What are some of the purposes and practical applications of crime mapping? Real-time crime centers?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Regarding crime mapping, police leaders, criminologists, sociologists, and other professionals understand that geography has a major influence on crime; indeed, crime is often highest where living conditions are at their worst. Therefore, combining geographic data with police report data and then displaying the information on a map is an effective way to analyze and predict where, how, and why crime occurs. The features and characteristics of cityscapes and rural landscapes can make it easier or more difficult for crime to occur. The placement of alleys, buildings, and open spaces, for example, affects the likelihood that a criminal will strike. Related to crime mapping and analysis is another relatively new approach, the real-time crime center (RTCC), which has the purpose of using technologies to reduce officers' reliance on paper reports and nonintegrated databases to identify crime patterns. By collecting vast amounts of crime-related data–arrest records, mug shots, and warrant information–and providing it rapidly to officers and investigators in the field, these facilities can help in investigations and protect officer safety.