Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Public Access To Crime Maps From Police Agencies: Frequency, Agency Characteristics, And Maps Used, Jordan A. Grant, Kris R. Henning

Student Research Symposium

Advances in desktop computing, research and theory addressing the geography of crime, and evidence for the efficacy of hotspot policing have resulted in rapid adoption of GIS mapping technology by police agencies. Some of these agencies have gone a step further and now offer access to crime maps for public viewing through their website or linked services. This includes maps depicting all or some criminal offenses, calls for service, and the location of specific offenders. These maps have the potential to influence community perceptions, and yet we know very little about the prevalence of public crime mapping, the characteristics of …