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Crime analysts provide law enforcement agencies with relevant material evidence through studying crime and suspected criminals (Santos, 2016). They look for patterns in crimes and therefore try to predict criminal activities based on the data obtained from the previous crimes. Previously obtained data aids in the prediction and identification of crimes especially the place as well as the time the criminal activity is expected to occur. Therefore, crime analysts play a crucial role in the prevention of crimes in a country. The work of crime analysts is mostly conducted behind the keyboard, and therefore, the personnel may not be available in the field as their work is to help in the identification and enforcement. The crime analysts are able to assist as they obtain information from the computer databases that are designed to gather and study criminal data making it easy to analyze, predict and target possible suspects. The crime analysts are entitled to various roles, and these are tied to the objective of aiding the law enforcers in their work of arresting criminals and maintaining law and order.

The possible roles of the crime analysts are dictated by the needs of the law enforcers as they ask for information regarding a certain case that they need evidence from or need it to be solved. The roles vary from day to day as days may not be the same and different cases do happen and therefore calling for a different role. One of the roles is to review the existing crime-related data and reports that are related to a particular law enforcement district (Santos, 2016). The crime analysts are located at different regions, and they operate within their jurisdiction to ensure collaboration of the law enforcement agencies and the crime analysis to reduce criminal activities in their region. For this to be possible, the crime analysts have to hold a database of all the crimes in the region as well as the reports to make sure that they are harmonized for easy retrieval of files as well as faster prediction of suspects and possible crimes.

The analysts are tasked with the responsibility of using the computer programs that include the statistical analyses software, databases as well as the geographical information systems (GIS) which are used in the preparation of maps that are useful to the law enforcement officers in search of location (Drawve & Walker, 2018). The analysts have access to these programs, and therefore they are mandated with the responsibility of protecting and maintaining the programs. Another role of the crime analysts is the development of software and other programs that are aimed at the prediction as well as the prevention of future crimes in their jurisdiction.

The crime analysts as well as mandated with the role of analyzing statistics to determine the trends as well as to forecast the future criminal activity The analysts are trained to analyze data, and therefore they have the necessary knowledge that enables them to analyze the statistics through the software’s that they develop. It is through these statistics that they are able to feed the law enforcers with the relevant information that warrants for arrest, persecution as well as the detention of the criminals. Apart from the analyses, the analysts also write and edit the relevant bulletins, reports, and presentations as the data is obtained and updated into the systems. New information needs to be presented to the law enforcers in the form of reports and bulletins as the enforcers cannot be able to interpret the raw data and therefore the analyst work as an interpreter for the enforcers explaining the content of analysis in the form of reports. The crime analysts also provide analytical support to the law enforcement agencies and other investigators such as detectives and any other relevant departments (Clarke & Eck, 2016). By providing support, they are able to work as a team, and this is core in ensuring that no case goes unturned as there will enough evidence based on the statistical analyses that help the enforcers to build a case and prevent crimes in future.

Crime analysts use various strategies and techniques to analyze crime activities. Four distinct techniques are utilized by the analyst to assist their law enforcement colleagues. Tactical crime analysis is one of the strategies that consists of the short term analyses as well as the daily work. For this strategy, the crime analysts identify and as well analyze the emerging or existing crime patterns, and through this, they work in collaboration with other agencies to come up with deterrence strategies. Strategic crime analysis as well is utilized by the crime analysts. The analysis revolves around the finding of long-term trends as well as the persistent issues over a long period. While the tactical analysis focuses on the offender apprehension, the strategic analysis, on the other hand, focuses on the in the reduction of crime opportunities.

The administrative analysis technique is also utilized by crime analysts and involves any of the analysis tasks that are not carried out specifically to target crime reduction (Ronczkowski, 2017). The last technique utilized is the police operation analysis that focusses on the study of the effectiveness of a police department’s policies as well as practices on the crime deterrence. The practices and policies include analyzing the aspects of the agencies such as the allocation of money, employees as well as other resources in the aim of deterring criminal activities.

Intelligence is the product of the analyses processes that are aimed at evaluating information that is collected from various source and its integration to cohesive packages that is directed to the production of a final concept regarding a criminal activity through the use of the scientific approaches to solving cases through analysis. Intelligence in the law enforce therefore is a synergetic product that is intended to provide meaningful and trusted direction to the law enforcers in making decisions that regard complex criminality, criminal extremists, criminal enterprises as well as terrorists (Hall & Citrenbaum, 2009). Intelligence, therefore, involves the surveillance of information as well as the transformation of the information into intel providing it to the law enforcers to make decisions and take action.

ReferencesClarke, R., & Eck, J. (2016). Crime analysis for problem solvers in 60 small steps.

Drawve, G. R., & Walker, J. T. (2018). Practicalities of crime analysis. In Foundations of Crime Analysis (pp. 1-17). Routledge.

Hall, W. M., & Citrenbaum, G. (2009). Intelligence analysis: How to think in complex environments: how to think in complex environments. ABC-CLIO.

Ronczkowski, M. R. (2017). Terrorism and organized hate crime: Intelligence gathering, analysis and investigations. CRC press.

Santos, R. B. (2016). Crime analysis with crime mapping. Sage publications.