Best practice in crime analysis
Contents
1. Intervenci n en el ll M dulo del Segundo Seminario Internacional sobre Estrategias Inteligentes para la Reducci n del Delito Organizado por la International Association of Crime Analysts IACA y Fundaci n Paz Ciudadana Santiago 5 Abril de 2012 Retrieved from http www pazciudadana cl docs ext_20110405121532 pdf Tudela P 2011b La medici n del desempe o policial en Chile consideraciones sobre la calidad de los servicios y el trato a v ctimas y denunciantes Conceptos Fundaci n Paz Ciudadana 22 1 34 Retrieved from http www pazciudadana cl docs pub_20110902154443 pdf Tudela P 2012 Buenas pr cticas para el an lisis delictual en Am rica Latina 2012 Santiago Chile Fundaci n Paz Ciudadana Morotola Solutions Foundation International Association of Crime Analysts Santiago Retrieved from http www pazciudadana cl wp content uploads 2013 07 2012 06 20_Buenas pr C3 83 C2 A1cticas para el an C3 83 C2 A Liisis delictual en Am C3 83 C2 AQ9rica Latina pdf Varela F 2013 Buenas pr cticas para el an lisis delictual en Am rica Latina 2013 Santiago Chile Fundaci n Paz Ciudadana Morotola Solutions Foundation International Association of Crime Analysts and Hans Seidel Stiftung Retrieved from http www pazciudadana cl wp content uploads 2013 06 buenas practicas_reducido_web pdf 232. analysis discussion Report of results and evaluation process of the program project or innovation k Bibliography gt Cases from Argentina Brazil Colombia Chile Mexico Peru and Venezuela were selected in the context of the first call for to best or promising practices in crime analysis in Lain America The study was conducted by Fundaci n Paz Ciudadana Chile in collaboration with the International Association of Crime Analysts IACA and Motorola Solutions Foundations 3 Context and challenges for crime analysis Latin America has more than three decades in which police work has been challenged mainly due to the insecurity experienced by the inhabitants of the main urban areas The complaint or report rates have risen and the percentages of households and victims are evolving negatively Moreover the insecurity as a psychosocial problem has settled permanently and extends even to smaller towns without giving any chance to authorities and institutions responsible for the public safety of citizens Indeed the public safety and security of citizens is a social and political necessity related to criminology and security not just the existence of crime or crime rates It also refers to the specific demands of the population and its links in functioning to reduce crime and vulnerability In this instance the public safety of citizens is closely related to the mission and tasks of the police and the penal system All countri
3. and the known characteristics of the offenders inferences can be made regarding the operational deployment and targeting of resources In other words the analysis can be translated into evidence for 1 Forecasting the volume of police activities for the coming months and years 2 Measuring the effectiveness of law enforcement programs and plans implemented and 3 Distribute the workload in police units following geographic areas among other criteria Consequently if trends continue and thrive in the practices described it is expected that managers and police chiefs at some point need to review their procedures in an operational analysis or an analysis of an administrative nature While in most cases it can be inferred that analysts do not seem to use the distribution of the workload the displacement of crime the spread of the effects of the focused techniques for crime prevention and evaluation s program in order to understand the weaknesses and the effectiveness of strategies to reduce crime and disorder As can be expected the next step will probably look at the unit responsible for the analysis and the relationship with the organizational environment and consequently the evaluation targeted on performance Indeed although there is evidence that there is a correlation between crime rates or adoption and integration of units and analysis strategies in organizations certainly to better assess the analysis in institutions the context
4. and the organizational environment should be reviewed From this perspective organizations can be seen as products of the environment They adapt and adopt new processes and or mechanisms to respond to differentiated demand It is a mistake to assume as referred Celik 2010 193 that the crime rate and population size are crucial to the effectiveness of the analysis especially in regard to the ability to solve problems Determinants are the contents of the training and having the ability to use innovative and validated techniques to address crime and crime rates rather than the size of the population and the institution 12 FUNDACI ON AAA PAZ CIUDADANA i e personal attributes rather than the technology available In short the factors that reflect the ability of ownership and empowerment of the organization are the need for effective and timely analysis These factors lead us to look carefully at the policy leading to the institutionalization of crime analysis in organizations By the way there is evidence to confirm that the support of the organization and formalization or institutionalization of the analysis together with the individual attributes are more influential than anything else Celik 2010 p 194 5 Information management and crime analysis What does it consist of There are various types of analysis intelligence investigative tactical strategic administrative and operative Whatever the type of analysis
5. because there has been a lack of will and or resources or other reasons certainly working in this direction could also explain the urgency to focus and to review the models and strategies of policing and prosecution its process indicators and results The corollary of this situation is so characteristic that without having to invest additional effort in its demonstration crime analysis leads us to look at how work the police and prosecution agencies As highlighted by Licate 2010 p 8 in the case of the Police of Ohio the institutionalization of a strategic analysis function requires a change in the theoretical assumptions that guide the work of the institutions of security and justice as well as the adjustment of the organization As for the supposed theories the dependence on the standard model of the deterrence theory is supplanted for example by the environmental criminology theory used in work patterns that are more strategic effective and modern This concept is certainly applicable to the reality of Latin America This can be easily inferred from the cases analyzed 4 Analysis and crime reduction What is crime analysis used for Certainly you can wield various good reasons But the best will be those that give clues about solutions or recommended courses of action because of the urgency and importance of the problem of origin crisis of effectiveness or lack of better policing No one could deny that the key process in crime r
6. emphasize that the analysis of crime is part of information management but not equivalent Indeed when the analyst does its work it has a purpose associated with a point of view based on assumptions leading to implications and consequences Uses concepts ideas and theories to interpret data facts and uses his experience and that of others in the organization and or described in detective literature on prevention techniques in order to answer questions and solve problems Among the steps or key skills include the ability to identify and generate purposes ask questions use information making inferences making assumptions generate implications critical reasoning and incorporate reflections on their work identify and recommend solutions or courses of action skills communication among others Ratcliffe 2007 states that it is a process in which data and information are transformed into knowledge and intelligence products The data is discussed or worked on as observations and measurements on crime disorder and other challenges facing the police The information contains the data that is the most relevant and purposeful The analysis is described as the application of scientific methods to solve the problem The data and information analysis adds context meaning and interpretation that produce knowledge Knowledge products are articles reports and books that generate more knowledge but are not considered intelligence until they are l
