Click on the following links. Please note these will open in a new window.

For each article, write a sentence outlining one of the arguments the author makes. There will be more than one argument in the article, but choose one that you think is most relevant to crime analysis in general and/or the corresponding chapter.  After the sentence, briefly describe the author’s argument and then cite the evidence the author puts forth to support the argument.  Note that an argument is not a statement of fact but is a line of reasoning asserted by the author that is supported by theory, research results, or both.

Article: Leonard, A. E. (1954). Crime reporting as a police management tool. Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science, 291, 1, 127-134.

Critical thinking questions:

1. Why was it important to set up the Uniform Crime Report system? Discuss the issue of validity versus reliability in the context of the UCR data and its creation.
2. What are the benefits and drawbacks of the system?

Article: Manning, P.K. (2001). Technology's ways: Information technology, crime analysis and the rationalizing of policing. Criminology and Criminal Justice, 1, 1, 83-103.

Critical thinking questions:

1. Discuss the benefits and necessity of crime mapping and technology in police agencies as outlined by the author.
2. Discuss the limitations and challenges of implementing crime mapping in a police agency as found by the author in one jurisdiction.
3. How might a police agency avoid some of these issues by learning from this particular study?