Evidence-Based Policing and the Stratified Integration of Crime Analysis in Police Agencies: National Survey Results

Using data collected from a 2008 national survey of over 1,000 agencies, this paper presents findings about the stratified integration of crime analysis into police patrol operations. Relationships are examined among stratified crime analysis integration, and the agency\u27s commitment to crime analysis, evidence-based crime reduction approaches, and accountability mechanisms. The analysis shows that there is no connection between patrol commanders\u27 commitment to crime analysis or prioritization of evidence-based practices and the appropriate use of crime analysis by line-level officers, first-line supervisors, and managers (i.e., stratified crime analysis integration). The analysis does show that having a designated crime analyst and prioritizing accountability for crime reduction at all ranks were strong predictors of stratified crime analysis integration. The findings suggest that the presence of a primary analyst and of accountability mechanisms is more than agencies simply \u27saying\u27 that evidence-based practices or crime analysis is important