This article from the Quarterly Bulletin of Applied Geography for the Study of Crime and Public Safety examines the use of Community Tapestry data by law enforcement.
Community Tapestry data is a complex statistical digest that breaks down the U.S. population into 65 discrete segments based on socioeconomic and demographic composition. This article examines how this data can be used to provide precise, critical information about neighborhoods and how this information can be used by law enforcement professionals and fire departments to create crime prevention strategies and enhance public safety. When fire and police departments plan crime and public safety strategies, three questions need to be addressed: what is the makeup of the community, where do certain groups live, and what is the most effective way to get a message to community groups? This article discusses how community variables found in the U.S. census can be analyzed using the Tapestry Segmentation system. A case study is presented on how fire chiefs in central Virginia used Community Tapestry Data to develop an evacuation plan for neighborhoods in their areas. 2 notes