July 1, 2004 revised November 1, 2004 To establish the responsibilities and procedures of the Zone Crime Analysis officers and the Tactical Crime Analysis Unit.

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Atlanta Police Department

Policy Manual

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Standard Operating

Procedure

 

 

Effective Date

November 1, 2006

 

 

 

APD.SOP.6120

Crime Analysis

 

Applicable To: All employees

Approval Authority:  Chief Richard J. Pennington

Signature:  Signed by RJP

Date Signed:  11/14/06

 

  Table of Contents    
 

1.          PURPOSE  PAGEREF _Toc149653307 \h 1

2.          POLICY   PAGEREF _Toc149653308 \h 1

3.          RESPONSIBILITIES  PAGEREF _Toc149653309 \h 1

3.3        Responsibilities of the Organization  PAGEREF _Toc149653310 \h 1

3.4        Responsibilities of the Unit commander PAGEREF _Toc149653311 \h 2

3.5        Responsibilities of Crime Analysts  PAGEREF _Toc149653312 \h 2

4.          ACTION  PAGEREF _Toc149653313 \h 3

4.1        Crime Analysis Unit Files  PAGEREF _Toc149653314 \h 3

4.1.1      The CAU maintains the following files: PAGEREF _Toc149653315 \h 3

 

4.2        Source documents  PAGEREF _Toc149653316 \h 3

4.2.1      Source data used by the Crime Analysis Unit: PAGEREF _Toc149653317 \h 3

4.3        Release of Crime and Management Statistics  PAGEREF _Toc149653318 \h 4

4.4        Analysis Activities  PAGEREF _Toc149653319 \h 4

4.5        Feedback and Evaluation  PAGEREF _Toc149653320 \h 5

4.5.1      Tactical Action Response forms  PAGEREF _Toc149653321 \h 5

5.          DEFINITIONS  PAGEREF _Toc149653322 \h 5

6.          CANCELLATIONS  PAGEREF _Toc149653323 \h 5

7.          REFERENCES  PAGEREF _Toc149653324 \h 5

 

 

1.               PURPOSE

 

To establish the responsibilities and procedures of the Zone Crime Analysis officers and the Crime Analysis Unit.

 

2.               POLICY

 

The Department will seek to identify crime patterns and trends for the purpose of solving or preventing crimes and to assist in the proper and efficient deployment of Department equipment and personnel. Crime analysis information will be used in the development of the Department's tactics, strategies and long range plans.

 

3.               RESPONSIBILITIES

 

3.1              The division, section and unit commanders in the Field Operations Division and Criminal Investigations Division are responsible for keeping up to date and being aware of the crime analysis data in order to make effective deployment and operational decisions.

 

3.2              Zone commanders are responsible for designating appropriate personnel assigned to them as zone crime analysts.

 

3.3              Responsibilities of the Organization

 

3.3.1           The Crime Analysis Unit (CAU) will collect, collate, analyze, and disseminate crime information and related data to the operational units of the Department. The CAU will identify and analyze methods of operation of individual criminals, recognize patterns of criminal activity, and analyze statistical data and incident report information.

 

3.3.2           The CAU is responsible for the collection, collation, and analysis of crime incidents as reported by officers and investigators. The CAU will work closely and directly with patrol, investigative, and specialized units.

 

3.3.3           The Unit will provide data to the commanders of affected patrol and investigative units when analysis develops useful information specific to their command.

 

3.3.4           The Unit will provide feedback analysis and program evaluation to tactical unit commanders during and after the implementation of CAU supported activities or recommendations.

 

3.3.5           The Unit will facilitate criminal investigations through case linking, suspect identification, and the identification and recognition of criminal methods of operation (M.O.), which are similar.

 

3.3.6           The Unit will provide information in support of the Community Services Unit concerning crime patterns.

 

3.3.7           The Unit will provide data to, and assist in training the Zone Crime Analysts (ZCA).

 

3.4              Responsibilities of the Unit commander

 

1.    The CAU commander will brief the Chief of Police, chief of operations, FOD commander, CID commander, and SSD commander of relevant crime patterns and trends.  (CALEA 15.3.1c)

 

2.    The commander of the CAU is responsible for the efficient operation of the Unit, determining the methods and procedures used in the crime analysis function, the training of subordinates, and the dissemination of crime analysis information to organizational units within the Department.

 

3.    The commander will ensure the preparation of tactical, strategic and administrative crime    analysis reports in support of the missions of the Field Operations and Criminal Investigation Divisions.          

 

3.5              Responsibilities of Crime Analysts

 

3.5.1           The responsibilities of both ZCA and CAU Analysts are substantially the same but each report directly to their respective Unit commanders.

 

1.    Crime analysts will review crime incidents, collect and collate crime data, and generate maps, modus operandi reports, and other resources used in the crime analysis function.

 

2.    Analysts will seek to identify any series of offenses committed by the same offender and will review source documents to identify similarities between offenses based on geographical and chronological factors, M.O., perpetrator’s physical description, automobile, property stolen, physical evidence, or type of victim targeted.

