Tracking down criminals with crime maps
Tuesday, June 03, 2008
There has been an explosion in crime maps since the creation of the venerated Chicago Crime some years ago, now a part of hyperlocal news site EveryBlock. Average Joes are also getting in the game with the creation of PostaCrime.com which solicits user-generated reports of crime around the country.
So far SpotCrime has done an even better of job aggregating crimes from around the nation in one convenient site, but there are a number of newspapers, TV stations, police agencies and community organizations that maintain far more detailed accounts of crime in their area. Here is a list of cities around the world whose criminal activity is currently tracked on a map.
If I missed one, please let me know and I will add it to the list.
The technology used to create the aforementioned crime maps varies from Google Maps mashups, some with databases attached, Flash animation, or proprietary software. Starting out with a simple, static map of crimes in your area is a less work intensive way to start crime mapping, if you haven't already. Searchable databases are the next step and requires some technical prowess. Whichever avenue is chose to document crime, it is destined to be better than the black and white police blotter hidden in the recesses of most newspapers.
This post is the second in a five-part series on maps. Previously: Exploring the Earth
So far SpotCrime has done an even better of job aggregating crimes from around the nation in one convenient site, but there are a number of newspapers, TV stations, police agencies and community organizations that maintain far more detailed accounts of crime in their area. Here is a list of cities around the world whose criminal activity is currently tracked on a map.
- Anchorage
- Anniston, Alabama
- Arizona
- Atlanta
- Bakersfield, Ca.
- Baltimore
- Berkeley
- Boston
- Copenhagen
- Córdoba, Argentina
- Dallas
- Delaware
- Evanston, Ill.
- Fresno
- Grand Rapids, Mich.
- Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
- Houston
- Kansas City
- London
- Los Angeles
- Memphis
- Napa Valley, Ca.
- Nashville
- The Netherlands
- New Orleans
- New York City
- Newark, NJ
- Oakland
- Orlando
- Paso Robles, Ca.
- Philadelphia (here and here)
- Richmond, Va.
- Sacramento
- San Joaquin County, Ca.
- Seattle
- Spokane
- Tampa
- Toronto
- Washington D.C. (here and here)
- Wichita, Kansas
- Ypsilanti, Michigan
- Zurich
If I missed one, please let me know and I will add it to the list.
The technology used to create the aforementioned crime maps varies from Google Maps mashups, some with databases attached, Flash animation, or proprietary software. Starting out with a simple, static map of crimes in your area is a less work intensive way to start crime mapping, if you haven't already. Searchable databases are the next step and requires some technical prowess. Whichever avenue is chose to document crime, it is destined to be better than the black and white police blotter hidden in the recesses of most newspapers.
This post is the second in a five-part series on maps. Previously: Exploring the Earth
Labels: maps
1 Comments:
Crimereports.com is actually the leader in the US for mapping crime online. Crime Reports works directly with police departments and sheriff's offices to have their crime data uploaded on a nightly basis which keeps the content fresh and up-to-date. There are over 160 agencies in the US currently using Crime Reports and more agencies going live every day. Check it out! www.crimereports.com If you have any questions or need additional information feel free to email at info@crimereports.com
commented by 
Erin, 8:56 AM
Erin, 8:56 AM 
