Miami, Florida
Using Predictive Crime Modeling to Reduce Auto Theft and Robberies
Project Overview
The Miami, FL SPI project was devoted primarily to enhancing and improving the analytical capacity within the Miami Police Department. The primary goal of the project was to better utilize the vast troves of data repositories to produce information that could be utilized by police commanders and detectives to inform operational decision-making. A secondary goal of the project was to employ a Problem-Oriented Policing and Situational Crime Prevention framework to address the chronic problem of theft-from-motor vehicles. Some of the tactics utilized included deployment of CCTV cameras, focused patrols, increased officer presence, deployment of license plate readers, focused task force operations, creation of a dedicated motor vehicle theft detective unit, and insertion of barricades.
Methods and Findings
Research Design
A quasi-experimental design was used which included a one sample pre-post design to examine agency perceptions of use of crime analytics. The evaluation of crime reduction was comprised of a simple time series assessment and emerging pre-post comparisons in micro-level target areas.
Findings
- Pre and post knowledge tests of analysts surrounding formal training sessions showed a 25 to 53 percent improvement in testing scores.
- Further, an approximated before and after assessment of administrators found that analytical work products went from being used never or only occasionally, to now being used about 1 to 2 times per week on average.
