Free OSINT Tools

 Visit https://www.myosint.training/pages/free-resources for some free tools to use in your open source searching.

"The Ultimate OSINT Collection is Griffin Glynn's massive startme page of curated OSINT resource links. With links to the best content in categories such as: books, podcasts, discussion groups, tool collections, blogs, and more... this one stop shop has become the most popular OSINT startme page on the platform, and is followed and accessed by thousands of people from around the world!"

Report: Global attitudes to crime and law enforcement

Food for thought!

"This 31-country study tracks how people around the world see crime playing out in their communities, what they want governments to do, and how much trust they have in law enforcement." 

The Ipsos report Global attitudes to crime and law enforcement is available at this link.

Crypto Crime Resource

This resource is provided by Thomas R. Alber who is an Enforcement Agent with the Kansas Racing and Gaming Commission, who works as an instructor, leading crypto crimes investigator and gaming investigator.

 US Crypto Cop

"We are a collaborative go-to resource for combating crypto crimes, gaming-related offenses, and digital scams. As gaming and gambling rapidly expand across states, and smartphones become ubiquitous, the need for personal and cybersecurity vigilance has never been more urgent.

Whether you’re a regulator, law enforcement officer, gamer, parent or family member to one, we can help to build a safer, more secure gaming and digital future for all."

Future Thinking in Policing

As a law enforcement analyst you are often on the cutting edge of the agency's technology; thus,  it would be helpful for you to become acquainted with futures thinking, if you are not already familiar.

Explore the webpages of these resources:

Future Policing Institute

Interpol: Future of policing

The National Police Foundation report:

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE: A Primer for Police Leaders on Futures Thinking

Police Chief Magazine article:

Navigating the Future of Policing

Various Search Engines

It can be useful to vary what search engines you use when you conduct open source research. Vet the results for accuracy. 

Search engines:

- Google

- Bing

- Yandex

- Baidu

- Yahoo

- Qwant

- DuckDuckGo

- Bravo

Do you have any to add to this list?

Geolocation Skills Video

 "In this tutorial, we will dive deep into the techniques of analysing footage for indications of locations by:

- Identifying routes of travel

- Use reference points like mountains and landmarks to narrow down search areas

- Using reconstructions of an area to help accurate geolocation.

The tutorial is not just about the theory; it's a hands-on guide that encourages viewers to practice alongside, by following the footage available on CNN and practicing using this walkthrough."

The link to video and more information cab be found here.

Stanford Online: Designing Your Career

Wherever you are in your analyst career - wannabe to expert - you can benefit from some thought about where you are and where you want to go.

This is a free online course from Stanford:

https://online.stanford.edu/courses/tds-y0003-designing-your-career

Report Writing: The Write Stuff

Listen to the podcast episode The Write Stuff to learn more about intelligence report writing.

 "Who said writing intelligence reports for policymakers is boring? Not us--and certainly not former DIA intelligence analyst turned Hollywood screenwriter Mitchell LaFortune. On this episode of DIA Connections, LaFortune talks about his creative approach to intelligence writing. Learn how it helped him when he left DIA for LA to write the screenplay for the action thriller Kandahar, a movie based on his experiences in Afghanistan."

Britannica’s Curiosity Compass: 10 Ways to Improve Your Curiosity

I think curiosity is the most valuable trait an analyst can have. It can be improved!

The Oxford Languages Dictionary defines curiosity as "a strong desire to know or learn something."

Explore this site to learn more about curiosity and improving it. 

 Britannica’s Curiosity Compass: 10 Ways to Improve Your Curiosity

Don't Limit Yourself

You have a number of possible approaches to use as a law enforcement analyst. You might favor some, such as mapping, statistics, reading reports to look for patterns, or investigating suspects. Don't limit yourself to any approach - develop a repetoire of approcahes.

Practice Data

Do you want to practice analyzing crime data?

There are a number of datasets available to the public.

Here is one resource:

Chicago Data Portal

Civilianization

The July 2024 Police Executive Research Forum Publication Embracing Civilianization: Integrating Professional Staff to Advance Modern Policing is available at this link.

