Document Type

Article

Publication Date

6-18-2016

Subject: LCSH

Crime analysis--Study and teaching, Criminal statistics--Study and teaching

Disciplines

Criminology and Criminal Justice | Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research

Abstract

Crime analysts study criminal activity and police function to improve performance. Analysts inform operations, aid resource allocation, and evaluate programs. These tasks require high levels of statistical literacy. Given that most analysts are college-educated civilians, college coursework in statistics and/or crime analysis may represent the foundational knowledgebase within the profession. However, little research has attempted to determine if coursework teaches the skills needed by analysts. Underlying this issue is a limited understanding about what technical skills crime analysts regularly use. Analyzing parallel surveys of 98 criminal justice educators and 146 crime analysts, this study compares the skills taught in undergraduate-level statistics and crime analysis courses to those used by analysts. Comparisons are made between perceptions of the value of coursework. Results indicate discrepancies between the orientation of coursework and the needs of analysts which underscore differences in the perceived relevance of statistics education. Recommendations are discussed.

Comments

This is a post-peer-review, pre-copyedit version of an article published in Journal of Criminal Justice Education. The definitive publisher-authenticated version of Kringen, Jonathan Allen, Christopher M. Sedelmaier, and Kristin D. Elink-Schuurman-Laura. "Assessing the Relevance of Statistics and Crime Analysis Courses for Working Crime Analysts." Journal of Criminal Justice Education (2016): 1-19. doi:10.1080/10511253.2016.1192211 is available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10511253.2016.1192211

DOI

10.1080/10511253.2016.1192211

Publisher Citation

Kringen, Jonathan Allen, Christopher M. Sedelmaier, and Kristin D. Elink-Schuurman-Laura. "Assessing the Relevance of Statistics and Crime Analysis Courses for Working Crime Analysts." Journal of Criminal Justice Education (2016): 1-19.

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