METHODS OF DISSEMINATION

• - Methods of dissemination of a product inherently rely on the intended purpose

and audience. They also rely on the means available, such as the Internet and
Intranet capabilities, reverse 911 technology, or the newspaper. For example, a
crime analyst Crime Analysis Product Format and Dissemination 68 may want to let
officers know that there is a sexual assault pattern happening in a certain part of the
city and provide them with detailed information about the pattern. The analyst, of
course, would not provide this information on the Internet for the public to see, but
instead may include selected information on fliers to hand out at a briefing, send a
department-wide (internal) e-mail, or attend the briefings of the officers in the
affected areas. Thus, the purpose, informing the patrol officers in an area, dictates
how that information should be disseminated.
 METHODS OF DISSEMINATION
• The analyst must also consider what is the most efficient and effective method of
dissemination, because frequently, the easiest method is not the most effective. For
example, it may be simple to publish a crime pattern bulletin and e-mail it to the department
or place fliers on a table in the briefing room for officers to read. But if the officers do not
regularly check their e-mail or the table is full of other similar fliers, these methods of
dissemination may be ineffective and a more time-consuming method, such as attending
briefings, may be warranted. The most effective way to disseminate information depends on
the current specific circumstances of the department, and the analyst should continually pay
attention to what is appropriate and effective.