Police Departments free essay sample

In this paper we are going to compare ND contrast the application of information technology to optimize police departments performance to reduce crime versus random patrols of the streets. We are also going to show how COMPOSTS as an IS implements the basic IS functions; and how IS have allowed police departments that implement tools such as COMPOSTS to respond to crime faster. Lastly, in this paper the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats analysis (SOOT analysis) on behalf of police departments that intend to implement predictive policing will also appear.Predictive Policing To build the comparison and contrast the application of IT to optimize police apartments performance to reduce crime versus random patrols of the streets first we have to find out what kind of information technology Is available to police today. Predictive polling, or programs such as COMPOSTS, Is taking data from disparate sources, analyzing them and then using the results to anticipate, prevent and respond more effectively to future crime. We will write a custom essay sample on Police Departments or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Charlie Beck, chief of the Los Angels Police Department writes The predictive vision moves law enforcement from focusing on what will happen and how to effectively deploy resources in front of the crime, hereby changing outcomes, (Predictive Policing: The Future of Law Enforcement, NJ, 2012) Predictive policing focuses on five elements and they are Integrated information and operations: Large police departments maintain lots of databases and its unusual to see these computer systems joined together to allow effective analysis.It Is unlikely that other information sources, such as gunshot detection systems are linked into police analytical or fusion centers. Finally, police departments do not link their operations and Information systems to other parts of the Justice system or social services system. So, Poor Information sharing prevents good analysis and investigation and can wreck efforts to intervene with individuals to to have a complete picture of the current situation. It is a must for police to integrate their information systems to enable situational awareness.Seeing the big picture: Prevention is important as response, and every incident is an information-gathering opportunity. Few crimes are unusual incidents. Most crime is part of a sequence of criminal activity and social issues. This means that police need to be able to recognize these patterns in societies. So, to save their valuable time and energy it is necessary to build police organizations to use information to see the big picture patterns of what is going on around them. Cutting-edge analysis and technology: This element is as straight forward as it sounds.Police departments have lots of information but their analysis is not so strong. Tomorrows forward-thinking department must depend on good information that has been fully analyzed. With the appropriate tools police analysts must analyze the information and turn into usable products for the officers. Predictive analysis may include tools that link people or activities, visualization of complex interrelationships, deal with terrorism as well as domestic violence or id theft and many more. Morally, with the vast available tools and technology police departments should learn how to use them.Linkage to performance: It is necessary to track police performance. However, it is also important to track performance targets and crime trends. The new technology helps police to place themselves into the situations instead of being limited to past situations. It is important for police to be able to recognize these criminal developments before they become a threat for public. Adaptability to changing conditions: This element describes how flat-networked organization, training in how to adapt to strategies based on information and high professional standards are needed.This generates a number of comments, including the need for a reward structure based on how officers use information provided by crime analysts and on the fundamental lack of technological understanding within police departments. The COMPOSTS is a management process or program within a performance management framework that synthesizes analysis of disorder data and crime, strategic problem solving, and a clear accountability structure. It is a systematic computerized way of using the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to map crime trends and identify problems.