The Use of Geographic Information Systems (gis) for State and Local Crime Analysis

Until quite recently, the use of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) for the purpose of mapping crimes in the United States was limited to a small group of geographers with an esoteric knowledge of the mechanics of map digitizing and mainframe computer technology. In recent years, however, the marked reduction in the price of personal computer hardware, along with the availability of comparatively more user-friendly desktop mapping programs, has resulted in numerous efforts in law enforcement agencies across the country. The academic community in the U.S. has also made significant strides in the spatial analysis of crime. This paper will trace the growth of spatial and temporal crime analysis and summarize the current state of the field in the United States. It concludes with an overview of future efforts.