Spatial context of crime activities in criminal investigation

Abstract

Because of the fact that crime is committed in certain locations in geographic space, it cannot be analyzed in isolation from the environment in which it occurs and where its consequences arouse. Understanding where and why crimes took place can improve the outcomes of the activities undertaken in order to prevent them. This is confirmed by a series of empirical studies that suggest that the choice of the crime targets is not random, but is usually influenced by some psychological and spatial characteristics. In this regard, the paper points to the importance of space in shaping criminal behavior. At the same time, there is a lack of knowledge and awareness in the police practice that better knowing spatial context of crime can improve the actions that have been taken daily to counter crime. As a result, information resources contained in the spatial criminal environment remains largely untapped, leading to the lack of the efficiency of police actions.

Keywords

• police
• crime prevention
• criminal behavior
• crime mapping
• crime hotspot
• geographic profiling
• mental map
• place-based policing