Predictive Policing

Predictive Policing

Compare and contrast the use of technology versus random patrols

The application of information technology to optimize police departments’ performance to reduce crime provides polices with more chances to stop crime before it starts. (Rubin, 2010) The application of information technology takes information from a historical crime data, analyzes it to identify areas at which crime more likely occurs. Consequently, police departments are able to focus on those areas to prevent criminality. On the other hand, random patrols of the street are a police departments’ traditional way to find and respond to crime. Polices drive on streets, pay attention to what happen, and respond to what they see. No matter which one polices use, they have to leave departments, and drive on streets. The use of technology provides polices with a better idea where they should focus on. It also helps them making their patrols less random and more effective. Similarly for polices who use the traditional one, if they change their routines in an unpredictable pattern, they are able to reduce more crime. (“Predictive policing”, 2012) The application of information technology to optimize police departments’ performance to reduce crime is more about anticipating, preventing and responding more effectively to future crime. (Pearsall, 2010) In contrast, random patrols of the streets are more about solving crime which happens at that time. Additionally, while senior officers usually perform well on random patrols at areas under their jurisdiction, the use of technology is beneficial to younger officers. The application of technology does not replace polices on patrols. Moreover, polices use the application of technology to perform more effectively at reducing crime.

COMPSTAT

COPMSTAT (COMPuter STATictis) uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to map the locations of where crimes occur, identify “hotspot”, and map problem areas. COMPSTAT implements the four (4) basic IS...