CMI: Crime Mapping CMI: Crime Mapping Initiative in Initiative in

Brownsville, PABrownsville, PAByBy

Thomas R. Mueller, Ph.D.Thomas R. Mueller, Ph.D.California University of PACalifornia University of PAWV GIS Conference 2004WV GIS Conference 2004

Cal U and GISCal U and GIS

MMVRPZ CommissionMMVRPZ Commission Boat LaunchesBoat Launches Tourism Map for BrownsvilleTourism Map for Brownsville Industrial ParksIndustrial Parks GIS EducationGIS Education Next…Crime MappingNext…Crime Mapping

Crime Mapping and Rural AreasCrime Mapping and Rural Areas

GIS is being used predominately by GIS is being used predominately by large police departmentslarge police departments

13,000 Police departments serving 13,000 Police departments serving populations less that 50,000populations less that 50,000

14% were using Crime Mapping14% were using Crime Mapping DeclineDecline

Hickman 2001

Brownsville Set UpBrownsville Set Up

Ask the officialsAsk the officials 911 has Street Line Database911 has Street Line Database Students = IRB ApprovalStudents = IRB Approval Students get real world experience Students get real world experience

and the towns get a helpful and the towns get a helpful deliverabledeliverable

Where is Uniontown?Where is Uniontown?

The Brownsville ConnectionThe Brownsville Connection

Discussion with Mayor on Other Discussion with Mayor on Other Projects Projects

Summer Project 2002Summer Project 2002 Summer 2003 and Fall 2003 trialSummer 2003 and Fall 2003 trial Project begins in Spring 2004Project begins in Spring 2004 Geo – code criminal data with Street Geo – code criminal data with Street

DatabaseDatabase Use ExcelUse Excel

Brownsville DatabaseBrownsville Database

Collected one month of data Collected one month of data Only Certain Crimes (Not all data)Only Certain Crimes (Not all data) Geo – coded crimes using ArcViewGeo – coded crimes using ArcView Take Excel to Dbase to ArcViewTake Excel to Dbase to ArcView Problems = 7% MatchProblems = 7% Match

Crimes in the DatabaseCrimes in the Database

Only map certain calls for serviceOnly map certain calls for service Hang – ups, assisting, and outside of Hang – ups, assisting, and outside of

the townthe town No Domestic Abuse CrimesNo Domestic Abuse Crimes No Juvenile CrimesNo Juvenile Crimes Eliminates about 50% of databaseEliminates about 50% of database

ProblemsProblems

No given street addressNo given street address No given street numberNo given street number Too general of a streetToo general of a street Street does not existStreet does not exist

Crimes in the Database

Mappable60%

Unmappable40%

Still Not a 100% Geo – codingStill Not a 100% Geo – coding

Discussed the Issues with the MayorDiscussed the Issues with the Mayor Changes in Spring 2004Changes in Spring 2004 Up to 90% Geo-coded Up to 90% Geo-coded

Still Not a 100% Geo – codingStill Not a 100% Geo – coding

Discussed the Discussed the Issues with the Issues with the MayorMayor

Changes in Spring Changes in Spring 20042004

Up t 90% Geo-Up t 90% Geo-coded coded

The Next StepsThe Next Steps

Weekly reports will be provided to Weekly reports will be provided to BrownsvilleBrownsville

Hope to be able to move to Daily Hope to be able to move to Daily ReportsReports

New Course: Crime Mapping and New Course: Crime Mapping and Spatial AnalysisSpatial Analysis

Add new towns.Add new towns.