Crime Mapping free essay sample

The spatial nature of crime and other police-related issues is central to understanding the nature of the problem. In this discussion contents of geographic data and descriptive segments of a Burglary To Motor Vehicle Map will be explained. The following map portrays criminal activity (burglary to vehicles) displayed through a geographic information system (GIS) which translates elements in the real world (roads, buildings, lakes, and mountains) into forms that can be displayed, manipulated, and analyzed. In addition to police data such as crime, drug houses, and parolees (Boba, 2009). The time period being analyzed in the following crime map for the incidents portrayed, range on a monthly time frame ( January 1, 2006 January 31, 2006). This method of identifying patterns and describing patterns which can be displayed in several series; time of day, day(s) of the week, weekly, biweekly, monthly, quarterly, or yearly is known as time series analysis (Boba, 2009). Line features represent street segments a real-world element that can be represented on a map. Not standing alone, other types of line features represent power lines, bus routes, rivers, and streams. Similar to point features, every segment of street keep up a correspondence to a record in the feature shown in the data matrix located on the left side of the map (Boba, 2009). In addition, another type of vector data useful in crime mapping are point features. Point features are a distinct locality that is more or less portraying on a GIS-generated map in a way of a symbol or label. Different symbols are used in a geographic information system to depict the location of information applicable to the analysis. Such symbols can be classified as, crime, motor vehicle accidents, traffic signs, buildings, police beat stations, and cell phone towers. In this particular crime map burglary to motor vehicle, parolee, and drug house are the labels used which depict the location, known as point features (Boba, 2009). Moving on, a geographic area is a polygon feature illustrated on a map by means of multisided outline with a closed set of lines. Polygon features vary in size, it could represent areas as large as continents or as small as buildings. For the purpose of GIS-generated maps polygon features may be used to depict county boundaries, city boundaries, parks, school campuses, or police districts (Boba, 2009). Primary Data Data collected specifically for the purpose of the analysis at hand is referred to primary data. For the purpose of any particular crime map, primary data is collected through surveys, interviews, field research, and direct observation. This data may be coded and entered into a database or may be left in description form. Primary data can be collected from people through interviews, focus groups and surveys. Primary data can be collected from places attributed from environmental surveys and direct observation (Boba, 2009). Secondary Data In contrast, information that have been composed beforehand and usually on an continuing basis are secondary data. This information is contained in an electronic database. It is common practice to use secondary data in crime analysis, for the simple fact that police agencies, city departments, and government entities continuously collect and store data that are pertinent to the issues crime analysis scrutinize. To illustrate, law enforcement organizations retrieve information in crime reports, accident reports, and arrest reports, and city entities collect data on street networks, keep business registries, accumulate data on utility usage, and collect information on taxes and licenses (Boba, 2009). Personal analysis In reviewing the Burglary To Motor Vehicle crime map it appears that all information displayed on the map contributes to the purpose of the map. Except the mile maker scale which appear to be off, indicating from 0 to the first marking is 7501,500 miles. However, using calls-for-service data could be used to monitor police activity in relation to the burglary to motor vehicles. Analyzing both activities can generate data to establish a pro-active approach, having police presence in areas were vehicle burglary is more constant. In addition, raster data can provide detailed location of drug activity around the areas of the drug houses. Using this data, sting operations can be conformed around streets, buildings, parking lots, and environmental features. Users of non-law enforcement will have a better view of the drug areas in which they can avoid. Raster data is used to display features on the earths surface, using satellite images which can help to provide detailed data in analyzing drug activities. In analyzing the map further, one particular pattern arouse my suspicion. At the bottom of the map, right side, parolee displayed neighboring the river, appear to be surrounded with burglary to vehicles. To pursue some resolution to this particular area tactical crime analysis must be set in place. Obtaining information on the where, when, and how concerning, burglary to vehicles and the parolee will assist police officers in identifying and understanding the pattern within that particular area. Crime statistics could be another essential tool in identifying times certain burglaries occur (Temp Police Department, 2009). Conclusion Crime can be dated back to ancient history, today technology used by crime analyst assist law You go in the right direction when referencing the parolees but downplay its | |significance. Isnt there a correlation between the drug houses, parolees and the crimes. A good crime map will be self-explanatory on its | |face with little need for further clarification. Meanwhile you are also fairly on target in your assessment of what might need additional | |information or further inquiry using the reasoning you demonstrate. Overall it was a good effort.