that the media has very minimal effects on individuals for a number of reasons such as, mediating conditions, which include their selective contact with media sources which they find congenial to their ways of thinking, selective sensitivities, in accordance with preexisting viewpoints, and selective retention of the material that is consistent with their own preferences.
Media has a greater impact on the policy preferences of minorities, younger people, and less-educated people, because they use fewer and less complex media sources. Nonetheless, as the author of the study admits, "[the presence of a relation between the media use and complexity and fear does not necessarily imply a cause-and effect relation between them." In other words, individuals with more sophisticated thinking processes may self-select more complex media sources, which would mean that media use patterns have little independent influence on policy preferences. More research will be needed to determine the actual impact of media use pattern.
References
National Criminal Justice Reference Service (U.S.), & National Institute of Justice (U.S.). (1980). Crime analysis. Washington, D.C: U.S. Dept. of Justice, National Institute of Justice.
San Diego (Calif.). (1900). Crime analysis. San Diego: San Diego Police Dept.
Santos, R. B., Police Foundation (U.S.).,& United States. (2001). Introductory guide to crime analysis and mapping. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Dept. of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services.
