Dr. Janet Durgin
Information Systems for Decision Making
October 20, 2013
Introduction Predictive policing refers to any policing strategy or tactic that develops and uses and advanced analysis to inform forward-thinking crime prevention. predictive policing is done through software called PredPol. It takes crime data, runs it through an algorithm, and then generates these maps. The maps tell police where crimes might happen –- before they take place.
Police can spend extra time in the areas at risk for crime, the thinking goes, and prevent those crimes from ever occurring. This paper will Compare and contrast the application of information technology (IT) to optimize police departments’ performance to reduce crime versus random patrols of the streets. Describe how COMPSTAT, as an information system (IS), implements the four (4) basic IS functions: Input, Processing. Output, and Feedback. Also, it will determine how information systems have allowed police departments that implement tools such as
COMPSTAT to respond to crime faster. Lastly it will apply the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats analysis (SWOT analysis) on behalf of police departments that intend to predictive policing.
1. Compare and contrast the application of information technology (IT) to optimize police departments’ performance to reduce crime versus random patrols of the streets. Police use information technology tools at almost every stage, including allocation of sources,
patrolling, crime prevention, crime tracking, hot pursuits, and crime solving.
Information technology has substantial impact on police practices. In addition, any increased
acceptance of information technology by police officers improves the quality of policing and
performance of law enforcement agencies.
Using information technology to fight crime by the police officers is
References: Joe, G. D. (2009, 08 08). The CompStat Process: Four Principles for Managing Crime Reduction. Retrieved from The Police Chief: http://www.policechiefmagazine.org/magazine/index.cfm?fuseaction=display&article_id=18 59&issue_id=82009 Pearsall, B. (2010, 06). Predictive Policing: The Future of Law Enforcement? Retrieved from Institute of Justice: http://www.nij.gov/journals/266/predictive.htm What is COMPSTAT? (n.d.). Retrieved from West Vancouver Police Department: http://wvpd.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=21