Professional Training Series Course Descriptions

The classes below are currently offerered by the IACA:

Advanced Crime Mapping

Instructor-Led

This class will provide students with an understanding of many advanced crime mapping techniques. Students may use their own data as they perform and master the techniques shown during this comprehensive class.

The following topics will be covered:
* Mapping for problem solving
* Advanced kernel density mapping
* Crime rates and crime rate analysis using census data
* Report analysis techniques for CompStat using maps
* Spatial temporal analysis
* Density analysis and animation
* Assessing crime changes over time
* Assessing the impact of interventions

Course Prerequisites: This class is intended for those with an extensive background and training in crime mapping who regularly complete sophisticated spatial analysis.

Certification Skills: Mapping, Spatial Analysis

Computer Applications for Crime Analysis

Instructor-Led

Computer Applications is a five-day, hands-on workshop in Microsoft Access, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint (with the majority of the time spent on the first two applications). Through a series of realistic lessons, analysts learn how to use the full potential of these programs for tactical, strategic, and administrative analysis.

Included are creating and querying databases with Access; statistics, charting, and data analysis with Excel; desktop publishing (crime bulletins and reports) with Word; and effective presentations with PowerPoint.

This class is intended for the beginner or intermediate user.

Certification Skills: Spreadsheets, Publications, Charting, Presentations

Creating a Journey to Crime Analysis in CrimeStat III Webinar

Web-Based

This webinar will cover how to develop and create a journey to crime (JTC) analysis to determine the most likely location where an offender in a crime series lives. The demonstration will cover the technical aspects of creating the JTC area as well as experience from the presenter on outcomes he has had with several difference analyses. He will also cover the time and dedication you must have when doing a JTC analysis and different ways to try and identify a suspect within the JTC area that would be most likely the suspect. This webinar should enable you to create a calibration file for your municipality as well as JTC analyses anytime you wish on any crime series.

Certification Skills: NA

Creating Hotspot Maps with CrimeStat III Webinar

Web-Based

This webinar will demonstrate the relatively easy process of creating a kernel density map in CrimeStat III for use in ArcGIS. We will go over how to create the kernel density map, some key settings for decent maps both visually and correctly. We will also go over how to create a dual density interpolation analysis (subtract one time period hotspot from another) to see spatial trends in your data. Other items such as intensity values and weights and how that can change the overall density map for administrative, strategic and tactical maps will also be demonstrated. This webinar will give you the skills to create a density analysis using CrimeStat III anytime you wish.

Certification Skills: NA

Crime Analysis for Smaller Jurisdictions

Instructor-Led

Crime Analysis for Smaller Jurisdictions is a two-day workshop designed to provide an introduction to Crime Analysis and an understanding of its application within smaller jurisdictions. Students learn how to design, fund, establish, and staff a crime analysis unit for a smaller jurisdiction.

This class will focus on jurisdictions where the analysis is being done by a police officer (in addition to his/her regular duties), a Chief, a Commander, a new analyst or a part time analyst in jurisdictions with less than 125 officers. The class content will include presentations and discussions on various policing philosophies/models, basic levels of analysis, basic products and the use of commonly held software programs.

Certification Skills: Research Methods, Descriptive Statistics, Inferential Statistics, Qualitative Analysis, Demographic Analysis, Spatial Analysis, Reading Comprehension, Publications

Crime Analysis With Crime Mapping

Web-Based

Students will learn crime analysis skills and specialized techniques of conducting research, analyzing data and producing crime analysis products. Students will survey existing computer applications and will learn practical use and evaluation of these applications. Students will become familiar with the common written report, charts and graphs used to describe crime analysis products. Students will survey the variety of customers served by crime analysts and the integral part crime analysis plays within the community.

The course will include a discussion board, quizzes and weekly assignments to build and test the student's learning and progress. There is no live class time for this course, however, students are provided with new class materials on a weekly basis for review. Students achieving a passing grade on this course will receive IACA certification credits.

Students should expect a time commitment of 3-5 hours per week to gain a pass grade.

Certification Skills: Fundamentals of Crime Analysis, Interpreting Crime Statistics, Critical Thinking, Criminal Behavior, Data Integrity, Spatial Analysis.

