Problem
The problem the study aimed to address:
The study investigates the growing availability of online crime maps and their potential impact on public perception, fear of crime, and police legitimacy. Despite widespread adoption, empirical evidence regarding their efficacy or unintended consequences is scarce.
General impact on the system and/or public:
Online crime maps aim to enhance transparency and police-community collaboration. However, they may also amplify fear, reduce perceived safety, or negatively influence community trust.
Research Questions:
- How many police agencies offer online crime maps?
- What agency characteristics correlate with the availability of these maps?
- What types of maps are commonly used?
Method and Analysis
Program Evaluated/Gaps Addressed:
The study addresses the limited research on the public-facing use of online crime maps, focusing on their prevalence, agency characteristics, and potential societal impacts.
Data and Sample Size:
- 2013 LEMAS (Law Enforcement Management and Administrative Statistics) survey data from 2,035 agencies.
- 2018 web searches to verify map availability and features.
Analysis Used:
- Statistical comparisons of agencies providing maps versus those that do not, based on factors like community engagement, website sophistication, and officer numbers.
- Evaluations of map designs, including color, size, and kernel density parameters, using public perception data from Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk).
Outcome
Key Findings:
- Prevalence: About 1 in 6 city police departments provide online crime maps, with larger agencies and those with advanced websites or community policing initiatives more likely to do so.
- Map Types: Most maps use dot representation and are hosted by external providers (e.g., LexisNexis). Large companies dominate the market.
- Public Perception:
- Map design significantly impacts perceptions. For example:
- Larger bandwidth in kernel density maps increases perceived victimization risk and decreases perceived safety.
- Dot map size and color minimally affect public perceptions.
Implications or Recommendations:
- Transparency: Maps may foster police legitimacy but could inadvertently heighten fear of crime.
- Design Considerations: Agencies should optimize map designs (e.g., bandwidth settings, data presentation) to balance transparency with public reassurance.
- Future Research: Further studies are recommended to assess data accuracy, update frequency, and public use patterns. Additionally, exploring de-identification practices and public warnings is essential.
This research highlights the need for careful implementation of online crime maps to avoid unintended consequences like exacerbated fear or reduced trust in law enforcement. It offers valuable insights into how crime mapping can be both a tool for transparency and a source of public anxiety, emphasizing the importance of empirical, user-centered design in public-facing crime data initiatives.