THE CRIME ANALYSIS UNIT
The Crime Analysis Unit assists police with determining who’s doing what to whom and how. Crime analysis is the analytical process that provides timely and significant data relative to crime patterns. Crime analysis also serves as a function to assist with the deployment of the patrol force to curtail and contain criminal activities.
The Lowell Police Department Crime Analysis Unit conducts three forms of analysis on a daily basis. These include:
- Tactical analysis, which identifies specific and immediate crimes in order to respond quickly in the field;
- Strategic analysis, which monitors long-range problems and usually includes statistical summaries; and
- Administrative analysis, which provides crime related data for grant writing and City Council reports.
The Unit also participates in three distinct kinds of crime analysis. First, intelligence analysis collects data regarding who associates with whom. This analysis concentrates on the relationships among individuals or collectives that are suspected as participating in criminal activities such as narcotics rings and gangs. Secondly, operations analysis examines how an agency utilizes its resources such as, conducting a workload analysis in order to redistrict response areas. Lastly, investigative analysis, a focused type of analysis, is most often used when investigating serial homicides and rapes. This kind of analysis examines crime scene evidence in order to develop a psychological profile of the offender.
Resources:
Gottlieb, S., Arenberg, S., & Singh, R. (1994). Crime analysis: From first report to final arrest.
Alpha Publishing, CA.: Montclair, California
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