Crime analysts champion the public’s safety through data.
Data is a vital part of today’s world. Professionals in a wide range of fields use it to gain a new and better understanding of the people and communities they serve. This includes the criminal justice field.
Crime analysts are criminal justice professionals who use data to help solve crimes, prevent future crimes and increase public safety. The role can be a great career fit for people with an interest in justice and public service who don’t want to pursue roles as roles in direct law enforcement or corrections. David L. Carter, PhD, a professor of Criminal Justice and the Director of the Intelligence Program at Michigan State University, said that crime analysis is an increasingly popular path for criminal justice students.
“What we’re seeing as a trend is that the number of students choosing a criminal justice major hasn’t changed, but fewer people are looking to be sworn law enforcement officers,” Dr. Carter explained. “They want to work in law enforcement in a non-sworn capacity. As a result, we’re seeing increased numbers of people who are interested in crime analysis.”
If you’re interested in joining this growing criminal justice career that uses data and analytics to make communities safer, read on to see the steps that can help you reach that goal.
Crime analysts need to understand topics such as data analysis, statistics, sociology, criminal justice and their community. Their knowledge and skills make them vital parts of law enforcement teams. Some of their duties include:
Analyzing crime data: Crime analysts gather and analyze data, such as crime reports and arrest records, to find trends and patterns.
Mapping crime trends: These professionals map crime locations to help identify geographic trends and assist police in determining how personnel and other resources are spread throughout the community.
Providing investigative support: Crime analysts create crime profiles that can link incidents and help law enforcement investigate cases.
Developing crime prevention strategies: Crime analysts use data analysis to develop and implement crime prevention strategies that can help make their communities safer.
Communicating findings: Crime analysts prepare reports to communicate their findings and present their insights to law enforcement. Some crime analysts also present findings to lawmakers or members of the public.
“Often, the crime analyst is looking for trends in crimes that have occurred. They’re looking at trends to find the times of day, the days of the week and the geographic areas where there are certain types of crimes that occur on a high-frequency basis. This is known as place-based crime analysis,” Dr. Carter explained. “Doing this can help mitigate and prevent crime because what we find is that geography is a linchpin in terms of crime trends.”
In a crime analyst’s toolbox…
Crime analysts need a variety of tools to do their jobs. The exact tools you could have access to could vary depending on your employer, but common tools utilized by crime analysts include:
Public records
Arrest reports
Law enforcement databases
Geographic information systems
Crime mapping technology
License plate recognition technology
Traffic camera footage
Analytic software
New technology, such as artificial intelligence (AI) and drone cameras are adding to the data available to crime analysts in some locations. For instance, Dr. Carter told us that AI can improve how analytic software connects data. “Using AI, we can put data in information and it can actually link names, addresses, license plate numbers and vehicle descriptions.” Dr. Carter explained. “With this type of software, the links are far more sophisticated than in the past.”
“A crime analyst can say ‘These are the trends we’re seeing.’ And then police commanders can use that to develop strategies. They can use it to decide on the way they deploy personnel. For instance, do they want to deploy both marked units as and undercover units?” Dr. Carter explained. “It’s the work of the analyst that dictates the deployment of crime strategies.”
Equipping yourself for success: Skills and education
Crime analysts are skilled and educated professionals. To succeed in this role, it helps to have a strong understanding of both criminal justice and analysis. However, those aren’t the only skills you’ll rely on in this role. Successful criminal justice professionals also have:
Creativity:
Crime analysts look at data and interpret its meaning to find solutions. That takes creative thinking.
You’ll need research skills to find the most appropriate data and use it in your analysis.
Communication skills:
Communicating insights and solutions from the data you analyze is often a key part of your role as a crime analyst.
“One of the most valuable elements beyond analytic skills is being creative and being a critical thinker,” Dr. Carter said. “Successful criminal analysts are able to look at data in a different and unusual light to gain a different perspective.”
Educational pathways to becoming a crime analyst
An education and formal certification can help you on your path toward a crime analysis career.
Bachelor’s degree: A bachelor’s degree in criminal justice is often a great place to start your career. Sometimes, degrees in similar fields such as criminology or statistics can also lead to a career in crime analysis. If you know you want to pursue a crime analysis role, courses in criminal justice, data analysis and research methods can help.
Experience: You can gain experience with internships or volunteer work. Settings such as crime analysis units, criminal justice centers and law enforcement agencies can all be a good start. Your degree program might be able to help you find a location to gain experience.
Certifications: The International Crime Analysis Association (ICAA) offers certifications for crime analysis professionals, including the Certified Law Enforcement Analyst (LEAF). This certification isn’t required, but it can help demonstrate your skills and knowledge to employers.
Courses for aspiring crime analysts
The exact courses you take for any degree program will always depend on your specific school. However, students aiming for a career in criminal analysis often take courses that cover subjects such as such as:
Law enforcement agencies are common workplaces for crime analysts, but they’re not the only employers for professions in this role.
Government agencies:
Crime analysts can be found everywhere from local agencies to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). They might analyze specific types of crime or look for trends across a geographic region.
Private security firms:
Private security employers rely on crime analysts to find security risks and develop strategies to prevent them. Crime analysts in these roles might be assigned to specific corporations and businesses.
Research and academia:
Some crime analysts use their research and analysis skills to study crime academically. These professionals work toward overall advancements in society’s understanding of crime and crime prevention.
Is crime analysis your calling?
If you answer yes to any of the following questions, you might find that crime analysis is an ideal career path for you. This growing field can be a great way to use your skills in technology, computers and analytics to help your community.
Do you have strong analytic skills?
Are you a critical thinker who can find creative solutions to problems?
Are you interested in criminal justice?
Do you like the idea of a career that promotes public safety?
Are you great with computers, databases and new technology?
Do you enjoy research?
Do you have strong communication skills?
Getting started: What’s next?
Finding the right educational program is a smart first step in any career path. Researching criminal justice programs at accredited universities can help you start your journey toward a career in crime analysis. From there, you can take additional steps such as gaining experience with an internship or volunteer work. As you gain experience, you can meet crime analysis professionals and begin building connections in the field. These connections might help you strengthen your career later on.
Crime analysis is a growing career that can help you make a difference in your community. You’ll be playing a vital role in analyzing, solving and preventing crime when you step into this career, and your work can lead to increased public safety.
