Policy Text
Ref: CALEA
Standards 15.1.1; 15.1.2
DEPARTMENTAL
GENERAL ORDER A-17 New Order
19 Apr 00
Index as: Crime Analysis
Page 1 of 10
CRIME ANALYSIS
The purpose of this general order is to establish crime analysis procedures for the Department, require the collection of crime analysis data during preliminary and follow-up investigations, and affix responsibility for the collation and analysis of criminal data by the Crime Analysis Section (CAS).
I. DEPARTMENTAL POLICY
It is the policy of the Oakland Police Department to use the systematic
analysis of crime trends to assist in deploying its patrol and investigative resources. To that end, all personnel shall be required to make every reasonable effort during preliminary investigations to gather complete, timely and reliable information and to document this on the appropriate report form.
II. CRIME ANALYSIS SECTION MISSION
The mission of the CAS is to collect, collate, analyze and disseminate information on criminal activity within the City of Oakland.
III. DEFINITIONS
A. “Crime Analysis” is defined as a set of systematic, analytical processes directed at identifying existing and emerging crime patterns and trend corelations. These are used to assist operational and administrative personnel in planning the deployment of law enforcement resources to prevent crime, increase criminal arrests
and aid the investigative process.
DEPARTMENTAL GENERAL ORDER A-17 New Order
19 Apr 00 OAKLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT
B. “Crime Pattern” is a set of occurrences of similar offenses in a
defined geographic area. 1
C. “Crime Series” is crimes pattern where there is reason to believe that the same suspect or susp ects(s) are responsible for the
commission of the crimes.
2
IV. ORGANIZATION AND RESPONSIBILITES
A. The Crime Analysis Section is a component of the Criminal
Investigation Division (CID). It is comprised of members who serve
as crime analysts, and employees who serve as civilian crime
analysts and Police Records Specialists. A Sergeant of Police
supervises the Section.
B. The Crime Analysis Staff is divided as follows:
1. Area 1, 2, and 3 Crime Analysts are dedicated to researching
crime trends in each area and notifying the Area
Commanders, sergeants and BFO Patrol officers of emerging trends and patterns.
2. The Crime Specialist Detail is staffed by officers and / or
civilian analysts who research specific crimes to discover the suspect’s motives and methods.
3. The Statistical Reporting function tracks the crime rate on a
daily basis.
4. The Bureau Chief Crime Advisor keeps the BFO Commander
informed of citywide crime developments.
C. The Crime Analysis Section shall:
1. Keep the Chief of Police and his/her designees informed of crime trends within the City of Oakland.
1 Crime Analysis: From First Report to Final Arrest by Steven Gottlieb, Sheldon Arenberg and Raj Singh,
Alpha Publishing, Calif.
2 Ibid
Page 2 of 10
DEPARTMENTAL GENERAL ORDER A-17 New Order
19 Apr 00 OAKLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT
2. Inform the citizens of Oakland of crime trends within the
parameters set by the Public Information Act and related
statutory law.
3. Analyze crime data in order to determine crime patterns and crime series.
4. Produce and post crime trend maps, officer safety bulletins, crime bulletins and statistical studies as needed.
5. Identify career criminals and assist CID in prosecuting these offenders through the District Attorney’s office.
6. Obtain copies of reports of selected Part 1 crimes and enter the method of operation used to commit the offense (MO),
loss, and suspect description information into the CAS
database. The teams prepare crime pattern and crime series bulletins for use by Patrol Division and CID personnel. The Section shall also enter all Field Contact Reports (FC’s) into the Departmental Records Management System (RMS).
7. Produce the Daily Statistical Report, the Area Breakdown
Reports, and the Uniform Crime Reports and shall post crime trend data on the Internet through “Crimewatch”.
8. Conduct studies of criminal activity, including surveys and
interviews of known offenders , to determine how victims are
selected, how criminal methods are developed, and how stolen property is dispensed of.
V. PROCEDURES
The crime analysis process consists of five primary levels of data processing: collection, collati on, analysis, distribution and
feedback/evaluation.
Page 3 of 10
DEPARTMENTAL GENERAL ORDER A-17 New Order
19 Apr 00 OAKLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT
A. Collection: The CAS supervisor shall identify all essential information required for analysis an d reporting. The supervisor shall
communicate these to the Chief of Police and coordinate data recording and reporting procedures as necessary with the Chief of
Police or his/her designees. 1. Crime analysis data elements are extracted and compiled from
the following sources: a. Crime Reports
b. Arrest Reports
c. Supplemental Reports
d. Investigative Reports
e. FC’s
f. Interviews
g. Surveys
h. CAD
i. RMS
j. California Department of Corrections LEADS database
k. CORPUS
l. The Automated Warrant System (AWS)
m. National Crime Information Center (NCIC)
n. California Law Enforcement Telecommunications System (CLETS)
Page 4 of 10
DEPARTMENTAL GENERAL ORDER A-17 New Order
19 Apr 00 OAKLAND POLICE DEPARTMENT
2. Crime data elements used for analysis include:
a. Report number
b. Offense code
c. Type of offense, (e.g.