Need Writing Help
Week 6 CI Peer Responses
No quoted material, no references. No less than 5 sentences.
Courtney: Crime mapping is mapping an area where crime can occur at any given point. During the 1900s, the concept of crime mapping started as the New York City Police Department began to pinpoint where areas of crime had occurred on maps. Manual pin mapping was standard and is still relevant in today's techniques as maps of the state and counties are in police departments being used frequently as officers manually pinpoint. A more advanced type of crime mapping is computer mapping. In the 1960s-70s, crime mapping was introduced digitally from a computer as it generated maps of crimes. This has allowed individuals to have a visual representation of where a crime can occur. From this, computer mapping has allowed law enforcement to see the geographic aspects such as streets, signs, and locations. With the aid of Geographic Information System (GIS), this unique software allows anything to be created in a three-dimensional visualization. "GIS is different from manual pin maps and computer maps in that it allows the analyst to view data behind the geographic features, combine various features, manipulate the data and maps, and perform statistical functions" (Boba & Rachel). Some of the components that allow crime mapping to be successful are data representation, data, features, visualization scale, and querying. These components are essential in pinpointing and collecting data that can predetermine crime areas. Federal programs such as the Crime Mapping Research Center (National Institute of Justice) and the Crime Mapping and Analysis Program (National Institute of Justice, National Law Enforcement and Corrections Technology Center) have been established to aid local law enforcement facilities to help prevent future crime. Crime mapping is important as it has been able to maintain and control crimes in specific targeted areas as this allows Investigators to analyze crime patterns to see which specific or group of individuals are responsible for the crime.
Reference Boba and Rachel “Introductory Guide to Crime Analysis and Mapping.” Community Oriented Policing Services - Agency Portal https://portal.cops.usdoj.gov/resourcecenter/RIC/Publications/cops-w0273-pub.pdf. Accessed 12 July 2023.
Gregory: Crime mapping is a valuable tool that utilizes geographic information systems (GIS) to visualize and track crime data. Law enforcement agencies are increasingly turning to computerized crime mapping technology in order to analyze and connect various data sources, resulting in a comprehensive overview of crime incidents and related factors within a given community or geographical area. This technology is gaining momentum within the law enforcement community, as it allows agencies to accurately plot crime related data on a digital map whether it be for a specific community, city, or larger region. By comparing and analyzing this data alongside other external sources, law enforcement can gain valuable insights. Consequently, there is growing appreciation within the criminal justice community for the benefits and value provided by crime mapping applications. As a result, more and more law enforcement agencies are implementing computerized crime mapping systems to aid in their daily operations. By analyzing and investigating crime patterns, these visual displays can be combined with other geographical information for effective resource deployment and targeted patrols, allowing law enforcement to better meet the needs of the public. Moreover, crime mapping aids in the comprehension of incarceration and recidivism patterns, by allowing for targeted resources and programs that can evaluate crime prevention initiatives while enhancing our understanding of the root causes of criminal behavior.
Resources
Mamalian, C. A., & LaVigne, N. G. (1999). The Use of Computerized Crime Mapping by Law Enforcement: Survey Results. U.S. Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs National Institute of Justice.