From Crime Mapping to Crime Forecasting: The Evolution of Place-Based Policing

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from the NIJ article on the evolution of place-based policing.

Crime mapping

The use of law enforcement data displayed on maps to analyze where crime occurs and identify spatial patterns.

Crime forecasting

Statistical analyses and models used to predict where crimes are likely to occur in the future.

Place-based policing

Policing strategies that focus on specific places or microplaces rather than individuals.

Predictive policing

Policing that uses models and data to forecast crime and guide deployment and decision making.

Routine activities theory (RAT)

A theory stating crime occurs when a motivated offender, a suitable target, and a lack of capable guardianship converge at the same place and time.

Environmental criminology

A theory positing that crime results from the interaction of a law, an offender, a target, and a place, with place as a key dimension.

Place

A discrete location where the other three dimensions intersect; central concept in place-based criminology.

SARA

Problem-solving policing framework: Scanning, Analysis, Response, Assessment.

Compstat

Data-driven policing approach emphasizing accountability and the use of statistics to reduce crime.

Hot spots policing

Focusing resources on small geographic areas with high concentrations of crime.

Microplaces

Very small spatial areas where crime concentrates, often more informative than focusing on people.

Eyes on the street

Jane Jacobs’ concept of natural surveillance and activity in the streets enhancing safety.

Social capital

Networks and social ties within a community that influence safety and cooperation.

Risk terrain modeling (RTM)

Geospatial technique that forecasts crime risk by analyzing environmental factors across places.

Conjunctive analysis

An enhanced version of RTM that combines multiple data dimensions to forecast crime risk.

CrimeStat

NIJ-funded spatial statistics software for analyzing crime incident locations.

Near-repeat burglaries (NR)

A pattern where nearby burglaries occur after an initial incident, indicating elevated risk in surrounding areas.

Problem-Oriented Policing (POP)

Policing approach focused on identifying and solving underlying problems contributing to crime.

Randomized controlled trial (RCT)

An empirical evaluation method used to test the effectiveness of policing strategies under controlled conditions.

Jane Jacobs

Urbanist whose concepts, like eyes on the street and social capital, influenced place-based research.

NIJ (National Institute of Justice)

U.S. federal agency funding research on crime, policing, and justice technologies.

Crime mapping software (CrimeStat, ArcGIS integration)

Software tools developed and used to support spatial crime analyses and mapping.