NCJ Number
54058
Date Published
Unknown
Length
235 pages
Annotation
A COURSE FOR CRIME PREVENTION OFFICERS AND ANALYSTS, POLICE EMPLOYEES WHO ANALYZE CRIME DATA IN ORDER TO PREDICT CRIME TRENDS AND TO DEVELOP COST-EFFECTIVE CRIME REDUCTION STRATEGIES, IS PRESENTED.
Abstract
THE COURSE WAS PREPARED FOR THE TEXAS CRIME PREVENTION INSTITUTE AT SOUTHWEST TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY. THE TEXT OPENS WITH DISCUSSIONS OF THE OBJECTIVES OF CRIME ANALYSIS, ORGANIZATIONAL FACTORS LIKELY TO IMPINGE ON THE ANALYST'S TASK, AND STRATEGIES AVAILABLE TO ANALYSTS FOR ESTABLISHING THEIR POSITION WITHIN POLICE DEPARTMENTS. INFORMATION ON THE COLLECTION, COLLATION, AND ANALYSIS OF CRIME DATA IS PRESENTED IN CHAPTERS COVERING THE USE AND MISUSE OF STATISTICS, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT RECORDS. THE OPERATION AND CONFIGURATION OF COMPUTER SYSTEMS ARE EXPLAINED, AND LAW ENFORCEMENT APPLICATIONS OF COMPUTERS ARE CITED. PARTICULAR ATTENTION IS DIRECTED TO THE DALLAS CRIMINAL JUSTICE INFORMATION SYSTEM. FLOWCHARTING AS AN AID IN COMPUTER PROGRAMMING AND IN PROBLEM SOLVING IS EXPLAINED, AS IS A SIMPLE COMPUTER LANGUAGE--BASIC. BASIC IS AVAILABLE ON MOST COMPUTER SYSTEMS, AND KNOWLEDGE OF THE LANGUAGE WILL ENABLE CRIME ANALYSTS TO WRITE THEIR OWN COMPUTER PROGRAMS. THE TEXT ALSO INCLUDES A COPY OF FEDERAL GUIDELINES PERTAINING TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT COMPLIANCE WITH THE PRIVACY ACT OF 1974, A DISCUSSION OF THE NEED FOR COMPUTER SECURITY, EXAMPLES OF COMPUTER CRIME, AND AN ILLUSTRATION OF HOW COMPUTERS CAN BE USED AS DATA STORAGE AND RETRIEVAL SYSTEMS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE AGENCIES. BIBLIOGRAPHIES ARE INCLUDED.