"Skilled analysts are more essential than ever as law enforcement agencies increasingly rely on technology to help make decisions, solve crimes, deliver services, and provide transparency. These technologies range from abstract concepts such as predictive policing, intelligence-led policing, and artificial intelligence to concrete applications such as body-worn cameras, social media, gun- shot detection systems, closed-circuit television, and crime mapping. The analysts who develop and implement these systems must possess a wide range of expertise and skills. While there are certainly some police officers who may possess these abilities, they are more typically found in skilled professionals who come from outside policing."

I just hope that analysts don't get trapped into technology expert roles where their thinking skills are overlooked. Analysts don't have to be developers of systems, because developers are not analysts. I think true analysts interpret the meaning of information versus roles that require knowing how to use tools.

You are not the main character

Below is a letter of commendation for a detective whose work I supported when I was a crime analyst. If you are an aspiring analyst, note that you are never the main character in a police department. You support officers of all stripes, from the patrol officer, to the investigators and up to the commanders. Yet, while you may not be main character, this is very rewarding work. 

Synthetic Media

The Interpol Innovation Centre's 2024 report Beyond Illusions: Unmasking the Threat of Synthetic Media for Law Enforcement is available to download at the link on this post. 

From the report:

The accessibility and affordability of various AI platforms have enabled criminals to exploit this technology, leveraging synthetic media to propagate and perpetuate criminal activities. This poses considerable challenges for the global law enforcement community. Recognizing the diverse forms of synthetic media and its associated challenges, INTERPOL is committed to exploring this dynamic landscape to support our member countries in addressing both current and future threats posed by synthetic media.

Clink on this link to visit the site and learn more about synthetic media.

PrepTech Talk: Locating Justice - The Power of GIS in Law Enforcement

PrepTech Talk: Locating Justice - The Power of GIS in Law Enforcement

"The use of GIS in law enforcement has moved beyond traditional crime analytics. From field applications, to tactical and strategic dashboards, managing sensitive data, and empowering line-level personnel with geospatial tools, GIS is changing how law enforcement operates. Join us to learn about some of these uses in California and Maryland!

Objectives:

*Promote best practices and improve collaboration across law enforcement.

*Share efforts on how local law enforcement agencies are solving real-world problems.

*Raise awareness of the tools available to most agencies.

Speakers:

*Shelby Roberson - GIS Manager, Montgomery County Police Department

*Matt Harris - Crime Analyst, Santa Rose Police Department"

Read more about the agency:

"The National Alliance for Public Safety GIS (NAPSG) Foundation is currently the only 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides resources at no cost for the public safety community to help them implement effective solutions to common problems."

Interesting Read: Forensic Factsheets

While crime and intelligence analysts are not forensic specialists, it could be helpful to know more about this topic as we support investigations. Explore this site and be sure to click further into links to get the fullest level of information (if you are interested). 

From the American Academy of Forensic Sciences:

 "The AAFS Standards Factsheets provide a concise summary of each standard and facilitate broader understanding, they also highlight the purpose of a standard, why it is needed, and the benefits of adoption. These factsheets summarize the contents of technical and professional forensic science standards on the OSAC Registry."

2024 U.S. Federal Elections: The Insider Threat

 "The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), in coordination with the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Office of Intelligence and Analysis (I&A), the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), and the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) prepared this overview to help partners defend against insider threat concerns that could materialize during the 2024 election cycle."

Read the report here: 2024 U.S. Federal Elections: The Insider Threat

FBI: Prevent Mass Violence

The Federal Bureau of Investigation's Behavioral Analysis Unit launched a Prevent Mass Violence campain this month. 

Read more here:

Prevent Mass Violence

Team Approach to Keeping Potential Attackers Off ‘Pathway to Violence’

Update your products!

 

Crime Trends in U.S. Cities: Mid-Year 2024 Update

The Council of Criminal Justice's Crime Trends in U.S. Cities: Mid-Year 2024 Update is available at this link.