7. reduce crime and security problems This is a common denominator of good practice in crime analysis Indeed the core of the analysis methodology is due first to a logical process and secondly a methodological process Both are characteristics of the production of scientific knowledge empirical or cognitive It consists of a repetitive process so it follows certain standards which include at a minimum a series of steps Following the experiences and practices described in the field of law enforcement and prosecution the logical circuit that optimizes the analysis is as follows 1 Detection of the problem 2 Analysis of the situation cases with the use of police models 3 Design a response or hypotheses based on observations of reality and criminological knowledge 4 Analysis of data describing changes associated with the response made 5 Validation of the response impact analysis On the other hand the methodological process of analysis which describes a path to arrive at inferences and valid and reliable knowledge can be summarized in the following sequence 1 Data collection and data management 2 Reading and accessing data 3 Data analysis 4 Dissemination of information 5 Development of strategy 6 Evaluation 7 Feedback 6 Demystifying crime analysis In Latin America rarely is talked about crime analysis Moreover there are very few places to discuss for example challenges and design solut
8. shows that solving crimes even in the case of unknown offenders is more successful if reasoning tools and features of the criminal analysis itself are used FUNDACI ON AAA PAZ CIUDADANA What is it then While there are many definitions of analysis a brief review leads us to value the work done by the International Association of Crime Analysts IACA as well as various analysts experience reflected in the cases analyzed from Latin America These concerns converge as Bruce 2010 noted that crime analysis is a systematic process tool for the production of data information and knowledge criminologically designed according to the principles of relevance and timeliness which starts with the search and identification of correlations between data and data sets as it relates to incidents and criminal acts and patterns of occurrence in a particular place and serves to guide the efforts of police and improve the response to the demand and requirements of safety and justice in a place and time or a particular situation Thus the criminal analysis relates different sources and types of data or information flows with treatment standards reasoning products and results Accordingly it should be treated as part of a crime reduction strategy and a process of finding information and solutions on the ground Briefly the reading of selected Latin American experiences and the review of the international literature the following steps were i
9. FUNDACI ON EEES PAZ CIUDADANA BEST PRACTICES IN CRIME ANALYSIS NEWS amp LESSONS FROM LATIN AMERICA Patricio Tudela Poblete Santiago Chile Septiembre 2013 FUNDACI ON AAA PAZ CIUDADANA Author Patricio Tudela Poblete Ph D in Anthropology Germany and Master in Safety Management Spain Director of Analysis and Studies of Fundaci n Paz Ciudadana Chile Email ptudela Wpazciudadana cl and ptudela3 yahoo es Fundaci n Paz Ciudadana Valenzuela Castillo 1881 Santiago Chile 8D 3 00 SO AE Be oO Ss a 10 FUNODACION SSS PAZ CIUDADANA CONTENIDO Intro UN cria in ii 4 The selection Of best practices ccccsscccssssececseneeceeseneececeeeeceseeaaeceseeaaeeecseaaeceeeaaeceeeeaaeeeseeaueeeseaeeeeeeaas 5 Context and challenges for crime analysiS ccccononccconcnoconononnnnnnnonnnanonononnnnncnnonononnnnnnnnon no nnnnnnnncnnananos 6 Analysis and crime reduction ooocccconoccccnononncnononcnonononcnnnnnoncconnn on nn nano nn nn nano nn n nan rn nr naar nr rr naar rr anar rr rr nan nn 9 Information management and crime ANALYSIS ccccocononoonnnnnnnonononannnanonnnnnnnononnnnnnnnnnononnnnnnnnnnnannnnnos 13 Demystifying Crime MalysiS cui ii a aii 14 Bare ino 15 Conditions to optimize the analysis of crime in organizations cccconocooonnnnnnnnononnnncnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnanannnns 17 What are the impacts easy challenges or difficult challenges cooonoccccnonaccnononannnnnonnnononanano
10. However even when crime analysis has been established as a fundamental activity there is still a gap for the analysis to gain legitimacy as a profession in organizations and moreover as an indispensable and essential organizational capacity that is inherent to crime reduction and efficient criminal prosecution In this context it should be noted that programs and mechanisms that give sustainability to the induction and improvement of the skills and organizational capacities of crime analysis are not mentioned This is a weakness that must be addressed and overcome How is the experience of analysis in the organization capitalized Indeed as it has been documented elsewhere here lies a major difficulty since in most cases the process of institutionalization and validation of these cases have clashed with elements related to organizational culture the weakness of certain determinants for success and lack of the policies focused in the promotion of crime analysis In fact it is no longer talked about information management It is not mentioned the existence of mechanisms and processes aimed at knowledge management and the accumulation of experience systematization of best practices or promising practices in crime analysis 19 FUNDACI ON AAA PAZ CIUDADANA In practice knowledge can be understood as a set of images beliefs meanings and experiences that enhance the ability of understanding and that determine the ability to execu
11. IACA Celik 2010 Environmental organizational and individual determinants of crime analysts problem solving capacities a contingency approach Ph D Dissertation University of Texas at Dallas Graduate Program in Public Affairs Licate D 2010 Innovations and organizational change in Ohio Police Department Ph D Dissertation Kent State University Retrieved from http etd ohiolink edu send pdf cgi Licate 20David 20A pdf kent1289880822 National Research Council of the National Academies 2004 Fairness and effectiveness in policing The evidence pp 217 251 Washington D C National Academies Organizaci n de Naciones Unidas 2002 Medidas para promover la prevenci n eficaz del delito ECOSOC RES 2002 13 En Oficina de las Naciones Unidas contra la Droga y el Delito 2007 Recopilaci n de reglas y normas de las Naciones Unidas en la esfera de la prevenci n del delito y la justicia penal en Viena Nueva York ONUDD Oficina de las Naciones Unidas contra la Droga y el Delito 2010 Sistemas policiales de informaci n e inteligencia Manual de instrucciones para la evaluaci n de la justicia penal Nueva York ONUDD Retrieved from http www unodc org documents justice and prison reform crimeprevention Police_Information_and_Intelligence_Systems_Spanish pdf O Shea T y Nicholls K 2003a Crime analysis in America Finding and Recommendations Washington D C Office of Community Oriented Policing servi
