Crime Analysis is a function which uses a systematic analytical process to identify and map the patterns and trends of crime and other data to produce timely and pertinent information relative to crime and other matters occurring within Davidson County. Crime Analysis is critical in determining the operational use of resources, to aid the investigative process, and to guide the allocation of personnel and equipment.
Crime Analysis supports a number of department functions, including operational units such as patrol, crime suppression, flex, the various investigative units at the precinct level and across the department, in addition to the planning, crime prevention, and administrative elements of the MNPD. This is primarily accomplished through the weekly Compstat process.
Compstat
Compstat (short for COMPuter STATistics) is essentially an organizational management tool used by the MNPD and many other law enforcement agencies. It was created primarily to provide the framework for a dynamic approach to crime reduction, to address community quality of life issues, and as a guiding tool for personnel and resource management. The elements of COMPSTAT consist of four distinct principles: Accurate and Timely Intelligence, Effective Tactics, Rapid Deployment, and Relentless Follow-up and Assessment.
To learn more about Compstat, visit Compstat - Its Origins, Evolution, and Future in Law Enforcement Agencies
Compstat Reports and Analytical Summaries
Crime Analysis Function
The Crime Analysis function is typically considered in three categories:
Strategic
Strategic is concerned with operational strategies that seek solutions to on-going problems. It provides information for resource allocation purposes, including optimized patrol scheduling and configuration of patrol zones. Its purpose is to identify crime activities and patterns, identify community conditions, provide police service more effectively and efficiently by matching demands for service with actual delivery, reduce and/or eliminate recurring problems, and assist in community policing or problem-oriented policing.
Administrative
Administrative involves long range projects. Tasks include providing economic, geographic and law enforcement information to police management, city and state officials, and neighborhood/citizen groups. Its purpose is primarily to support the financial, policy development, organizational, political, and legislative requirements of the Metro Nashville Police Department and City of Nashville.
Tactical
Tactical deals with immediate criminal offenses to promote quick response. It provides information to assist operational personnel in the identification of specific crime trends and in the arrest of criminal offenders. The primary goal is to identify crime trends, patterns/series, hotspots and investigative leads. Tactical information links offender and crime information from a variety of sources in an attempt to provide investigative leads and actionable timely intelligence to field units. Most of this effort is performed by the decentralized Crime Analysts at each police precinct.
Crime Analysis Section
Strategic and administrative crime analysis occurs within the Strategic Development Division’s Crime Analysis Section. To support the basic goal of identifying immediate criminal activity and patterns, tactical crime analysis occurs within the various patrol precincts and is supported by the department’s Crime Analysis Section.