ABSTRACT
Crime analysis is a collection of police functions that provide analytical and decision support to law enforcement and public safety agencies. Although the analysis of crime is implicit in the title, crime analysts also study police activity and may range farther afield in support of their mission. The crime analyst is a support unit, not a primary police unit. This is no trivial role, however. The crime analyst is no less vital to the sworn police officer than his patrol car or radio. When properly utilized, the analyst can provide direction and guidance that act as a force multiplier. A typical crime analyst can be expected to improve the efficiency of the investigators and patrol force; thereby effectively increasing the agency’s ability to serve the community to a greater degree than a single new officer or detective.
