Improving policing through better analysis: an empirical assessment of a crime analysis training and enhancement project within an urban police department

ABSTRACT

The ability to conduct sound crime analysis has become a necessity in contemporary policing. This is due to the central role that analysis plays in modern police practices, as well as improved technological capabilities. Yet, many police departments struggle with the development of their inhouse analytical abilities; and existing evaluation literature offers little guidance given the void of scholarly attention on this topic. This study represents one of the first outcome assessments of an effort to improve crime analysis functions within an urban police department. Pre and post analyst knowledge tests surrounding training sessions indicated a 25 to 53% improvement. Further, an approximated before-after assessment of police administrator behavior found that use of analytical work products significantly increased, to being used ‘about 1 to 2 times per week’ on average. This signified a demonstrable improvement in the integral use of data derived information in the performance of policing operations.

KEYWORDS:

• Crime analysis training
• police training
• crime analyst
• problem-oriented policing
• problem analysis
• intelligence analysis
• police decision making
• evidence-based policing

Acknowledgments

The authors thank Christopher Sun and Dr. Gary Cordner for guidance throughout the project and input on earlier drafts of the manuscript. Gratitude is also extended to Dr. Ed McGarrell whom provided insight relevant to the embeddedness of doctoral students within police departments relied on in this project. This project also benefited from technical assistance provided by BJA above and beyond what was received through the direct SPI grant project. This included two sequential crime analyst training sessions by a nationally recognized expert (Julie Wartell) early on in the project, as well as an external assessment of the crime analysis unit’s data systems and procedures by a separate consulting expert at a later phase.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. In a sequel, Fixing Broken Windows Kelling and Coles (1997) further identify the use of analysis both to identify the ‘six percenters’ and in carrying out problem-solving.

2. Here we were focused on determining whether or not those who received the analytical reports were using the information to make decisions in operational deployments or directives. That is, we operationalized ‘usefulness’ as whether or not users relied on information provided in the analyst reports to make strategic decisions on their own or subordinate operational activities.

3. Due to limited resources and staff, the dissemination of crime analyst bulletins was reserved for NET commanders, operational unit Majors, Assistant Chiefs, and the Criminal Investigative Division Assistant Chief, Major, Captain and Lieutenants.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by grant number 2014-WY-BX-0002 awarded by the USDOJ, Bureau of Justice Assistance. Points of view or opinions in this document are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position or policies of the U.S. Department of Justice

Notes on contributors

Rob T. Guerette

Rob T. Guerette is an associate professor of criminal justice in the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) at Florida International University. He holds a doctorate from Rutgers University-Newark and was a Fellow at the Eagleton Institute of Politics, Rutgers University-New Brunswick. His research interests focus primarily on problem- and community-oriented policing, program and policy evaluation, situational crime prevention, and transnational crime. His recent research has appeared in Journal of School Violence, Victims & Offenders, and Policing: A Journal of Policy & Practice.

Kimberly Przeszlowski

Kimberly Przeszlowski is currently a PhD student and research assistant in the International Crime and Justice Doctoral Program at Florida International University. Kimberly holds a B.A. in Criminal Justice from Lynn University and a M.S. in Criminology and Criminal Justice from Florida Atlantic University. Her research interests include geospatial crime analysis, problem and community-oriented policing, situational crime prevention, and program evaluation.

Joelle Lee-Silcox

Joelle Lee-Silcox, PhD, CEO of Lacuna Analysis Group, currently works as a consultant with the City of Miami Police Department in the Real-Time Crime Center and Analyst Detail. Her specialties include project management support for federal grants, geospatial information system mapping, crime analysis, evidence-based policing, and organizational structure.

Kristen M. Zgoba

Kristen M. Zgoba is an Assistant Professor in the Criminology and Criminal Justice department at Florida International University. Her research focuses on policy evaluation, corrections and violence. Her recent publications appear in Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, the Prison Journal and Criminal Justice and Behavior.