NCJ Number
193267
Journal
Journal of Quantitative Criminology Volume: 18 Issue: 1 Dated: March 2002 Pages: 23-43
Date Published
March 2002
Length
21 pages
Annotation
This paper seeks to develop a methodology for the temporal description of crime events where the time of incidence is indeterminate.
Abstract
One of the key aspects of intelligence-led policing is the provision of timely information to operational officers, but "an intelligence structure without effective analytical capability will simply be unable to give an accurate overall picture of crime and criminality." Advancements in geographical information systems are pushing crime mapping to the fore and this is one of the real growth areas in modern police crime analysis. However, crime hotspots are not constantly active with criminals over a 24-hour period, and the level of criminality in the area waxes and wanes over a number of different temporal scales. An aoristic signature will give a better indication of aggregate criminal-spatiotemporal behavior than recorded crime data alone. The study concludes that a better understanding of victims' routine activities will yield a clearer view of not just their personal victimization liability, but also a better idea of the criminal opportunities associated with the property they leave unguarded. Notes, figures, tables, references