Crime Mapping and Analysis

Instructor-Led

Crime Mapping is a five-day, hands-on computer-based course that covers the fundamentals of mapping crime for tactical, strategic, administrative, and operations analysis. After a review of the terminology and concepts of crime mapping, the class plunges directly into hands-on exercises using ArcGIS.

Students learn how to explore base maps, import or link to police data, geocode addresses, perform spatial and attribute queries, create thematic maps, interpret crime maps, and create effective mapping products.

Certification Skills: Spatial Analysis, Data Integrity

Exploring Crime Analysis: Essential Skills I

Web-Based

In this 12-week online course, students will work through the first ten chapters of the IACA book entitled "Exploring Crime Analysis". The topics covered in this class include an overview of the fundamentals of crime analysis, understanding the criminal justice system, understanding criminal behavior, the foundations of critical thinking, applied research in crime analysis and problem solving, data integrity, qualitative analysis, interpreting crime data and statistics, descriptive and multivariate statistics, and spreadsheets. The lessons will cover concepts, techniques, theories and skills most useful to crime analysts.
Students successfully completing this pass/fail class will develop and/or enhance their skills toolbox. Though this class is not self-paced, students in the class do not meet live at any given time. Rather, assignments, discussion questions/board, a self-grading quiz, PowerPoints, lecture notes, etc. are provided each week covering a given chapter. Students then have a full week to read the weekly course materials, respond on the discussion board, take the quiz, review other materials, links and articles provided, and to submit a weekly assignment. NOTE: This class will be of great interest and specifically benefit those preparing to test for IACA Certification.

Students should expect a time commitment of 3-5 hours per week to gain a pass grade.

Essential Skills I and II are independent of each other so can be taken in any order.

Certification Skills: Fundamentals of Crime Analysis, Interpreting Crime Statistics, Critical Thinking, Criminal Behavior, Data Integrity, Research Methods, Descriptive Statistics, Inferential Statistics, Qualitative Analysis.

Exploring Crime Analysis: Essential Skills II

Web-Based

In this 12-week online course, studentswill work through the second ten chapters of the IACA book entitled"Exploring Crime Analysis". The topics covered in this classinclude a temporal analysis, demographic analysis, inferential statistics,crime mapping, analytical charting, effective crime analysis writing, crimeanalysis publications, giving effective presentations and working the web(internet and intranet technology). The lessons will cover concepts, techniques,theories and skills most useful to crime analysts.

Students successfully completing this pass/failclass will develop and/or enhance their skills toolbox. Though this classis not self-paced, students in the class do not meet live at any giventime. Rather, assignments, discussion questions/board, a self-grading quiz,PowerPoints, lecture notes, etc. are provided each week covering a givenchapter. Students then have a full week to read the weekly course materials,respond on the discussion board, take the quiz, review other materials,links and articles provided, and to submit a weekly assignment. NOTE: Thisclass will be of great interest and specifically benefit those preparingto test for IACA Certification.

Students should expect a time commitment of 3-5 hours per week to gain a pass grade.

Essential Skills I and II are independent of each other so can be taken in any order.

Certification Skills: Temporal Analysis, Demographic Analysis, Inferential Statistics, Crime Mapping, AnalyticalCharting, Effective Crime Analysis Writing, Crime Analysis Publications, Giving Effective Presentations and Working the Web (Internet and IntranetTechnology).

Fundamentals of Crime Analysis

Instructor-Led

Fundamentals of Crime Analysis explores the basic terms, concepts, and techniques of crime analysis. It is intended for new analysts, officers or executives charged with developing crime analysis programs, or self-taught journeyman analysts looking for formal training.

With a combination of seminar, group projects, and hands-on exercises, the class covers the functions and processes of crime analysis, the skills and knowledge necessary to succeed, proper administration of a crime analysis unit, and pointers for further training and development. The class includes an overview of the more extensive training found in the other IACA Professional Training Series courses.