"This study updates and supplements previous U.S. crime trends reports by the Council on Criminal Justice (CCJ) with additional data through June 2024. It examines monthly crime rates for 12 violent, property, and drug offenses in 39 American cities that have consistently reported monthly data over the past six years. The 39 cities are not necessarily representative of all jurisdictions in the United States. Not all cities reported data for each offense (see appendix for which cities reported which offenses); trends in offenses with fewer reporting cities should be viewed with caution. In addition, the data collected for this report are subject to revision by local jurisdictions."

The Center for Intelligence and Crime Analysis (CICA)

 "The Center for Intelligence and Crime Analysis (CICA) was established in January 2023 and is housed within the Sam Houston State University College of Criminal Justice. Our mission is to assist public safety agencies by enhancing their analytical capabilities through professional development, education, and research."

Interesting Facts: History of the Drug Enforcement Agency

The Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) recently celebrated its 51st anniversary. Read about its history at this link.

The Analytics Edge

Analysts come in alll sizes and shapes.

Explore some interesting things in analysis at this Sloan School of Management course called "The Analytics Edge" at this link: https://ocw.mit.edu/courses/15-071-the-analytics-edge-spring-2017/pages/an-introduction-to-analytics/

NCMEC Video Resource: Online Sextortion

 No Escape Room is an interactive film designed to illustrate how teens get trapped in online sextortion. It is a resource for anyone concerned about this problem.

"The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® (NCMEC) is committed to providing training, technical assistance and resources to public safety and child-serving professionals.

NCMEC hosts in-person classroom training sessions in its state-of-the-art Walsh Training Center located in our Alexandria, VA headquarters, as well as facilities located across the country at our regional offices and partner agencies. Online courses are available through NCMEC Connect, designed to provide easy access to training and resources for professionals on the frontlines.

Contact NCMEC training staff via email, training@ncmec.org."

Expand Your Professional Life

Your growth as an analyst will accelerate if you take risks and do extra things for the profession. While much of this will be unpaid work, it can give your great satisfaction. 

Don't let fears stand in the way. Grow.

National Insurance Crime Bureau

"NICB partners with insurance companies, consumers and law enforcement to combat insurance fraud and theft through the combination of intelligence and analytics, investigations, and learning development."

Vist these sites to learn more about insurance fraud and resources available from the National Insurance Crime Bureau:

National Insurance Crime Bureau: YouTube videos

National Insurance Crime Bureau: website 

National Insurance Crime Bureau: Regional News

Advocating Against Romance Scammers

Advocating Against Romance Scammers is a website and a resource for combatting the significant problem of romance scams.

A guide for the victims of romance scams can be found at this link.

Read the Federal Trade Commission's article "Romance scammers’ favorite lies exposed" at this link.

What do you wear?

I remember waiting to hear about when I would have an interview once I saw that I scored in the top three in the crime analyst civil service test. Once the interview was scheduled, I wondered what to wear. I looked to Scully in the X-Files, the only role model I could think of, and bought conservative pumps and a nice plain suit. Now I find that funny, but back then it was the best I could do.

"What should I wear ?"is a small question, but it is one worth considering. In my early days as a crime analyst I was overdressed, but that gave me a kind of confidence I needed when there was not much else to base it in. I had much to learn. It was important to look professional and business-like.

Think about what you wear. How does it contribute to your work life? Does it detract from your image? Do you fit in your environment? Do you stand out in an appropriate way?

Deleted Tweet Finder Tool

 I saw this resource on LinkedIn and though perhaps it will be of some help to you. 

Deleted Tweet Finder Tool

"The Deleted Tweet Finder is a web-based tool that enables you to search for deleted tweets using various archival services. Whether the tweet was recently deleted or disappeared a while ago, this tool provides multiple options to explore the archives of the internet."

Federal Trade Commission Blog

 The FTC has a blog called Data Spotlight. Click the link below for one of their informative articles and explore the site further. 

