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| Archive Mapping Out Crime Table of Contents
The Expert Roundtable convened on October 28, 1999 to discuss the use of crime mapping and data driven management in a "21st century police department." It included local law enforcement executives, federal government administrators, and criminal justice scholars. Below are selected quotes from the discussion: "There are many innovative uses for crime mapping. When mapping is used to manage for results, everyone has a clear vision of the results we all want. Before, there was a lack of clarity about results, about what we were measuring, and what was success. Before, people would have a conversation with the police and no one would talk about the crime. Now, we have integrated the new technologies into a system of accountability and everyone up and down knows what they are accountable for and it makes a difference. In a large organization engaged in complex work, the focus and results are clearer."
Commissioner Mike Farrell "We need clear guidelines defining what we are talking about in positive terms. We need to identify the potential outcomes and values at every level and for every group and agency that uses data-driven management and crime mapping. What is the value to command staff, to supervisors, to officers, to the community? What are the alternative methods and options? How do we partner successfully? Where do we go for assistance? It has to be cross-departmental - housing, cops, education, health, treatment, and civic services. So we work same time, same place - for comprehensive solutions."
Commissioner Tom Frazier "We need to push the envelope, capture the wave of innovation in crime mapping, find ways to accelerate the practice, and give everyone the tools to engage in smarter, more effective crime control and prevention efforts."
Mr. Jeremy Travis "After five years, crime mapping has shown that police departments can in fact manage their way out of the crime problem. We use maps in different ways, to support problem solving, to prevent crime, to share information, to support de-centralization, to support inclusion in decision making, to give authority, to set accountability, to identify a specific focus on strategy and tactics, to teach, and to measure what we have done - not numbers of arrests but the reduction of crime. The result is that we are reducing and preventing crime."
Mr. William Bratton "Maps of real time data show relationships in powerful ways. When we use these tools to manage for results, we build partnerships. More problems are solved in partnerships. The community becomes an active partner and officers have new attitudes - they are not just out to do a drug bust, they are out to solve the drug problem."
Ms. Nola Joyce "We do problem solving policing, neighborhood policing....The cop at the street level should get the most information. The best analyst is the cop who understands the community and includes community groups in developing strategies to solve problems. With crime data in hand, you open up lines of communication. The neighborhood looks at information through the eyes of the police and the officer looks at information through the eyes of the community. It increases face-to-face communication and lowers calls for service."
Chief John Welter "Crime mapping is not about technology alone. Crime mapping is a tool which changes process and culture. When you use it to do that, you have begun a major transformation. To do that, it takes visionary leadership working in collaboration with communities."
Mr. Morley A. Winograd |
