Crime/Investigative Analysis

Crime and investigative analysis is a critical process in law enforcement—a process that can transform data into actionable information. Because every crime has an address or a location, crime mapping enhances this process by providing law enforcement with the geographic advantage. GIS maps traditional statistical information used in crime analysis as well as other data, such as school truancy and community socioeconomics, to gain a more holistic view of crime and its underlying causes.

• Crime Analysis: GIS Solutions for Intelligence-Led Policing [PDF]
• 2008 ESRI Law Enforcement Resource Center

Through a GIS, you can

• Leverage and fuse spatial data to a wide variety of traditional law enforcement data sources.
• Provide contextual information and intuition for a more informed response.
• Identify and link related or seemingly unrelated crime patterns and trends.
• Capture workflows and build models to streamline analytic processes.

ArcGIS Spatial Analyst can help examine car break-ins in relation to the car make or model, where the car was parked, what was stolen, and whether there were other reports of break-ins in a given neighborhood or jurisdiction. This type of analysis—known as hot spot analysis—helps focus investigative efforts and plan crime-reducing strategies.

In addition, when developing a surveillance operations plan or responding to a possible trend, pattern, or series, ArcGIS Network Analyst can help determine possible offender escape routes or offender travel distance by car for intervals of 5, 10, or 15 minutes. Officers can strategically place surveillance resources to improve the opportunity to arrest the suspects.

Taking a geographic approach in crime and investigative analysis results in improved collaboration and coordination, increased apprehensions, and a more effective response.

Case Studies on Crime and Investigative Analysis.