Write a One-Page Reaction Paper on the concept of "Geographic Data", as per the Video Lecture, and include its significance relating to 1) Crime Analysis, and 2) Crime Mapping. Please utilize clear, concise detail in your response and reaction.
NOTES:
Repeat Incidents
Most prevalent type of data regarding the aspect of Crime Analysis and Mapping
Concept of Problem Solving
Begins with identifying addresses with multiple calls for service due to ongoing disorder and quality of life issues
Analysis- WHY?
1. Understanding the cause of the repeat incident activity
2. Requirement: Conducting qualitative data collection (interviews) before resolving issue through a response (follow-ups)
3. Developing the Repeat Incident Report
a. Time period of the report: Two to four weeks; rolling
b. Number of calls that constitutes a repeat incident
4. Repeat Incident Data Collection
Calls for service data are used to identify repeat incident locations
Relating to disorder, quality of life, and interpersonal disputes
Tactical Crime Data Analysis
How, when, and where crimes have occurred
Mixed-Methods data such as date, time, location, and type of crime
The types of crimes most often examined include the following:
Theft from Vehicle
Auto theft
Grand Theft
Vandalism
Commercial burglary
Residential burglary
Indecent exposure
Public sexual indecency
Rape
Robbery
Not typically used to examine crimes in which the victim and offender know each other
Assists in the recognition of what the Threshold is for specific offenses.
Crime Report Data
Modus Operandi: a Latin term meaning literally "method of procedure," refers to the method of the crime:
What: the type of crime
How: how the crime was carried out
Point of entry: where the suspect(s) entered the property
Method of entry: how the suspect(s) entered the location
Suspect's actions: what the suspect(s) did during the crime
Action against property: what the suspect(s) did to the property
Object of attack: the type of person or property attacked
Method of departure: how the suspect(s) left the scene
Weapon type: the type(s) of weapon(s) used in the commission of the crime
Property taken: the items stolen during the commission of the crime
Where: where the crime was committed.
Address: the exact address where the crime occurred
Address name: the commercial name, if any, of where the crime occurred
Type of location: the category of location where the crime occurred
Area: area in which the crime occurred
When: when the crime was committed.
Exact time and date of the crime: used when the exact time and date are known; typically for persons crimes
First date and time: the first possible date and time the crime could have occurred (beginning of a time span); typically for property crimes that are not witnessed
Last date and time: the last possible date and time the crime could have occurred (end of a time span)
Qualitative information about crime incidents may also be included in a tactical crime analysis database
Field Information
Not all types of incidents in which officers collect field information are useful for Pattern Analysis
Example: identifying potential leads or individuals who are continually being contacted by the police for suspicious behavior
Four types of field information are most relevant in Tactical Crime Analysis:
Suspicious person(s)
Suspicious vehicle(s)
Person(s) warned for trespassing
Individuals with unique scars, marks, or tattoos
The data collected about an incident includes general information about the characteristics of the incident, the person, and the vehicle involved (if applicable)
Persons Data: About a person involved in a crime
Type of contact: the classification of the individual within the crime incident
Investigative lead: a person who is a potential suspect for a crime
Mention: a person mentioned in the report
Suspect: a person who was seen committing the crime or about whom there is enough evidence to "suspect" he or she committed the crime
Known offender: a person who has been convicted, not just arrested, for any crime other than a sex offense
Sex offender: a person who has been convicted, not just arrested, for a sex offense
Victim: a person who is the victim of the crime
Witness: a person who is able to provide information about the crime
ALL need : Name/address/date of birth: the name, address, and birth date of the individual, when these are known, as well as any aliases
Physical description: a description of the person's static physical characteristics
Age: computed from the date of birth or a range for a suspect whose birthday is not known
Sex (male or female): based on driver's license information of a known person or on a witness description
Height: observed by an officer or a range based on a witness description
Weight: observed by an officer or a range based on a witness description
Eye color: observed by an officer or based on a witness description
Race/ethnicity: based on the person's self-classification on his or her driver's license or on a witness description
Build: the general body type; officer's observation or a witness description
Teeth condition: the nature of the individual's teeth observed
Hand use: whether the individual used one hand or another dominantly
Scars, tattoos, marks, or other distinguishing characteristics: permanent unique visible characteristics observed
Physical condition: a description of characteristics of the person that are not static
Hair color: observed by an officer or based on a witness description
Hair length: observed by an officer or based on a witness description
Physical condition: the immediate physical condition of the person, observed by an officer or based on a witness description
Facial hair: the type of facial hair, observed by an officer or based on a witness description
Appearance: the individual's general appearance, observed by an officer or based on a witness description
Complexion: the texture and tone of an individual's skin, observed by an officer or based on a witness description
Speech: how the individual spoke during the crime, based on a witness description
Photograph of the person is attached to the case record when available
Qualitative information describing anything unique about the person that may not be covered by the previous characteristics or that provides further explanation
Vehicle data
The third general category of information collected for pattern analysis concerns vehicles as they often serve key roles in the commission of crimes.
Offenders can use vehicles as:
transportation to and from the locations of their crimes
as weapons, or;
as methods of entry
Stolen vehicles are often used in the commission of crime.
Three types of information are collected about/from vehicles:
official information
physical description of vehicle used
the nature of the vehicle at the time of the incident.
The official information on a vehicle consists of its vehicle identification number, or VIN, which is a unique identifier, and;
The license plate number and state of issue.
The physical description of a vehicle includes the make, model, style, color, the model year, and the general type of vehicle.
The nature of the vehicle at the time of the incident includes its status and any other information about the current condition of the vehicle.