12. ODC 2010 A second trend concerns the need and the positive effect of involving various professionals in this task Indeed for the United Nations there are different forms of prevention situational social etc in which society can and should work But there is also how the analysis of crime can and ought to be taken as a practice work or activity that involves a significant degree of interaction between institutions of gt Report of the X United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and Treatment of Offenders A CONF 187 15 July 2000 No 104 106 At http www uncjin org Documents congr10 15s pdf 10 FUNDACI ON See PAZ CIUDADANA different natures and purposes not just those organizations that deal with public safety and criminal prosecution This is the case of Fundaci n Paz Ciudadana Chile the Committee on Public Safety and Human Rights of the Metropolitan Council which works together with the Civil Association for Active Peace in Caracas Venezuela or the Information System for Security and Convivencia in Medellin Colombia which would add observatories in other cities and countries in the region A third trend is the growing conviction that whatever the topic field or nature crime reduction policies and actions needed to be based on evidence Again according to the United Nations ECOSOC 2002 13 information management is or should be functional to that goal and it emphasizes section on knowledg
13. at the control and enforcement strategies are inefficient since the institutions show little development in two key areas associated with crime analysis information and knowledge management Indeed as is clear from the statements made by Tilley and Laycock 2010 it is not possible to reduce gaps in control and penal prosecution by trying to improve the efficiency before crime without the science of crime or the crime analysis lt can be added that this is not possible to achieve this if simultaneously there aren t any innovations or suitable work in equally fundamental areas such as information management and knowledge management within the organization and between institutions Thus another common element in most cases is that the tools and methodologies for this purpose have not been sufficiently standardized and implemented there are no known studies that deal with assessing progress in these dimensions Today it is knew that the crime reduction strategies represent a significant share of effort in improving the management of information and knowledge especially in the field of crime analysis O Shea Nicholls 2003a and 2003b FUNDACI ON A PAZ CIUDADANA The reduction of crime and insecurity must be addressed and backed analytical processes and practices as is done in the field of scientific research of social behavior In this context of course theories assumptions the nature of the data and its validity are key factors Just
14. ations The following approach was drawn up the choice of the best practices to promote better crime analysis should take into account the following minimal elements The needs assessment The problem The profile of crime The responsiveness of the organization and professionals by the solutions The empowerment and ownership opportunities with the innovation The actions to promote methods and types of crime analysis tactical strategic investigative administrative and 7 The innovation itself D Be wS oP With this schema a call for papers was made and from each institution the following information was demanded a Title Institutional Information c Description of the elements problems that lead to innovating introducing or implementing technologies and practices of crime analysis in the organization and or territory FUNDACI ON A PAZ CIUDADANA d Description of the conceptual and or theoretical bases e General background of the program project intervention or format of the crime analysis objectives general specific targets indicators f Description of the information s management model and the tools used identifying what or which is the innovation Report about the benefits of the program project intervention or new way of analysis Description of the problems and obstacles that had to be overcome to implement the innovation i Identify and explain what processes are critical for better crime
15. ces U S Department of Justice Retrieved from http www cops usdoj gov files RIC Publications e03031891 web pdf O Shea T y Nicholls K 2003b Police Crime Analysis a Survey of U S Police Departments with 100 or more Sworn Personnel Police Practice and Research 4 3 233 250 22 FUNDACI ON A PAZ CIUDADANA Ratcliffe J 2007 Integrated Intelligence and Crime Analysis Enhanced Information Management for Law Enforcement Leaders Washington D C Police Foundation Recuperado de http www cops usdoj gov Publications integratedanalysis txt Russo T 2009 Predictive Policing A National Discussion Retrieved from http blogs usdoj gov blog archives 385 Sung Hung En 2006 Structural determinants of police effectiveness in market democracies Police Quarterly 9 1 3 19 Taylor B Kowalyk A amp Boba R 2007 The integration of crime analysis into law enforcement agencies an exploratory study into the perceptions of crime analysts Police Quarterly 10 2 154 169 Tilley R amp Laycock G 2010 De la prevenci n del delito a la ciencia del delito En An lisis delictual enfoque y metodolog a para la reducci n del delito Tudela P Ed Santiago Chile Fundaci n Paz Ciudadana IACA http www pazciudadana cl docs pub_20101129130944 pdf Tudela P 2011a Desaf os de la gesti n de la informaci n y el an lisis delictual en el marco de las pol ticas de seguridad qu debemos hacer
16. dentified 1 The identification and study of incidents crimes special problems 2 The characterization of patterns trends and criminal issues and safety 3 The study of factors causes associated with these patterns trends and issues 4 The dissemination of information so that institutions can develop tactics and strategies to solve or address trends 5 The study of the results of crime interventions 6 The consolidation of the experience as a good practice A relevant aspect which highlights some of the cases analyzed is that the limits of analysis arise from both the nature of the information available and the quality of the records as well as the approach used and the solutions sought Then there is a central point the key role of the ability to innovate and combine the processing of data available produced from varied backgrounds in other institutions and stakeholders and the use of different techniques qualitative and quantitative data collection and appropriate software In the second case the international recommendations and guidelines highlight some key trends that help understand the benefits of the analysis The first trend is that the last decade effectively consolidates the belief in the importance of the role of analysis in law enforcement organizations This has been underlined by the United Nations in various documents when it comes to crime prevention and the role of the police ECOSOC 2002 13 and UN
17. e based that crime prevention is not possible access without information strategies and programs for reducing crime should have a wide base of multidisciplinary knowledge about crime problems their multiple causes and practices that have proven to be effective and promising number 11 This logic of philosophy of work has become a leader or dominant paradigm because it ensures or increases the likelihood of success permeating day by day the decision making process in policing and prosecution especially in the design of policies Celik 2010 p 177 Accordingly there is no doubt that police management models and their analytical support are central to reducing crime and maximizing profit for cost effectiveness approach would be optimal For those analyzed the experiences of Argentina Brazil Colombia Chile and Venezuela agree that crime analysis does not only seek to observe what is happening or what has happened In contrast the analysis seeks to warn and avoid and takes a proactive pursue to provide evidence and to reduce crime Another common element between the practices described is the configuration of a value chain that transforms into a virtuous circle if you meet certain attributes and purposes In other words the identification and dissemination of information analysis products related crime patterns serial crimes crime trends and safety issues sought to be prevented still occur Therefore the studied cases high
