Elements of Crime Patterns

Elements of Crime Patterns is the first detailed compendium of the specific elements and variables of crime patterns. It articulates tacit and implicit knowledge about what crime patterns consist of and contains a wealth of information illustrating what could be in a crime pattern. It details the offender and victim, location and time, weapons, tools, equipment, travel, communication, and methods used to commit crimes. The behaviors in 27 crime categories are succinctly but specifically examined, from robbery, burglary, and cybercrime to sexual assault, terrorism, and drug trafficking. This book serves as an “anatomy book” of crimes and as a type of diagnostic manual. To diagnose crime patterns more accurately, it is wise to obtain a thorough grasp of their possible parts and what these parts might look like. By recognizing crime patterns sooner, we increase the likelihood of preventing crimes, apprehending criminals, understanding problems, and developing more effective crime reduction tactics and policies. So much basic information in one place allows those who work in policing to formulate better questions when working in traditional ways and when interacting with artificial intelligence systems. Novices to the subject will gain foundational knowledge. Experienced police officers, investigators, and analysts will utilize the book as a comprehensive reference tool. Criminal justice students, teachers, and researchers will learn the ins and outs of crime patterns. Instructor resources can be found at routledge .com/9781041217312, offering a syllabus, instructor guides, exercises, case studies, slide decks, and other resources for teaching and training using this book.

Author Biography

Deborah Osborne is a retired U.S. Secret Service Investigative Analyst and a former Crime Analyst for the Buffalo Police Department. As a crime analyst, she read and analyzed the narratives of over 100,000 police crime reports. She co-authored the book Introduction to Crime Analysis: Basic Resources for Criminal Justice Practice and wrote Out of Bounds: Innovation and Change in Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysis as a research fellow for the Joint Military Intelligence College. Osborne was the co-chair of the International Association of Crime Analysts’ certification committee when it first developed certification standards for the profession. She trained analysts and taught this subject at the college level for over six years. She has won awards from the International Association of Crime Analysts and the International Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysts for her contributions to the field.