Predictive Policing: Using Data To Prevent Crime Before It Happens

I remember having a theory on how to prevent crime by having more patrols of police in areas that are prone for criminal activity over the past 10 years time using data (Watch The Wire). You take all that data, put it on a map, and then you use that data to create hot zones. Then, you focus all of the energy in those specific areas. I’m not sure if it would work, but the idea seemed pretty simple when I was looking at heavy crime spots in Detroit when I worked there about 10 years ago. I’d do this because it made me mentally prepare what area I had to go in and what things not to bring in case I was robbed. Apparently the idea was not new. It’s called “predictive policing,” and its use is actually being attempted in other areas like Miami, Chicago, London and other locations.

The data-driven policing method works by looking at high-risk people, places and events instead of police sitting on a corner and using gut instincts AKA profiling.

Predictive policing is already showing results in places like Santa Cruz, California. As I mentioned in my first paragraph, what they do is use historical crime data from the past 10-20 years to give officers the best places to find and prevent crime before it happens. The program has resulted in a 27% decrease in robberies and an 11% decrease in burglaries in the first years of trying predictive policing.

Sure, predictive policing is having an impact on crime prevention is many cases, but there’s more to it than that. If you have less open cases, that means you have less waste that you have to deal with. You have less open cases and it gives officers more time to do actual police work instead of focusing on open and cold cases.

Here’s an example of how it works:

As of 2015, researchers are still testing new ways to prevent crime altogether. Soon you could see Tom Cruise jumping out of a hover ship and preventing a very serious crime as it’s about to happen, but I’m sure there will be safe proofs for that. The future of this tech is laid out pretty extensively:

The public safety Internet of Things (PSIOT): There will be a plethora of connected systems, including social media, Internet-enabled emergency band communications, closed-circuit televisions, body cameras, facial recognition, sensor networks (for example, seismic and gunshot sensors) and many others. The PSIOT isn’t limited to dedicated public safety systems, though. It encompasses a much broader network of new and legacy systems, including essentially any government-operated enterprise network, plus the whole Internet.

There will be a plethora of connected systems, including social media, Internet-enabled emergency band communications, closed-circuit televisions, body cameras, facial recognition, sensor networks (for example, seismic and gunshot sensors) and many others. The PSIOT isn’t limited to dedicated public safety systems, though. It encompasses a much broader network of new and legacy systems, including essentially any government-operated enterprise network, plus the whole Internet. Improved IT infrastructure : Better transaction processing, databases and storage will help handle the extremely large amounts of data the PSIOT will generate.

: Better transaction processing, databases and storage will help handle the extremely large amounts of data the PSIOT will generate. Statistical machine learning and artificial intelligence : These will make crime predictions more accurate. In combination with analytics engines, these tools will turn the mass of PSIOT raw data feeds into more finely tuned, actionable information and insights.

: These will make crime predictions more accurate. In combination with analytics engines, these tools will turn the mass of PSIOT raw data feeds into more finely tuned, actionable information and insights. Mobile devices: More innovative smartphones, tablets and wearables will bring a level of situational awareness to field operatives that was previously only available to people sitting in the command center. All of that actionable information and insight, along with better communications, may soon be available directly to officers in the field. ( : More innovative smartphones, tablets and wearables will bring a level of situational awareness to field operatives that was previously only available to people sitting in the command center. All of that actionable information and insight, along with better communications, may soon be available directly to officers in the field. ( Via

As you can see by reading above, policing will become far more effective than squad cars camping out at speed traps so they can give you a ticket. They could soon have to opportunity to protect the population, save on money, and make you feel safer when you walk the streets day or night.

(Via IBM)

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Jeff Sorensen is an author, writer and occasional comedian living in Detroit, Michigan. You can look for more of his work on The Huffington Post,UPROXX,BGR and by just looking up his name.

Contact: jeff@socialunderground.com