Who’s who in scams: a spring roundup

Sean Bair's Guide to Hiring a Law Enforcement Analyst - The Search

"Description: From the creators of Analyst Talk with Jason Elder comes a new limited podcast series designed to help managers hire and retain quality analysts. Sean Bair’s Guide to Hiring a Law Enforcement Analyst podcast series details each step of the process to ensure you find the right fit for your agency. The first episode is titled The Search, referencing the initial step of the hiring process -- searching for a candidate and searching for a position. This episode covers the initial items hiring managers should consider when attempting to hire a quality analyst as well as tips and tricks for job seekers to find their ideal position. This first episode covers a wide range of topics that will be further elaborated in the next episodes."

There are six more eprisodes to watch of this series. If you are an aspiring analyst, or an analyst looking to switch positions, getting the perspective of those who are looking to hire analysts is invaluable! Watch these videos. Links to the other episodes can be found at this link.

Confidence in Uncertainty

As an analyst, you gather, sift, and sort through a great deal of information to come up with relevant insights. Your role is often simply to present the possibility that you have uncovered a problem, or relationship, or pattern. You are early in the process, the discoverer, and you have no proof that you are right. Yet you need to communicate your findings with a level of confidence. This confidence should be in the process, the process of looking, exploring, leaving few or no stones unturned. Place your confidence in the process. Report your findings with confidence with no claim of certainty. You are not certain you are right. Use the language of:

~it appears that

~there may be

~analysis of data shows a possible relationship

~compared to this I see that

Your value at this point is similar to a navigator.

Oxford Language dictionary definition:

Navigator: a person who directs the route or course of a ship, aircraft, or other form of transportation, especially by using instruments and maps.

The technology and data used are the maps your expertise allows you to read. You have a special role in policing, investigations, and law enforcement. Continuous improvement of your skills will give you legitimate reasons to be confident yet uncertain. 

The abstract in this article differentiates between uncertainty and confidence: Confidence, uncertainty, and the use of information.

Food for thought:

Expressing uncertainty in criminology: Applying insights from scientific communication to evidence-based policing

Reducing Crime Podcast

I highly recommend this resource.

"With over 200,000 downloads and plays, this monthly podcast features conversations with influential thinkers in the police service and leading crime and policing researchers working to advance public safety. Often amusing, often enlightening, always informative. Host Professor Jerry Ratcliffe chats to a range of international guests covering policing, crime prevention, practical criminology, and public safety policy.

 The podcast is available directly from SoundCloud or Apple podcasts, where you can also subscribe to get access to new podcasts when they become available. You can also find the podcast in most dedicated podcast outlets, such as Stitcher, Spotify, and Google podcasts. Follow @_reducingcrime on twitter for updates on the latest episodes and news.

Also, if you are an instructor or lecturer then send a DM on twitter to @Jerry_Ratcliffe with your work/university email address for a free spreadsheet with multiple choice questions for every podcast episode. Each episode also has transcripts (see below)."

Reducing Crime podcast website: https://www.reducingcrime.com/podcast

Exploring Association Membership Benefits

Perhaps you are like me and you simply renew your association memberships when they come due and don't look that closely at what changes might be on the websites. If so, you may be missing opportunities to grow professionally.

If you are a member of the International Association of Law Enforcement Analysts (IALEIA):

"IALEIA partners with the Justice Clearinghouse (JCH) to create and offer intelligence-specific webinars and training. IALEIA members have unlimited access to the entire library of JCH webinars including recordings, workbooks, and presentation materials. Webinar and course participants can download certificates of attendance as proof of attendance. Please contact training@IALEIA.org if you would like access or if you would like to present on a topic."

Justice Clearinghouse: https://www.justiceclearinghouse.com

If you are a member of the International Association of Crime Analysts (IACA):

Did you know there are fifteen 12-week online training classes you could take? See more at: https://www.iaca.net/online-classes

I recommend membership in both of these organizations.

Boston and Violent Crime

Maybe you can learn from Boston? 

City of Boston Plan to End Violence

"No one imagined what the city of 650,000 has seen so far this year: four homicides, a 78 percent reduction from the 18 that took place over the same period in 2023." in the June27, 2024 New York Times: A Plummeting Murder Rate Stuns Boston. But Can It Survive the Summer?

