Geography and Public Safety: A Bulletin of Applied Geography for the Study of Crime and Public Safety, Volume 3, Issue 2, August 2012

• NCJ Number: 240297
• Journal: Geography & Public Safety Volume: 3 Issue: 2 Dated: August 2012 Pages: 1-19
• Date Published: August 2012
• Length: 19 pages
• Agencies: NIJ; COPS
• Publication Type: Program/Project Description

Annotation

This issue features articles that illustrate how public health and criminological perspectives can be combined to develop effective strategies in addressing violence.

Abstract

"Criminal Justice and Public Health Approaches to Violent Crime: Complementary Perspectives" draws parallels and identifies overlapping analytical techniques shared by criminal justice and public health approaches to social problems such as violence. "Integrating Emergency Department and Police Data to Locate and Prevent Violence: The Cardiff Model" explains how data about stabbings from two independent data sources - trauma admissions at hospital emergency departments and police crime data on assaults - have been used strategically to reduce stabbing incidents in Cardiff, Wales. "Using Public Health Strategies to Reduce Violence in 'Hot Spots' in East Palo Alto, California" describes an innovative program in that city in which gunshot-detection technology and health data are being used to define high-risk areas in which geographically targeted fitness programs designed to simultaneously improve the health of residents and police officers will be instituted. This strategy intends to increase guardianship among citizens while reducing opportunities for crime. "Comprehensive Community Based Information System to Reduce Youth and Gang Violence in Los Angeles County and Beyond" illustrates the value of a multi-user interactive mapping system that addresses gang violence and its context. "What Can We Learn From Public Health? - An example of Sharing Law Enforcement Spatial Data with Community Partners" illustrates the value of a data-driven multidisciplinary case review process for the prevention and legal resolution of homicide and non-fatal shootings in Milwaukee, WI. "News Briefs" reports on various ways in which geographical mapping technology is being used to increase public safety. "Recent Events" lists the titles, locations, and dates of various conferences and symposiums that address various aspects of the use of geospatial technology.