18. e that aim to help identify crime patterns solve crime series and even make short term projections 4 It is not just a product or service it is also a result and for that reason ought to be measured with efficiency and effectiveness as it focuses on criminal activity crime offenders victims and places in order to discover and produce sensitive and valuable information that allows for research in order to clarify crimes apprehend prolific offenders make an easier efficiently distribution of resources and prevent the occurrence of recurrent crime 5 Not just a computer issue but professional skills human capital It involves a wide variety of treatment processes and information management supported by computer software but the software does make the analyst The difference is made by the trained staff not by the technology used Indeed one could accomplish this task without computer technology but it would just be slow and cumbersome 6 Itis a necessary task that cannot be taken on only by the police but that requires the attendance of non police professional skills of professionals in the social sciences and other disciplines because this is most successful when exists an interdisciplinary collaboration across agencies 7 The non police experts and the police leadership alliances are seen as virtuous strategies to prevent and reduce crime while information management and analysis are assumed to be opportunities for c
19. eduction is to avoid reproducing the errors that lead to standardized and traditional responses which as noted are often ineffective In this instance the analysis of crime is a key activity Thus compared to that question even when the response seems obvious there are at least two dimensions to consider The first and most immediate is concerned with the utility while the second with trends and recommendations First there are fundamental agreements For reducing crime there are two basic cognitive needs explaining and understanding the offense This is almost obvious because what you cannot understand or explain why or how to handle a problem of crime or insecurity cannot be controlled It is therefore essential to be aware of the benefits of crime analysis but also to showing the differences with other tasks is also necessary The management of data into information and knowledge has a purpose and should not be an exercise of illustration Hence it should not be confused or not let us believe that since there is had ability and technology to crime mapping and incidents then there is a useful analysis That is not so Crime mapping is only the beginning of a process from which inferences can be made but if they are questions that arise on the clarification of some instances then this will not do Thus this only illustrates something of a reality not yet well understood or known Witnessing the above for example in one case
20. effectiveness in the reduction of crime b The use of crime analysis in diagnosing and the designing of strategies and policies to reduce crime are keys c Crime analysis that is the good judgment and performance of an analyst can help give more validity to the implementation of prevention and prosecution efforts thus improving the social legitimacy of a public service From those it can ascertain that there exists a dual responsibility to promote and improve these competencies and in turn ensure and demonstrate the products and results of this activity Therefore the effectiveness of crime analysis is an essential point but more importantly is that this will help improve the quality of life of people In parallel several studies show that the attributes of policing are essential to building and maintaining an adequately safe environment and thus a better quality of life in cities As such the quality of police services and of course the models and strategies implemented are key both from a sociopolitical perspective quality of democracy and from the point of view of people safety For example focused on the efficiency of the police a study showed that there are significant structural and contextual correlations the performance of the police for example is greater in countries with low rates of homicide with an independent judiciary power and high income while the size of the police force and population as well as unempl
21. egree of complexity 1 Identification of routine uses and frequent elaboration of reports 2 Development of system audits of police records to ensure the validity and quality of data and records 3 Establishing trust relationships between people institutions and authorities as part of a working philosophy of mutual collaboration and co production 4 Introduction and institutionalization of crime analysis as practice and work unit on the basis of policy and program development in the organization and 5 Develop a plan to promote organizational learning and innovation in crime analysis introducing new processes and approaches Certainly what is mentioned above does not require much explanation The correlation is simple crime analysis cannot prosper if there is not a policy top down on information management and institutional enforcement which is explicitly supported by the appropriate resources The experiences compared here and the reviews of the experiences of some organizations are extremely useful Although they do not declare a second order observation of the selected cases would probably confirm that organizations are so complex that the data and knowledge are fragmented difficult to locate and share and therefore is redundant and inconsistent if not fully utilized All cases examined include information as input and highlights various tasks such as a Access to various sources b Use of support tools computer a
22. eir characteristic they are best practices in crime analysis Fundaci n Paz Ciudadana conducted this study with the support from Motorola Solutions Foundation and the International Association of Crime Analysts IACA This article analyzes compares and highlights commonalities and explores the achievements and challenges in promoting crime analysis in organizations seeking to improve crime prevention and prosecution A common denominator to note is not only the collective effort of individuals and institutions but to go beyond that and consider the variety of initiatives answers and efforts to measure and demonstrate through indicators how effective is crime analysis in its distinct forms and that is not only a necessary activity but also a key process for establishing policies and strategies to reduce crime and the factors of insecurity in countries of South America i Paper presented at the IACA Training Conference held in Fort Lauderdale on September 13th 2013 4 FUNDACI ON A PAZ CIUDADANA Another major common element of these practices is the close relationship between information management knowledge management improving efficiency in prevention and prosecution crime analysis and the contribution to the generation of better public safety Associating crime analysis strategies and policies to reduce crime and insecurity is to put on the table a set of challenges institutions are faced with in order to ensure that this acti
