Crime Mapping

Prof. Lorenzo Ramirez, Rcrim, MSCrim (u)

 Crime Mapping
• Shows the graphic representation of the
spatial geography of crime;
• Is associated with the simple display and
querying of crime data using Geographic
Information System (GIS).
 Crime Mapping
Significance of Crime Mapping
• Enhance a police officer’s time at the streets
• Improve the police response time on any incident
• Local patrol vehicles can be monitored for easier
dispatch in any incident, accident or other
disaster hit areas.
Theoretical Explanation of
Crime and Place
Levels of Theories of Crime
Macro-level – at this level of spatial aggregation explains
crime patterns in large areas.
Meso-level – explains crime at an intermediate level of
spatial aggregation.
Micro-level – focus on explanation of crime at the
individual level or actual location of the crime
Cartographical
Criminology
Represents or examine the relationship
of criminality to physical environment
and other social factors.
Quetelet was one of the
first social scientist to use
objective mathematical
techniques to investigate
the influence of social
factors on a propensity to
commit crime.
Adolphe Quetelet
Environmental
Criminology
Focus on criminal pattern within particular
built environment and analyzed the impact
of theses external variables on peoples
cognitive behavior.
Deffensible Space
Theory – tends to have
focus on preventing
easy access and exit by
potential criminals as
well as the elimination
of their hiding places
and where they can
geographically select a
target.
Territorial Functioning
Is a perspective under environmental
criminology that links the presence of
fear of crime to the amount of crime.
Routine Activity Theory – develop by
Marcus Felson and Lawrence Cohen, explained
that crime in terms of crime opportunities that
occur in everyday life. A crime opportunity
require that elements converge in time and
place including:

• Motivated offender
• Suitable target or victim
• Lack of capable guardian
 Rational Choice Theory
Law-violating behavior is the product of
careful thought and planning. Offenders
choose crime after considering both
personal factors (such as money, revenge,
thrills, and entertainment) and situational
factors (such as target availability, security
measures, and police presence).
Types of Mapping
Manual Pin Mapping – Most recent crime
represented by pins but can only display a limited
amount of data.
Computer Mapping – Computer is used to place a
point at a specific location just a person would put
a pin on a wall map.
Types of Mapping
Crime Analysis Mapping – a process of using GIS in
combination of crime analysis technique to focus
on spatial context of the criminal and other law
enforcement activity.
Geographic Information System
Types of GIS Data
Specific Data – is any type of data that directly or
indirectly references a specific geographical area or
location.
Attribute Data – can contain information about what,
where, and why. This data provide characteristics about
spatial data.
Geographic Information System
Types of Spatial Data
Vector Data – it is composed of
individual points stored as
coordinate pairs that indicates a
physical location in the world.
Geographic Information System
Types of Spatial Data
Raster Data – It is a cell-based
and this data category also
includes aerial and satellite
imagery.
Crime Information Reporting and
Analysis System (CIRAS)
Is an electronic data base system that facilitates
crime documentation and systematic data
storage.
Crime Analysis
Is defined as a set of systematical analytical
processes providing timely and useful
information on crime patterns and trends.
Crime Analysis
Types of Crime Analysis
Tactical Crime Analysis – looks at the short term in
order to stop what is currently taking place;
Strategic Crime Analysis – looks at the long term
and on going issues; and
Administrative Crime Analysis – looks at the
administration and deployment of and resources
Law Enforcement
Planning
Plan can be defined as an organized schedule or
sequence of methodolical activities intended to
attain goals or objective for the accomplishment of
a mission or assignement.
SMART Method
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Realistic
Timely
Steps in Planning Process
• Defining Goal and Objective
• Collecting Information
• Analyzing Information
• Making a Plan
• Implement the Plan
• Monitor the Plan
Approaches in Planning
Synoptic Planning – This models based on a problem-
oriented approach to planning especially
appropriate for police agencies
Transactive Planning – Its carried out in face-to-face
interaction with the people who are to be affected
by the plan
Incramental – means to break down long term
planninginto smaller entities
Approaches in Planning
Advocacy – focuses on the greater sensitivity to the
unintended and negative side effects of plans
Radical Approach – involves collective action to
achieve concrete result in the immediate result
SWOT Analysis
A framework used to evaluate an
organization’s competitive position
and to develop strategic planning,
also assesses internal and external
factors.