U.S. national security threatened by Mexican Drug Cartels

U.S. national security threatened by Mexican Drug Cartels

Analysts Turn To Software For Spotting Terrorists

Analysts Turn To Software For Spotting Terrorists

On the Internet, some suspects get tangled in own webs

On the Internet, some suspects get tangled in own webs

Nice mention of a crime analyst in this article.

Policing Terrorism: An Executive's Guide from the Center for Problem Oriented Policing

Policing Terrorism: An Executive's Guide, by by Graeme R. Newman and Ronald V. Clarke, from the Center for Problem Oriented Policing.

"This manual is intended to help police executives and other senior executives meet the new challenges involved in countering the threat of terrorism by summarizing writings on the essential components of a counterterrorism plan. It does not deal with the specifics of such matters as (1) conducting surveillance of suspected terrorists; (2) protecting different types of vulnerable targets, such as ports and chemical plants; or (3) achieving interoperability in wireless communications among different disaster-response agencies, such as fire, police, and emergency medical personnel. Although junior officers need this type of detail, chiefs require more general information about a broad range of issues that can help them develop plans and policies to counter the terrorist threat. This manual seeks to meet the needs of chiefs and other senior personnel by summarizing information about 50 key topics in the form of advice to the chief."

Business Intelligence Led Modernization and Improvement of Correctional Services: Lessons from Abroad

Business Intelligence Led Modernization and Improvement of Correctional Services: Lessons from Abroad

Valuable quote: "Performance-based management is most fundamentally about communication, not measurement."

Stages of Intelligence Led Policing

I have created a draft model of what I consider to be stages of Intelligence Led Policing, using models of stages of human development as loose guides. I would appreciate suggestions and feedback in the comments section of this blog, or via email.

Stages of Intelligence Led Policing (c) Deborah Osborne 2009

Stage One: Reactive
Many police agencies are in stage one. Run to calls, investigate, do your best. No analytical support. Little understanding of the value of crime intelligence analysis. Impact on the criminal environment is random.

Stage Two: Relies on Gut Feeling
Agencies with unsophisticated or inadequate analytical capacities that may use analytical resources time-to-time, but generally rely on traditional policing based on trusting past experiences at the gut feeling level. Impact on the criminal environment is random.

Stage Three: Develops the Individual
Agencies that allow individual officers and analysts the freedom to study problems and develop responses fit into this category. This stage supports creativity in problem-solving and long-term projects, but only by select individuals. The work is thus more isolated and limited by individual initiative and time/energy constraints.There is some targeted impact on the criminal environment, but it is not recognized as such nor sustained.

Stage Four: Learns and Takes Risks
Agencies that have engaged in some wide-spread problem oriented policing projects and grant-funded initiatives may have developed some broad-based analytical capacities and learned from them. They continue to experiment with innovation on a limited basis, focused on one or two problems. Analysts provide basic analytical products and support as needed. There is some recognized impact on the criminal environment in one or two areas, but this impact may not be sustained.

Stage Five: Identifies with Institutions
Agencies that have implemented Compstat and/or problem oriented policing across their jurisdiction, who meet regularly and analyze current crime problems tactically and/or specifically, fit in this category. Use of intelligence and crime analysis information is embedded in the work, but it is not often strategic. It contained elements of reactivity. More focus is on the immediate problems compared to the chronic problems of a jurisdiction. Analysis may be diluted by adherence to strictly defined procedures/missions. There is recognized impact on the criminal environment tactically, but long term impact strategies are not in place.

Stage Six: Combines Logic and Intuition
Agencies at this stage realize the value of crime intelligence analysis, combining crime analysis with intelligence, quantitative information with qualitative information. They use the street knowledge of officers and investigators and incorporate it with analytical information. Analysis is a valued commodity to inform decision-making at the level of the working officer as well as the top decision-makers. There is recognized impact on the criminal environment, both short-term and long-term.