23. enforcement organizations the ineffectiveness of law enforcement to follow strategies or standard models is one of the most important Indeed the implementation of prevention and control tactics to reduce crime and disorder that were based on the premise that the police presence and deterrence worked well enough have proven to be ineffective Currently the model is criticized especially from the moment you install the conviction that it is reactive and that most of the time it is governed by bureaucratic rules without significant differences with respect to the characteristics of the people places times or situations problems it only pursues the application of the law In fact when research shows that the standard model does not have any noticeable effect on crime disorder or fear of crime then the need to innovate quickly is installed while looking directly at the relevant role the analysis of crime can play and how it thrives in a favorable internal and external context if organizational and individual factors are recognized as keys In the studied cases the police and criminal prosecution agencies face difficulties or problems to prevent to investigate crimes and to prosecute offenders effectively These problems are a common prelude to crime analysis becoming important the need to innovate and enhance capabilities to be more effective Another seldom mentioned element which does not necessarily mean that you re not aware of it is th
24. es have systems and institutions whose shared mission resolve or at least minimize the causes manifestations and negative effects of these threats and risks At the same time all public institutions including private need and use crime analysis procedures and theories The introduction and improvement of capabilities for crime analysis is part of the modernization of an institution especially in law enforcement agencies To achieve this in most countries the promotion of modernizing reforms in public institutions with the objective to ensure and promote more efficient services more effective and of better quality is a key and fundamental paying more attention in what citizens demands and in their expectations In this process the police and other law enforcement agencies are not left out It is often said that a modern institution is one which will show specific attributes such as efficiency effectiveness and quality in other words better performance Crime analysis is important considering this goal These practices were published in Tudela 2012 and Varela 2013 6 FUNDACI ON A PAZ CIUDADANA Generally the lack of performance in these institutions is part of the debate in most countries because it is a key safety factor Tudela 2011b In this context the cases presented and selected allow to make three assertions about the relevance of this activity a Without crime analysis in its diverse forms there is no major
25. he capabilities and uses of crime analysis it does not thrive significantly creating an adverse work environment Lack of formal training and published resources concerning to crime analysis Ignorance regarding the role and contribution of the analyst Most times it is sensed but rarely evidenced in and out of an organization Belief that the work of the analyst is a desk job and ignoring that the role can be a bridge between organizations and the reality for victims or persons working in a territory Crime analysis does not thrive in an organization if it is not associated with change or innovation intended to transition from a policy to a standard practice Impact of crime analysis depends on or is directly related to the ability of the organization s headquarters and other institutions to assess and employ the services of the crime analysis units and Scarce feedback mechanisms affect the tuning required between the user leadership decision maker and the analyst and unit responsible for making or carrying out the various possible types of analysis required in terms of the types of problems to address 16 FUNDACI NN A PAZ CIUDADANA 8 Conditions to optimize the analysis of crime in organizations How to overcome these obstacles What is required for crime analysis to be successful and effective in reducing crime The cases studied give some insight but not sufficient which are exposed from a lower to a higher d
26. ic opinion survey that involves some 19 000 interviews in 18 Latin American countries representing more than 400 million people It observes the development of democracies economies and societies using indicators of attitude opinion and behavior 4 The Latin American Public Opinion Project LAPOP surveys are promoted by the Vanderbilt University since 2004 under the leadership of Dr M Seligson For online analysis see http lapop ccp ucr ac cr Lapop html 7 FUNDACI ON A PAZ CIUDADANA In addition to this it includes cases where comparatively the police enjoy high levels of public trust and social legitimacy as Chile and Colombia in relation to Latin America there also coexists high levels of mistrust Definitely high crime victimization rates only explain a part of the levels of mistrust There are other elements at play Among specialists and policy makers exists an agreement that it is not possible to improve or maintain the security levels without efficient and effective police who deliver quality services This undoubtedly poses challenges of various kinds One of them is to advance the implementation and improvement of crime prevention policies and policing ensuring good performance But add to this also the development of individual skills and institutional capacities for more efficient and effective crime analysis Thus among the many reasons to focus on the skills and capabilities for the analysis of crime in law
27. ices and the strengthening human capital Therefore the induction of crime analysis practices will lead us to address the learning of the organization both the change adaptation of organizational behavior and the creation of a knowledge base that supports it In short organizational learning is a dynamic process that occurs at different levels of the organization driven by the interactions with external and internal stimuli and is aimed at obtaining new knowledge relevant in part to those individuals and groups that comprise it who generate and develop skills to improve the performance and results and who contribute to the acquisition of competitive advantages that have an effect on performance In the case of an agency focused on prevention or criminal prosecution information management is related to the processes by which the institution acquires produces stores shares and uses knowledge ideas and experiences to improve the fulfillment of the mission of the organization The information management in crime analysis implies specifically to generate search store disseminate use and share information within the organization For this several conditions must be there a Mechanisms and instances to identify knowledge needs more than just information and data b Establish mechanisms needed to acquire store share and transfer in all directions the knowledge that resides in each division and headquarter especially in a crime analys
28. in which the analysis is conducted the point of reference is the analyst versus the organization and the organization in relation to other organizations and the second relation is the internal purposes the analyst in the organization and how it is transformed into knowledge to support an efficient and effective policy for reducing crime The institutions that seek to improve the analysis can be facilitators or paradoxically present obstacles What obstacles arise An analysis of the experiences of the region shed some light The support of the organization is necessary but sometimes it is not strong enough to show how this contributes to the achievement of organizational goals While internal and external users value the analysis of crime for a successful analysis an enabling environment is required 1 The analysis of these features is consistent with that described in other parts especially in deeper studies conducted in the last decade O Shea and Nicholls 2003a and 2003b Taylor Kowalyk amp Boba 2007 Licate 2010 Celik 2010 18 FUNDACI ON AAA PAZ CIUDADANA The lack of consolidation of crime analysis in the organization is related to the acceptance sometimes preliminary of its usefulness and demonstrates only partial benefits and further relates to the existence of specialized units to support police work and prosecution The feedback between the analysts and the users is necessary too It is known that organizati
