CJ 305 project one
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School
Southern New Hampshire University *
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Course
305
Subject
Information Systems
Date
Dec 6, 2023
Type
docx
Pages
4
Uploaded by AdmiralWasp1072
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Project One
Ashley McIntosh
Southern New Hampshire University
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Predictive Policing is defined as “involving using algorithms to analyze massive
amounts of information in order to predict and help prevent potential future crimes.” (Lau,
2020). This method uses information from previous crimes to understand specific where future
crimes may happen and in what time frame that crime may occur. This method of policing may
help police pinpoint crime areas more efficiently than their intuition. The main function of type
of policing is to maintain public safety and reduce crime as much as possible. According to the
article by Tim Lau, “The Chicago Police Department ran one of the biggest person-based
predictive policing programs in the United States. First piloted in 2012, the program, called the
“heat list” or “strategic subjects list,”
created a list
of people it considered most likely to commit
gun violence or to be a victim of it. The algorithm, developed by researchers at the Illinois
Institute of Technology, was inspired by
research
out of Yale University that argued that
epidemiological models used to trace the spread of disease can be used to understand gun
violence. Chicago police
frequently touted
the program as key to their strategy for combating
violent crime.” (Lau, 2020).
The last quote goes into how crime mapping supports predictive policing. According to the
article, “
Computerized crime mapping technology enables law enforcement agencies to analyze
and correlate data sources to create a detailed snapshot of crime incidents and related factors
within a community or other geographical area.” (Mamalian & LaVigne, 1999). These types of
maps use preexisting data to sort out what areas would be attracted to criminals, what type of
crimes would be committed and what times these crimes could happen.
There are additional tools that law enforcement could use as well. One thing that law
enforcement could use is surveillance video and cameras. This tool is footage of things that may
have happened on a specific date and a time. This tool keeps a feed of things that may happen,
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and it could add to the data for predictive policing because if a certain crime keeps on occurring
in a certain area, then the surveillance video helps keep the data.
Just like with any method of policing, there are pros and cons. A con of using predictive
policing is the lack of information that is given to the public on how they come up with the
information for predictive policing. Also, how the police department intends to use the
information they get from the predications. A pro from predictive policing is that is shows that
police departments are being productive in trying to prevent crime and increase public safety.
Some technologies that could assist police agencies with investigations are GPS
systems. This could help pinpoint the suspect or it could tell if a suspect was at a scene of the
crime. Surveillance videos show footage of the crime being committed and the person
committing the crime. Also, facial recognition technology as well. Bias most certainly can be
introduced into predictive policing. Another technology that may assist with police investigation
is social media. Victims or the suspect may post details about a crime that was committed. Those
posts may have clues that may be important to the crime.
One law that may limit predictive policing is the 4
th
amendment. This prohibits
police from searching someone or stopping them without reasonable cause. Predictive police
could cause Biased because if police are looking for a specific person and they only have generic
characteristics then, it may cause police to stop the wrong person.
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References
Lau, T. (April 1, 2020).
Predictive Policing Explained | Brennan Center for Justice
Mamalian, C.A. & LaVigne N.G. (January 1999).
The Use of Computerized Crime
Mapping by Law Enforcement: Survey Results (Research Preview) (ojp.gov)
Crimes Maps: City Of Chicago. (n.d)
Crimes - Map | City of Chicago | Data Portal