NCJ Number
143486
Date Published
1973
Length
148 pages
Annotation
The purpose of this project was to develop a relevant and useful Crime Analysis Handbook for use by local law enforcement agencies; the resulting handbook provides police managers with information about crime analysis functions, methodologies, capabilities, and limitations.
Abstract
The handbook is intended to help law enforcement agencies establish a crime analysis unit, evaluate ongoing operations, and plan for expanding and upgrading existing systems. Consideration is given to organizational placement, staffing, data collection and storage, correlation methodologies, and the identification of critical use areas. The following basic elements of a crime analysis system are identified: definition of goals and objectives, crime data input, analysis of crime data, crime information disseminated as output, and feedback and evaluation. Sources of crime data are also noted, and data analysis techniques and statistical methods are discussed. Techniques for the dissemination and use of crime analysis information are described, along with model crime analysis systems. Appendixes provide further information on establishing and operating a police crime analysis unit. References, tables, and figures