 

3.    Analysts will generally provide direct assistance to field officers and investigators in support of specific cases and activities.  This assistance includes:
 

a.    Identifying a series or pattern of ongoing crime.

 

b.    Analysts will review the known suspect and crime(s) and provide the investigator or officer with a list of unsolved crimes, which match the suspect, the M.O., the vehicle used by the suspect, or other significant factors.
 

c.    Suspect identification, which includes linking crimes committed by an unknown suspect.

 

3.5.2           CAU and ZCA Analysts will actively cooperate in sharing information with each other and with the operational units.

 

4.               ACTION          

 

4.1              Crime Analysis Unit Files

 

4.1.1           The CAU maintains the following files:

 

1.    UCR report (Central Records primary repository)

 

2.    Weekly briefing report

 

3.    Returned feedback forms

 

4.    Requested crime reports

 

5.    Daily Crime reports (Central Records primary repository)

 

4.1.2           Reports from categories ‘1’ and ‘3’ will be maintained for three years.  Reports/data for the remaining categories will be maintained for one year.

 

4.2              Source documents

 

4.2.1           Source data used by the Crime Analysis Unit:

 

1.    Current Records Management System data (RMS)

 

2.    Incident reports.

 

3.    Incident supplements.

 

4.    Arrest reports.

 

5.    Investigative files.

 

6.    Parolee information.

 

7.    ACIN Bulletins.

(CALEA 5th. Edition Standard 15.3.1a)

 

4.3              Release of Crime and Management Statistics

                  (CALEA 5th. Edition Standard 15.3.1b)

 

4.3.1           The Crime Analysis Unit provides information to Department employees in support of patrol deployment, investigations, and management.

 

4.3.2           In accordance with Department requirements, the Crime Analysis Unit will share crime information with other law enforcement agencies and with other criminal justice, public safety, and traffic agencies in an effort to promote cooperation in the interest of serving and protecting the public.  All other requests for crime statistics from non-Department members, including other City of Atlanta offices or employees, must be referred to the Office of Public Affairs. (APD.SOP.1060 ”Public Affairs”).

 

4.4              Analysis Activities

 

4.4.1           On a daily, weekly, or monthly basis, according to assignments made by the CAU commander, each analyst will review all appropriate incident reports and prepare briefings that reflect developing crime patterns and crime incidents that are related to existing crime patterns.

 

4.4.2           Analysts will ensure that management reports are properly prepared for distribution, as appropriate, to the Chief of Police, the chief of operations, deputy chiefs, FOD commanders, and affected CID commanders.  They will distribute crime analysis reports to the appropriate zone, investigative unit, management, and specialized support units, including the Community Services Section and SOS.

 

4.4.3           Analysts will identify series of offenses possibly committed by an offender or group of offenders, based on similarities of M.O., physical evidence information, geographic or chronological factors, targeted victims, targeted items, vehicle and suspect information.  Also, they will:

 

1.    Gather information on serial crimes or crime patterns, including the beat, date, time, and type of the offenses, and, when possible, the suspect description (race, sex, height, weight, and age), vehicle, M.O., point of contact with victims, the victims’ description (race, sex, and age), and additional relevant data.        
 

2.    Assist investigators and patrol officers in screening and compiling lists of possible suspects.
 

3.    Provide investigators with help in linking suspects in custody to unsolved crimes, using the geographic spot map, beat tally sheet, computer generated crime reports, and other crime analysis data.  This includes the assembling and ordering of specific crimes which analysis determines may have been committed by a single offender.
 

 4.   Recommend an intervention or arrest strategy, such as stake-out or decoy, when   appropriate.

 

5.    Provide analytical support for problem oriented and community policing strategies    as appropriate. 

 

4.4.4           Analysts will participate in the Atlanta Crime Information Network (ACIN) meetings, reporting on    crime patterns, which may not be limited to Atlanta, sharing information with others concerning crime look-outs and known offenders, and participating in other ways as may be appropriate.

 

4.5              Feedback and Evaluation 

 

4.5.1           Tactical Action Response forms

 

1.    The CAU commander will ensure that a feedback form accompanies responses to in-house requests for crime analysis report.

 

2.    A response date for return of the form to the CAU will be included on the feedback form.

 

3.    Completed forms will be used to evaluate and improve the CAU function.

 

4.5.2           The commander will conduct an annual survey concerning the effectiveness of the unit.  The survey will be sent to persons receiving crime analysis reports or assistance, and will solicit responses concerning:
 

1.    Their results obtained from use of CAU reports;

 

2.    Their degree of satisfaction with the accuracy, completeness, and relevance of reports and other assistance;

 

3.    Recommendations and suggestions which would make the reports and the activities of the Crime Analysis Unit more beneficial or responsive to their needs.

      

5.               DEFINITIONS

 

                  N/A

 

6.               CANCELLATIONS

 

                  APD.SOP.6120 “Crime Analysis Unit”, revised November 1, 2004

 

7.               REFERENCES

 

                  Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies 5th Edition standards 15.3.1