DICE as a resource

Early in my crime analysis days, I wondered why crime stayed in certain hotspots for DECADES. That is what the data showed me. It made no sense. Geographic patterns like this can be addressed. This post is about a resource for that:

"DICE™ focuses on why certain activities occur at particular places. It's the place-based approach to crime prevention."

"What is DICE™?

DICE™ uses Risk Terrain Modeling (RTM) to diagnose crime patterns, prioritize places in need, and coordinate resources for prevention. Law enforcement is minimized, and only one part of the effort.

DICE™ empowers multiple community organizations to become co-producers of public safety. It's transparent and effective, and tailored to local problems.

Data analysis is a key component of DICE™, but so is the human element that makes analytic outputs relatable and connected to lived-experiences."

Visit the website at this link.

 "DICE™ was first developed by Joel Caplan and Leslie Kennedy at Rutgers University and tested through the Newark Public Safety Collaborative. Replication began in Dallas, TX through the Child Poverty Action Lab."

2024 New England Crime Analysis & Intelligence Conference

I highly recommend that analysts attend conferences like the one below.  Networking and training opportunities are invaluable! 

From this link, which will give you registration information for the 2024 New England Crime Analysis & Intelligence Conference.

"October 7 - 11, 2024

Hotel 1620

Plymouth, MA

We are excited to announce that our annual conference will be Monday, October 7 through Friday, October 11, 2024 in historic downtown Plymouth, Massachusetts.  We are also thrilled to partner with NESPIN again this year, bringing their top notch training and technical assistance to all our attendees.

The Massachusetts Association of Crime Analysts has hosted an annual training conference for 23 years, gathering analysts, officers and command staff from across New England and throughout the country for five days of world class training. We have subject matter experts teaching breakout sessions and national leaders in policing giving the keynote addresses.

We invite you to join us!

Partnership:

NESPIN

Keynote Speakers:

Nancy La Vigne - Director of NIJ"

Researchers Can't Access All the Crime-Related Data

One thing seldom discussed as law enforcement agencies work with academics (who contribute greatly to the identification of what works and what does not work in policing) is how limited access is for academics to all the data analysts work with in law enforcement. Much of police data is sensitive and protected. Academics usually see only a fraction of it.

Because academics have limited data access, it is safe to assume but seldom recognized that they do not have all the possible information needed to see the ground truth, the full picture of what is happening. They make assumptions from incomplete data.

This makes the role of the law enforcement analyst even more important.  The analyst can identify gaps of knowledge and bring intelligent, informed opinions to the table.

~

"The Role of the Crime Analyst in Policing (Osborne") can be found at this link at the bottom of the list on this page of the International Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysts website. This is my 2001 Master's Thesis.

From the thesis (page 11):

    "Criminal justice researchers everywhere know the difficulty of accessing the type of data found in law enforcement agencies, and the problems associated with the lack of good data. Some data are confidential, and researchers cannot access them because they do not have the “right to know. “ The crime analyst has access to information in a police department that is not available to researchers. Because of this, an agency’s crime analyst, at an unprecedented level of thoroughness, can conduct the scientific process of analyzing crime using inference and data analysis tools.

     The crime analyst position is also very advantageous in sharing information where it will have immediate impact. Tactical crime analysis can, when used as a tool by officers, affect the arrest of criminals and the deterrence of crime. Most researchers do not have the pleasure of seeing the immediate benefits of their research."

Salaries

One of the perhaps silent problems the profession of law enforcement analysis faces in a brain drain, especially at the local level. This is hard to measure, but a number of fine local level law enforcement analysts I knew went on to leave law enforcement to work in the private sector or in higher education. Some move on the federal analyst jobs, where the payscale is often much better.

I have observed that salaries for local level crime analysts have not risen enough in some jurisdictions, including the state of New York, where many analysts at crime analysis centers are contract employees without pension benefits.The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services contracts analysts through universities and the analysts are not in the state retirement system, like I was when I worked as an analyst in Buffalo, NY. This is, in effect, a pay loss and the job is much less secure. 

Having experience as analyst at both the local and federal level of law enforcement, it is my perspective that it is more challenging to work at the local level. The skills needed are broader and the work is more varied. Quality analysts need quality pay and job security.