Data-Driven Policing: How Geographic Analysis Can Reduce Social Harm

• NCJ Number: 231109
• Author(s): Earl Hardy
• Date Published: June 2010
• Length: 2 pages
• Agencies: NIJ

Annotation

This article discusses the use of statistical analysis and geographic software in the effective and efficient deployment of law enforcement resources.

Abstract

DDACTS (Data-Driven Approaches to Crime and Traffic Safety) is an initiative developed by a partnership between the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the Bureau of Justice Assistance, and the National Institute of Justice to assist law enforcement in deploying resources more effectively and efficiently through the use of modern statistical analysis and geographic software. The initiative emphasizes the use of geographic mapping techniques to locate crime and traffic crash hot spots, thus enabling law enforcement officials to target these areas with highly visible traffic enforcement. DDACTS contains guidelines to assist communities in the implementation of this operational model. The guidelines suggest including the following components in the model: data collection; data analysis; local partnerships; strategic operations; information sharing and outreach; monitoring, evaluating, and adjusting operations; and measuring outcomes. Implementation of the DDACTS model can assist agencies in determining which methods work and how strategies should be revised to address any problems. 2 notes