What is "Crime Analysis"?

Crime Analysis is the systematic process of collecting, categorizing, analyzing, and disseminating timely, accurate, and useful information that describes crime patterns, crime trends, and potential suspects.

The Crime Analysis Unit provides statistical and analytical support in three (3) primary areas:

1. Strategic Crime Analysis:  Dealing with broad-based problems and potential solutions in a quantitative sense:

A. Crime Trend Forecasts: based on computer analysis of existing and past criminal activity, the Crime Analysis Unit will issue a projection of future crime activity for management decision making. Reviews the overall occurrence of crime;

B. Resource Allocation: performs manpower deployment studies correlating the data with crime activity to assist in determining optimum use of appropriate personnel. (i.e. patrol district mapping, JP-Mapping, reporting area coverage etc.);

C. Situational Analysis: provides demographic data on victims and areas experiencing crime activity for proactive assistance through Crime Prevention efforts and for enforcement (district profiling planning)

2. Tatical Crime Analysis: Dealing with specific crime problems and offenders.

A. Crime Patterns/Series: Identifies statistically unique events that have a recurring pattern.  The Crime Analysis Unit will focus on the criminal's "mode of operation" (or M.O.), the crime's day/time/location patterns and clusters, and past similar crimes to perform predictive analysis for mitigation efforts such as using a "decoy", stakeouts, extra patrol, saturating the area with additional marked units, or crime prevention methods;

B. Crime/Suspect Correlation: attempts to identify suspects for specific crimes based on known offender data (criminal histories, past police department contacts, parolees), Field Interview contacts made with suspicious persons, and intelligence data derived from other agencies/sources;

C. Target/Suspect Profiles: the Crime Analysis Unit will identify, track, and monitor specific "known offenders" (sex registrants, career criminals, repeat juvenile offenders, parolees, and probationers) as to their crime preference and likely targets.  This data could be used proactively to monitor offenders (ensuring they comply with the terms of their parole or probation) and to advise likely targets through Neighborhood Watch Programs and Community Policing.

3. Administrative Crime Analysis: 

A. Statistical Studies: such as number of officers per 1,000 population correlated against population trends/crime statistics, activity levels of staff due to variations in Calls for Service, etc.

B. Micrographics: production of data for presentation to management producing quality graphs/charts after an analysis of raw data.  Examples are: The Annual Crime Report, Monthly/Quarterly Report etc.

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Bexar County Sheriff's Office
Gilbert Urias, Crime Analysis Officer
Email: gurias@bexar.org

Criminal Investigation Division
200 N. Comal
San Antonio, Texas 78207
(210) 335-6136 Office
(210) 335-6139 Fax
(210) 335-6070 Criminal Investigations

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