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Crime analysts use statistical analysis to predict crime
trends, in an effort to help law enforcement prevent and respond efficiently to
it. One who wants to become a crime analyst begins with a degree from an
accredited college or university. Most future crime analysts will focus their
studies in criminal justice. However, some major in psychology or information
systems, as well as statistics or public administration.Education is only the
beginning step to become a crime analyst, though. Successful candidates will
also have extensive computer skills, and experience with Geographical
Information Systems (GIS) software that is often used in crime analytics.
Statistical skills are required as well, including trend projections and
regression analysis. Internships are also very important to becoming a crime
analyst, as there are very few crime analyst positions available that don’t
require at least one year of on the job experience. To become a crime analyst,
one must be very analytical by nature, and be comfortable with processing large
amounts of dry information. Making connections between different events and
factors is another duty for crime analysts. Surprising as it may be, those who
wants to become a crime analyst need to be as good with people as they are with
numbers. Crime analysts are often asked to present their findings to
politicians, officers and administrators, so people skills are important. Once a
candidate has decided to become a crime analyst, the candidate will choose one
of three specialties: Tactical crime analysis, strategic crime analysis, and
administrative crime analysis. Tactical crime analysts focus on crimes that pose
an immediate threat to society, such as robbery or burglary. Tactical analysts
also work with the numbers on violent crimes like murder and rape. They link
offenders with a particular modus operandi (M.O.) to help investigators develop
leads and assist their investigations. These analysts deal more with specific
crimes than other types of criminal analysts. Strategic crime analysts work in
regard to using police presence to prevent crime. They’re mainly concerned with
operational strategies, seeking solutions to ongoing issues. These types of
analysts identify crime patterns, and match law enforcement needs with unusual
levels of crimes. Strategic crime analysts are more concerned with preventing
future crimes than anything else. The most high profile type of crime analyst is
the administrative crime analyst. This analyst works on long-range projects more
often than not. He or she creates and presents crime statistics reports for the
heads of law enforcement and government. This kind of work centers on
legislative and political goals, as well as financial and organizational ones.
These types of analysts can be found giving speeches on crime prevention, and
researching the relationships between crime and
organizations. |
