AST Digital Magazine September 2017 AST Digital Magazine September 2017 | Page 5

Volume 16
Evidence-based policing
Looking for ways to maximize scarce resources
and cut crime rates, the Stockton Police De-
partment decided to move to evidence-based
policing, defined as using research, evaluation,
analysis and scientific processes to inform deci-
sion-making and help prioritize allocation of re-
sources.
When the department made this decision in 2013,
this kind of predictive analysis was uncommon,
and U.S. law enforcement agencies focused ear-
ly programs on forecasting and reducing property
crimes.
September 2017 Edition
The theory in criminal justice is that a strong law
enforcement presence is what prevents crime;
using analytics, the department would concen-
trate resources in specific areas to try to bring
firearm-related crime rates down.
Command staff chose a crime analysis platform
from LexisNexis Risk Solutions that uses predic-
tive and analytical software combined with map-
ping tools to identify and analyze crime activities
and patterns.
The Stockton program would be pioneer-
ing the use of analytics to try to bring
down violent firearm-related crimes.
(Take a Journey in Evidence Based Policing with the Stock-
ton Police Department. Learn how we identify Focus Areas
and create Deployment Strategies designed to form com-
munity partnerships and reduce crime. Courtesy of Stock-
tonPD1850 and YouTube)
Chief Eric Jones, Stockton Police Department
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