29. inked to a course of action Licate 2010 p 2 10 Law enforcement executives are increasingly recognizing that they are no longer in an information poor world data and information about the criminal environment and criminal activity abound The challenge is to corral this wealth of data into knowledge that can enhance decision making improve strategies to combat crime and increase crime prevention benefits In other words the aim is to convert data and information into actionable intelligence Ratcliffe 2007 p 1 13 FUNDACI ON A PAZ CIUDADANA Information management is generally characterized by the following actions collection and processing for managing and access database creation and the records are frequently known as attributes that help describe situations events or objects in reality that the researcher or analyst seeks collects or obtains from a file digital or physical document Specifically information management is the set of activities to monitor store and subsequently retrieve data properly produced received or retained by the organization doing their tasks or missions It starts with a good document management and reaches up to the existence of mechanisms to access data in a timely reliable and validated routine Consequently the mere data processing is unsuccessful or irrelevant if does not abide to a particular logic solving problems making decisions according to recommend courses of action in order to
30. ions share experiences and recognize good practices Something similar happens with the opportunities to train people in a systematic and habitual way 14 FUNDACI ON AAA PAZ CIUDADANA Around this activity there are several myths errors or omissions which should be cleared for a better understanding and proper implementation in organizations The review of selected cases is the first attempt to identify best practices in crime analysis and it helps us to identify some points or key aspects for making some assertions to truly understand which the challenges are really Crime analysis is 1 A response of the organization s that assumes the responsibility for implementing policies and strategies to reduce crime and disorder Therefore it can be said that every day obtains new promoters as crime analysis is validated as a complementary and necessary practice especially in police and prosecutions agencies and among civil authorities that share equal responsibility in making decisions about crime reduction 2 It is a work or way of doing that follows a methodology It uses techniques and procedures for data processing accompanied by a set of reasoning and inference rules which assist with triangulation techniques contrast of sources and types of information readily available in organizations 3 Not improvised The analysis is subject to criminal procedures and steps that are based on a set of assumptions and criminological knowledg
31. is unit c Have the ability to recover the experience and know how the organization and the analysts have gained over the years d Strengthening and improving flows of knowledge in all existing processes to increase efficiency and effectiveness in the daily work of the organization e Be able to recognize experts and expertise and value them incentives f Distribute knowledge according to the needs and preferences 20 FUNDACI ON A PAZ CIUDADANA g Provide with the explicit knowledge a best practice in the fight against crime It is said that a better management of knowledge is related to the organizational culture and human factors by 80 and that only 20 is related to technology According to this the conditions to give processes sustainability and capitalize on crime analysis in organizations will depend more on systematic work than the quality of knowledge productivity and capital treatment of the organization In other words it will depend on doing whatever it takes to get the most of the resources analytical skills and knowledge in the organization None of this will happen if you do not have policies and strategies to sustain the organizational and functional purposes According to the above and considering the factors that have hindered crime analysis practices in the cases considered in this study allowing us to extend and refine the list of factors discussed in the Second International Workshop on Smart Strategie
32. light its utility in targeting resources and efforts for the design and implementation of prevention strategies or for more effective action and suggest it should be considered the analysis as a tool for measurement the impact evaluation of the actions undertaken Although the latter is the least developed as of yet In short to the question of why the reading of selected practices confirm that these methods help reduce crime effectiveness However there emerge two new arguments related benefits that Also the rule or recommendation is that government and where appropriate civil society should facilitate crime prevention paragraph 21 In this regard by way of illustration here are just some of the recommendations B Supporting the generation of useful and practical applications that are scientifically reliable and valid C Supporting the organization and synthesis of knowledge and to identify and fill in gaps in the knowledge base E Applying this knowledge in replicating successful interventions developing new initiatives and anticipating new crime problems and prevention opportunities and F Establishing data systems to help manage crime prevention more economically including conducting regular surveys and crime victimization 7 Evidence based policing Welsh 2006 p 305 could help police decision making in finding appropriate policing strategies for specific problems by the use of scientific evidence Crime analysts uti
33. lizing geographical inferential statistics might play a central role in predictive policing Russo 2009 1 as printed which aims to integrate crime analysis intelligence led policing and crime fighting strategies to improve police capacity for crime prevention Celik 2010 p 177 11 FUNDACI ON AAA PAZ CIUDADANA emphasize innovation and introduce new ways of working in organizations emphasizing efficiency and accountability E Direct benefit crime analysis is a fundamental step in planning and implementing the work of the police and prosecution agencies by helping to indicate where and when there is greater need for resources how to use them and how to monitor the historical evolution of crime rates and crime to intelligently and economically address the causes of crime and not just the effects E Indirect benefit thanks to the analysis based on the proper information and knowledge management planning and subsequent action by law enforcement and prosecution becomes consistent with the criteria of police accountability itself Thus the organizations responsible for reducing crime and prosecution become more efficient and effective to society public opinion and the media helping to achieve higher levels of public safety For example as described by the practices of the Polic a de Investigaciones de Chile Carabineros and prosecutors from National Prosecutor s Office of Chile from the analysis of the modus operandi