Stage Seven: Holistic and Adaptive
Agencies at this stage see beyond their jurisdictional boundaries, since crime knows no such boundaries. They are interested in developing and sharing information/intelligence, as well as obtaining information/intelligence, with every relevant source. They form and maintain strategic partnerships to build their analytical capacity. They identify and respond to their chronic problems and their worst offenders, by developing strategies to create lasting change. They continue to respond the daily needs of their community, but with a true focus on crime prevention to improve public safety. Crime intelligence analysis is central to their decision-making processes. They invest in quality analytical staff and provide the technology and training needed to do the job right. Analysts and decision-makers collaborate to develop innovative and lasting solutions. There is significant impact to the criminal environment, both short-term and long-term, with a conscious effort to collaborate in problem-solving with those entities outside the jurisdiction with shared crime and criminal problems.

(c) Deborah Osborne 2009

Hans Rosling shows the best stats you've ever seen

For more go to www.gapminder.org

The Blog@Homeland Security

The Blog@Homeland Security is the Department of Homeland Security's blog which was launched last month (June 2009).

Global G-8 Operation Targeting Cash Couriers Nets $7 Million Plus

Global G-8 Operation Targeting Cash Couriers Nets $7 Million Plus

Very interesting...

CRIMINT

In the last few years the US Army has developed a new category of intelligence - one you should know about. Read the following to learn about CRIMINT:

"During the early part of 2002, the Military Police Corps recognized the need to better collect, collate, analyze, and disseminate police information and develop criminal intelligence (CRIMINT) from that process." Read more...

Police Intelligence Operations

The Evolution of Police Intelligence Operations

Navigating Your Agency's Path to Intelligence Led-Policing

Navigating Your Agency's Path to Intelligence-Led Policing

Policing Terrorism in the United States: The Los Angeles Police Department's Convergence Strategy

Policing Terrorism in the United States: The Los Angeles Police Department's Convergence Strategy is an interesting article from the February 2009 The Police Chief magazine.

Florida Wrestles with Its Python Problem

Florida Wrestles with Its Python Problem

U.N., Interpol plan to fight W. Africa crime

U.N., Interpol plan to fight W. Africa crime

Great quote from this short article: "The best way to combat networks is with networks," Hughes said. "That's what we're aiming for with the transnational crime units."

ATF Shares 2008 NY State Crime Gun Data

ATF Shares 2008 NY State Crime Gun Data

U.S. Tops World $4 Billion Pistol, Shotgun Trade, Group Says

U.S. Tops World $4 Billion Pistol, Shotgun Trade, Group Says

LAPD's public database omits nearly 40% of this year's crimes

LAPD's public database omits nearly 40% of this year's crimes

This is a must read article for anyone engaged in crime mapping.

Partnerships with University-Based Researchers

Partnerships with University-Based Researchers

This The Police Chief magazine article makes some good points. I was lucky enough to have active research partners when I was a crime analyst at the Buffalo Police Department. Academics can also get you valuable interns and support your analytical endeavors. Just make certain that your work doesn't become too academic for your department to use - analysts need to create resources for their decison-makers. Interesting research is just that.

North Korea Blamed for Knocking out US, Korean Government Websites.

North Korea Blamed for Knocking out US, Korean Government Websites.

Applying ILP to traffic accidents

Kanes Corner leads way as city's accident hot spot is a great article illustrating how intelligence led policing can be applied in the real world.

Shifting the focus from police bureaucracy

Shifting the focus from police bureaucracy in the U.K.

Interesting ramifications...

FBI's 2008 Mortgage Fraud Report “Year in Review”

FBI's 2008 Mortgage Fraud Report “Year in Review” is available online.

"The purpose of this study is to provide insight into the breadth and depth of mortgage fraud crimes perpetrated against the United States and its citizens during 2008. This report updates the 2007 Mortgage Fraud Report and addresses current mortgage fraud projections, issues, and the identification of mortgage fraud “hot spots.” The objective of this study is to provide FBI program managers with relevant data to better understand the threat, the trends, allocation of resources, and to prioritize investigations. The report was requested by the Financial Crimes Section, Criminal Investigative Division (CID), and prepared by the Financial Crimes Intelligence Unit (FCIU), Directorate of Intelligence (DI)."

Strategic Thinking for Winning

Strategic Thinking for Winning: Use Analysis and imagination is my latest LawOfficer.com column.

Reoffending robbers targeted by cops

Reoffending robbers targeted by cops