Certification Skills: Fundamentals of Crime Analysis, Interpreting Crime Statistics, Critical Thinking, Criminal Behavior, Data Integrity

GIS for Crime Analysis

Web-Based

GIS for Crime Analysis is a 15-week online course for students, crime analysts and professors wishing to better understand how GIS technology can be used to conduct crime analysis on a daily basis. Using the newly released (and free from ESRI!) "GIS Tutorial for Crime Analysis" by Wilpen Gorr and Kristen S. Kurland, along with the provided DVD containing data, maps, assignments, exercises, and tools, students will learn crime mapping and analysis skills using ArcGIS Desktop software. This "learning-by-doing" book includes the step-by-step exercises as well as introductions to underlying criminology theories and crime analysis methods. The book also provide references and Internet search terms for acquiring additional knowledge which is especially helpful for both self-learners and motivated students.

This is not a self-paced class. The class week runs Monday to Monday with assignments (end products) being due each week. Students should anticipate about 5 hours per week for reading, study, participation and assignment creation and submission. Students should already be able to work with files and folders on a computer and to have working knowledge of MS Word andPowerPoint applications. It is recommended that you have some experience with MS Excel, but it is not essential. Students will need a computer throughout the course. Students will need to download a 180-day trial versionof ArcGIS Desktop 10 (provided with the course book).

Certification Skills: Data Integrity, Quantitative Analysis, Interpreting Crime Data and Statistics, Crime Mapping.

Identifying Hot Spots with CrimeStat

Web-Based

IDENTIFYING HOT SPOTS WITH CRIMESTAT

CrimeStat is a free spatial statistics application, developed by Ned Levine under contract from the National Institute of Justice, that performs different types of routines and calculations on geocoded crime data. It works with ArcView and other GIS applications to bring deeper analysis capabilities to crime analysts and researchers. This session will cover a selection of the routines offered by CrimeStat to identify and analyze hot spots. Students will learn the uses (and mis-uses) of the mode, fuzzy mode, Nearest-Neighbor Hierarchical Spatial Clustering, and Kernel Density Estimation routines in different analysis and response scenarios. The webinar is recommended for students with no prior CrimeStat or spatial statistics training.

Certification Skills: NA

Identifying Hot Spots with CrimeStat

Web-Based

CrimeStat is a free spatial statistics application, developed by Ned Levine under contract from the National Institute of Justice, that performs different types of routines and calculations on geocoded crime data. It works with ArcView and other GIS applications to bring deeper analysis capabilities to crime analysts and researchers. This session will cover a selection of the routines offered by CrimeStat to identify and analyze hot spots. Students will learn the uses (and mis-uses) of the mode, fuzzy mode, Nearest-Neighbor Hierarchical Spatial Clustering, and Kernel Density Estimation routines in different analysis and response scenarios. The webinar is recommended for students with no prior CrimeStat or spatial statistics training.

Certification Skills: NA

Interviewing for a Job in Crime Analysis

Web-Based

Are you a student looking for a job in crime analysis? Are you already in law enforcement, working toward a crime analysis position? Or, are you already a crime analyst, but applying for a position at another agency? If any of these scenarios fit, or you simply need to brush up on your interview skills, join us for a one hour webinar on interviewing for a crime analysis position. We will discuss the application process, the interview (in depth) and what to expect during the process. In particular, in reviewing the interview (usually the most stressful part of the entire process), we will discuss common questions and the answers that employers are likely seeking. Tips will be offered through the webinar for everything from greeting the oral board to the length of applicant responses to common mistakes applicants make during the oral board. Students will have the opportunity to ask questions during the webinar and will be provided a copy of the PowerPoint used.

*Please note that this class may run 1 1/2-2 hours.

Certification Skills: N/A

Introduction to Risk Terrain Modeling for Spatial Risk Assessment

Web-Based

Risk terrain modeling (RTM) is an approach to crime analysis that uses a geographic information system (GIS) to communicate criminogenic and vulnerable areas at the micro level based on the compounded presence, absence, or intensity of risk factors at every location throughout the landscape. This permits the forecasting of future crime locations not because crimes occurred there yesterday, but because the environmental conditions are suitable for crimes to occur there tomorrow. RTM produces meaningful and actionable information that can be used for resource allocation, needs assessment, tactical operations, and strategic planning. This webinar will demonstrate the technical steps of RTM so that you can apply it to the unique crime problems in your jurisdiction.

