Predictive Policing Compare and Contrast

Predictive Policing

Compare and contrast the application of information technology (it) to optimize a police department's performance to reduce crime vs. random patrols of the streets

Both traditional random patrols and the use of it by police departments are designed with preventative intentions. It applications analyze patterns of criminal activity through mapping and data tabulation. They rely upon past data and often offer a more objective source of information to officers, while walking the beat through random patrols would likely be based more upon officers' subjective perceptions of what would be likely to be a high-crime area; simply by convenience and happenstance; or genuine 'random' selection through the use of a rotating selection of neighborhoods. The use of it allows departments to more effectively allocate scarce resources and can counteract potentially inaccurate perceptions, such as the idea that poorer areas are invariably more crime-prone, or that minorities commit more crimes (given that 'random' selection is unlikely to ever be purely 'random' and may often take on the unfortunate guise of racial profiling if not conducted with scientific justification).

Q2. Describe how CompStat, as an information system (IS), implements the four (4) basic IS functions: Input: Processing: Output: Feedback

Input: CompStat tabulates data from a variety of official sources pertaining to crimes and various other forms of criminal activity. This must be done on a regular basis, given the volatility of the information.

Processing: Once the data is tabulated "crime and disorder data is used to produce crime maps, trends, and other analysis products. Subsequently, command staff uses these information products to identify crime problems to be addressed" (What is CompStat, 2013, University of Maryland).

Output: Once the problems are identified from the data, then the department begins to frame its tactics or plan. "Relying on past successes and appropriate resources, command staff and officers plan tactics that will respond fully to the identified problem. These tactics may include law enforcement, government, and community partners at the local, state, and federal levels" (What is CompStat, 2013, University of Maryland). The NY Police department has a regular CompStat meeting so that policing actions are relevant and make use of the most current data (What is CompStat, 2013, University of Maryland). "Contrary to the reactive policing model, the CompStat model strives to deploy resources to where there is a crime problem now, as a means of heading off the problem before it continues or escalates. As such, the tactics should be deployed in a timely manner" (What is CompStat, 2013, University of Maryland).

Feedback: Another important reason for frequent meetings is that they provide consistent feedback as to whether the tactics have been effective. CompStat is a self-critical, not a self-congratulatory model. "Problem-focused strategies are normally judged a success by a reduction in or absence of the initial crime problem. This success or lack thereof, provides knowledge of how to improve current and future planning and deployment of resources" (What is CompStat, 2013, University of Maryland). Both the department's strategies and the accuracy of the data may need to be reassessed, based upon the results.