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Understanding the Crime Analysis Paradigm

NCJ Number
209537
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 53 Issue: 3 Dated: March 2005 Pages: 56-58,60,61
Author(s)
Suzy Burns; Christopher Gebhardt
Date Published
March 2005
Length
5 pages
Annotation
In an attempt to better understand the crime analysis paradigm and make better decisions regarding personnel acquisition in the crime analysis field, this article describes the various specialties within the field of crime analysis.
Abstract
Crime analysis has grown into a multidisciplinary field in law enforcement. Crime analysts are now more specialized in one or more areas: research, management, administrative, strategic, tactical, operational, and exploratory. However, with such a broad scope of analysis techniques, law enforcement agencies can make mistakes or poor decisions when searching for personnel to fill the title of crime analyst, as well as the decision in determining the utility between sworn or civilian crime analysts. Knowing that there are various specialties with the field of crime analysis, an agency can make a better decision as to what type of analyst they need to hire or analytical techniques they need to employ. This article describes the role and responsibilities of each type of crime analyst listed above, as well as geographical and intelligence analyst. In summation, better acquisitions will create a crime analysis unit that better serves the agency as a whole, as well as the community.