ABSTRACT

One of the core functions of crime analysis is solving a problem. There are many different types of problems. Of course, there are analyses that help determine where crime is occurring to better inform the police agency. There are also administrative problems, such as resource allocation of officers. There are also community problems that can be addressed by crime analysts by providing better information about community problems as they relate to crime; and to show how the police and community can work together to solve them. This chapter discusses problem solving through the SARA model. It shows how crime analysts can be a part of this process. The chapter also discusses strategies of policing that can be used (or not) to solve problems.