RISK ASSESSMENT CATEGORY 3
Category 3: Medium Scale before construction
At the Category 3, the time and resources spent on analysis should increase. That is because the size and scale of the project is larger. Projects at this level include a townhouse complex, a new urban park, or a large parking lot.
The analytical sophistication also increases in this category. This can be achieved by enlisting the support of police crime analysts, local university or college researchers, or professional consultants. There are now semi-professional, non-profit associations of crime analysts who provide advice, and skills that a qualified crime analyst brings to the table, for example the International Association of Crime Analysts.
One useful method for looking at the geography of crime is GIS (geographic information system) mapping. Several software companies make GIS mapping software that can plot crime spots. Part of the crime analysis looks at the site during many different times and conditions. The site analysis will evaluate and track activity pathways and nodes of activities (legitimate and illegitimate). The site analysis will also look at maintenance features, lighting, upkeep, graffiti patterns, and levels of decay or renovation. Use analysis looks at what activities create, promote, or allow crime to take place. Data would be gathered on the number of available housing units, liquor stores, schools, abandoned storefronts, code violations, fast food outlets, strip shopping centers, auto repair shops, adult entertainment stores, parks, bus stations, etc. (Rondeau, 2005). This is a fairly basic level of crime mapping and it should accompany Category 3 analyses.
Another data collection method in these categories is taking pictures or video, and keeping good logs of the data over time. If the facility is going on undeveloped land, then the process of visioning is needed to imagine what can and will be the possible futures in one year, five years, or twenty years from now.
Category 3 methods include:
The analytical sophistication also increases in this category. This can be achieved by enlisting the support of police crime analysts, local university or college researchers, or professional consultants. There are now semi-professional, non-profit associations of crime analysts who provide advice, and skills that a qualified crime analyst brings to the table, for example the International Association of Crime Analysts.
One useful method for looking at the geography of crime is GIS (geographic information system) mapping. Several software companies make GIS mapping software that can plot crime spots. Part of the crime analysis looks at the site during many different times and conditions. The site analysis will evaluate and track activity pathways and nodes of activities (legitimate and illegitimate). The site analysis will also look at maintenance features, lighting, upkeep, graffiti patterns, and levels of decay or renovation. Use analysis looks at what activities create, promote, or allow crime to take place. Data would be gathered on the number of available housing units, liquor stores, schools, abandoned storefronts, code violations, fast food outlets, strip shopping centers, auto repair shops, adult entertainment stores, parks, bus stations, etc. (Rondeau, 2005). This is a fairly basic level of crime mapping and it should accompany Category 3 analyses.
Another data collection method in these categories is taking pictures or video, and keeping good logs of the data over time. If the facility is going on undeveloped land, then the process of visioning is needed to imagine what can and will be the possible futures in one year, five years, or twenty years from now.
Category 3 methods include:
- Surveys: Mail-out questionnaires, including victimization surveys and perception data about the community
- GIS: GIS crime mapping and pattern analysis, such as examining crime hot spot trends
- Time Series: Crime trends over various timeframes and historical patterns
- Social Analysis: Demographic trends and social patterns, such as speaking to difficult-to-reach groups like the homeless. Marketing studies also help analyze shopping patterns in malls and the potential targets that may be on site.