Certification Skills: N/A

Overview of IACA Certification

Web-Based

The IACA Certification Commission will be presenting on the purpose, prerequisites, requirements, and test process that designates applicants as Certified Law Enforcement Analysts (CLEAs). The focus of the workshop will be on the requirements and testing process and will not be an exam study session. Attendees will be encouraged to ask questions at the open discussion at the end of the workshop.

Certification Skills: NA

Predictive Policing

Web-Based

Using sophisticated computer models and data about previous crimes, police may be able to anticipate, and possibly prevent, many types of crime. For example, researchers at UCLA have built computer simulations of criminals moving through city neighborhoods to better understand why they tend to cluster in certain areas and how they disperse when police go looking for them. Some say humans are too complex and random for their behavior to be predicted, but advances in computer modeling and data analysis suggests otherwise.

This training will explore how predictive policing and modeling works and the ways law enforcement can use these tools to improve the effectiveness of their efforts.

Certification Skills: N/A

Problem Analysis

Instructor-Led

Problem Analysis is a five-day (12-week online) workshop on the skills, knowledge, and abilities necessary for an analyst to identify, analyze, and help an agency solve crime, disorder, and public safety problems.

Students learn how criminology theory, research methods, and statistics are applied at the operational level to examine long-term problems and to recommend effective strategies. The class draws heavily on the applicable Problem-Oriented Policing and Situational Crime Prevention literature but remains analyst-focused.

A capstone project applies the lessons to a real crime or safety problem in the area where the class is held.

Certification Skills: Research Methods, Descriptive Statistics, Inferential Statistics, Qualitative Analysis, Demographic Analysis, Spatial Analysis, Reading Comprehension, Publications

Problem Analysis Webinar

Web-Based

Problem Analysis
Traditionally, crime analysis in a police department has been broken down into administrative, tactical, and strategic approaches. With the advent of Problem Oriented Policing, there is a need for a different type of analysis – problem analysis. This webinar will provide an overview of problem analysis and the role of the crime analyst. An excellent resource, 60 Steps to Problem Analysis, will be referenced and can be ordered for free from the COPS Office or downloaded from www.popcenter.org. The webinar will include participant/class interactive discussions.

Certification Skills: NA

Tactical Crime Analysis

Instructor-Led

Tactical Crime Analysis is a five-day workshop that trains analysts in the techniques used to identify, analyze, and solve crime patterns and series.

Beginning with the relevant terms and concepts from the Fundamentals course, this class covers the methods used to identify crime patterns as they emerge; the techniques used to analyze them for location, time, victim, offender, and modus operandi; considerations for disseminating information to police; and tactics for offender apprehension, suppression, and opportunity-blocking.

The class uses real examples, hands-on lessons, computer exercises, and a capstone project that will use a range of tactical analysis skills

Certification Skills: Criminal Behavior, Temporal Analysis, Descriptive Statistics, Spatial Analysis, Charting, Publications, Qualitative Analysis

Telephone Toll Analysis

Instructor-Led

This hands-on computer based course will equip students with the techniques and skills to effectively analyze and interpret telephone data.

Students will work on real life scenarios and learn about what data can be requested, how to efficiently organize the data so that patterns can be identified, and how to apply a range of analytical techniques, including call pattern analysis and cell site correlation analysis, to help inform and direct investigations.

From terrorism investigations to criminal cases, major incidents and serious crime prevention, law enforcement agencies are using the findings from telephone data analysis to help detect, solve, and prevent crime and to prosecute criminals.

This course is designed for Patrol Officers, Detectives and Analysts. The course will demonstrate how the students can use readily available software, Excel and Google Earth, to effectively direct investigations and resources.

Certification Skills:

Threshold Analysis

Web-Based

Threshold Analysis will demonstrate the theory and technique of identifying abnormal crime volumes, in both the short-term and long-term, to help triage patterns and problems. Students learn how to establish a baseline range for normal crime volume and determine when activity has exceeded this range. A step-by-step walkthrough in Microsoft Excel (including all relevant formulas) will be followed by a demonstration of the IACA’s Microsoft Access Threshold Database. Implications for both tactical and strategic crime analysis are discussed.

Certification Skills: N/A