34. nd c Quality assurance of registration Another common element among the analyzed practice cases is that the organizations both public and private doomed by the lack of crime analysis require a data management infrastructure information and knowledge to configure and enhance the resources and capabilities together This is a fundamental requirement Organizing records and data for crime analysis is a key step known as information management Best practices show that data collection and the generation of information are based on or are aimed at guaranteeing useful criteria in processes that ensure reliability and validity It is suggested that a checklist be used like the following 1 What information is needed to answer questions arising from the attempt to solve the problem 17 FUNDACI ON A PAZ CIUDADANA What data is relevant to the particular problem What other types of data need to be collected and produced How do we know this information data evidence is accurate Is relevant information available to the organization and function of the analyst s purpose or goal What information is based on analysis and assessment Is there bias in the analysis and experience How is the information and analysis validated triangulation Is there important data and information that we need to consider 10 What experience practices and case support the measures or courses of action recommended NP O OND In c
35. nnnoss 19 BIDlIOSr PAY iia dai it det 22 FUNDACI ON A PAZ CIUDADANA Best Practices in Crime Analysis News amp Lessons from Latin America Patricio Tudela Poblete PH D MS Fundacion Paz Ciudadana Chile Abstract This article describes the process of promoting a more effective crime analysis in Latin America and addresses the importance of the institutionalization of criminal analysis units CAU for crime prevention and criminal prosecution Cases are compared and conclusions are drawn regarding the barriers or difficulties and challenges Crime analysis is a useful tool in the context of security and safety policies but it must also be upgraded from information management and knowledge management in law enforcement organizations FFF Keywords Crime analysis best practices Latin America barriers and challenges information management and knowledge management in law enforcement agencies 1 Introduction Learning from what was well done or looking at successes and possible failures or difficulties is a cost effective way of gaining knowledge preventing anyone from committing the same errors that others have already detected and corrected That s the original philosophy of this article Here are presented a set of traits that qualify as obstacles advantages and challenges associated with crime analysis in 9 countries using the review and analysis of 37 cases from Latin America 18 were selected because of th
36. ollaborations rather than threats for organizations Thus the crime analysis merits an organizational response and demands crucial professional skills 7 Barriers 15 FUNDACI ON AAA PAZ CIUDADANA But not everything is hunky dory There are also significant barriers to crime analysis The review of the 11 cases allows us to detect a set of factors or difficulties that consequently limit their impact on the crime reduction 10 11 12 13 14 Low quality of the data in the records of the police and prosecution agencies Poor quality and limited non police information i e referring to territories or demographic profiles of victims vulnerable groups in risk and of risk and offenders among others stale data Issues of access and flow or transit of data and information within the organization and between institutions Little knowledge of techniques and limited use of qualitative data sources Limited use of victimization surveys which complement the police sources for the analysis of crime The lack of a formal definition and functional roles of the Crime Analysis Unit and analysts within the organization Low credibility in institutions can diminish the importance of crime analysis making it commonly as a step or action for marketing or a communications strategy of organizations Low awareness willingness on the need to innovate in crime analysis If the institution is not the main promoter of t
37. onal culture often undervalues whoever works behind a desk or it is believed that the analyst does not belong to the operative world This is true in Latin America and in countries where for decades crime analysis is a developed practice too Taylor Kowalyk and Boba 2007 162 The cases shows that when there are good communication practices among police on the street and members of crime analysis units the use of the analysis in the organization is improved In this context it is important to consider what Celik states 2010 184 When an analyst believes that its products are highly beneficial for end users they are motivated to use various types of analysis techniques seeking various troubleshooting tools and employ a wider range of data types in crime analysis Thus the internal strategy and the willingness to adopt innovative techniques in crime prevention and prosecution in association with the implementation of appropriate technology can be significant and predictive factors as demonstrated by Celik 2010 9 What are the impacts easy challenges or difficult challenges As the cases examined show the analysis not only requires data and technology but fundamentally trained personnel and a work environment that optimizes the productivity of analysts Organizations that have established crime analysis units have used special staff to perform specific tasks and allocated adequate resources for better information management
38. onsequence the analysis of the practices can infer some characteristics of how to perform this activity in some organizations a Information management and crime analysis in organizations do not refer only to documents or databases but also in organizational routines processes and standards of behavior b The more rigid and centralized organizations with less dynamic structures have more problems to share and integrate their processes of information and knowledge c Coordination problems are significantly correlated with the size of the organization d Teams in small organizations tend to work together while in large organizations do so dispersed e Working together facilitates communication coordination and knowledge sharing f The problems of collaborations are associated with both physical and geographical distances and to differences in culture language and interests but basic mental distances reflect how we see and act as an organization g While collaboration is necessary sharing information and knowledge is often problematic requiring a policy to facilitate it It is interesting to observe that in several cases studied coincidentally with the literature reviewed extra institutional variables or situations or circumstances organizational factors and individual attributes are highlighted Accordingly there are at least two dimensional determinants in this field the first is related to the internal external dynamic
39. oyment rates would be irrelevant to a large extent It was also noted that there are other important factors such as perception and how democratic are tactics and strategies of police Sung 2006 However very little has been said about the role of crime analysis and its impact on safety and the legitimacy of the institutions of crime prevention and prosecution This leads to focusing on the need to better explore various facets associated with a task or fundamental stage for crime reduction crime analysis There is no doubt about this The experience of some countries shows that when the police do not act as expected and as they should then the climate of safety and dissatisfaction is greater In our region according to the Latinobar metro of the last three years 2009 2011 generally 6 in 10 Latin Americans are dissatisfied with the way the police work even though this is not the same for all countries The survey results of the Latin American Public Opinion Program LAPOP point in the same direction 3 The Latinobar metro survey consists of a sample of 1 200 cases in Chile and other countries This is a face to face survey has a margin of error of 2 8 in Chile while in countries with larger populations as is the case of Colombia is estimated at 3 5 to 95 confidence The sample for Latin America considered 22 695 cases For online analysis see http www latinobarometro org latino LATAnalize jsp Latinobar metro is an annual publ
40. s of selection for staff that will work as analysts f The process of training and specialization g The feedback mechanisms To conclude it should be emphasized that information and knowledge are constant challenges in organizations that deal with the crime prevention and prosecution But in the same way it is also important to accept and recognize that crime reduction strategies and criminal prosecution demand 21 FUNDACI ON A PAZ CIUDADANA information management and crime analysis as much as knowledge management as they are key issues for more efficient timely and effective action The 18 selected cases suggest that the most significant challenge is that organizations can overcome the problems of translation i e databases intervention experiences and validation of results with the accumulated knowledge organizational capital because the gap between information search analysis intervention strategy and evaluation are not reduced still challenges 10 Bibliography Badiola 2010 Gesti n del conocimiento en organizaciones policiales el caso de la Polic a de Investigaciones de Chile Trabajo Final del M ster en Gesti n y Planificaci n Estrat gica Universidad Aut noma de Barcelona ASEPOL PDI Santiago 235 p Bruce C 2010 Fundamentos del an lisis delictual En An lisis delictual enfoque y metodolog a para la reducci n del delito Tudela P Ed Santiago Chile Fundaci n Paz Ciudadana
41. s to Reduce Crime organized by the International Association of Crime Analysts and Fundaci n Paz Ciudadana Tudela 2011a the construction of an environment for crime analysis involves 1 Commitment of the governing body to promoting crime analysis 2 Aresponsible structure 3 Optimal equipment 4 Aflow of information flow clear communication 5 Trained staff 6 A demanding organization guided by the conviction that crime analysis serves as a basis for operational responses and the services it provides the organization in crime prevention and criminal prosecution 7 The philosophy that police interventions or actions must be based on evidence 8 Administrative processes and organizational flexibility 9 A space for collective learning 10 Mechanisms for the study and identification of lessons learned that should serve as the basis for creative and innovative intervention Finally the importance of standardization and institutionalization of crime analysis in the organization can be measured through indicators of activity and impact associated with the following variables or factors a The mission statement and job description or standard operating procedure b Use of databases and information to analyze problems c The use of proven technologies such as the SARA model for analyzing and recommending courses of action d The identification and access to sources of police experience evidence based e The proces
42. te tasks solve problems and make decisions Prieto 2003 p 23 quoted by Badiola 2010 The notion of knowledge in the organizational context includes aspects of information available to individuals and organizations which are relevant to reach an understanding of their decision setting and to choose and implement the most appropriate courses of action in that particular context and assimilate the results that cause such actions Badiola 2010 p 22 Paraphrasing Badiola 2010 p 32 knowledge management is linked to organizational learning that is creating the ability to acquire and manage information and with development encourage potential for change in an institution The conversion of tacit to explicit knowledge forms the so called spiral of organizational knowledge creation which aims to create conditions and incentives so that the knowledge of individuals is incorporated into the organizational structure and can be used by other analysts it is a relevant factor in this case However very little of this occurs in crime analysis The instituting of knowledge is the core of organizational learning specifically the organization that learns is that which is continually evolving transforming its flow of information in a stock of knowledge that is disseminated to other areas or units allowing it to produce superb result and services Thus information management is organizational learning adaptation improvement of quality of serv
43. to be performed it understand multiple operations and arguments that seek to find relationships between testimonies or statements evidence or data collected which are not obvious at first sight We search for associations and causal relationships based on mapping statistical techniques descriptive analysis and qualitative analysis content analysis There is several software that support these processes This is illustrated in properly selected cases Thus the study of the practices leads to the conviction that the crime analysis is a complex process and so is using a set of relevant data as evidence analysts argue with the hopes of discovering causes effects qualities motives opportunities risks etc and having them serve as a basis for action This opinion is consistent with what some call actionable intelligence Ratclife 2007 Indeed crime analysts can be seen as knowledge based workers for they collect collate and analyze data and disseminate results Analysts can give value and meaning to the abstract data and convert it into knowledge for action which by the way is the responsibility of the users of the products of analysis Celik 2010 p 183 A fact that deserves attention here is that while it is a necessary step and the prelude to the analysis research and preparation of data and information is not strictly speaking crime analysis For that reason it seems necessary to differentiate and
44. vity renders better results The examples provided by public and private organizations of various countries in the region are highlighted here to develop policies for managing information and knowledge The main challenge is promoting internal and external organizational conditions that allow for better crime analysis It is recognized however that this analysis is performed in the framework of a line of study apart from the international literature that aims to identify additional determinants of success or failure in policies to improve skills for analysis in law enforcements agencies 2 The selection of best practices With the conviction that it is necessary to show the experience of crime analysis in Latin America we have worked since 2010 promoting best practices in crime analysis Crime analysis must be done well and people in our countries are also doing interesting and necessary innovations So the first competition to select best practices in crime analysis was organized Of course previously it was necessary to review different approaches to response what is a best practice A best practice is a method or technique that has consistently shown results superior to those achieved with other means and that is used as a benchmark In addition a best practice can evolve to become better as improvements are discovered Documenting and charting procedures and practices is a complicated and time consuming process often skipped by organiz
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