Crime Analysis GIS - Index

Instructor: J. Lopez, Ph.D.

Telephone:

507-389-1890

507-382-0497

Office:

218 I Armstrong Hall

Electronic mail:

jose.lopez@mnsu.edu

Office Hours:

Monday and Wednesday

1:30 pm – 3:00 pm

Tuesday and Thursday

1:30 pm – 4:00 pm

If I am not in my office, please call

507-382-0497

Course Description

The last eight years have seen a dramatic increase in law enforcement agencies that are using Geographic Information Science (GIS) technology for crime mapping and data analysis. The federal government has boosted support to law enforcement agencies conducting crime mapping with the assistance of GIS technologies.

The demand for crime mapping training continues to grow, and this course, is specifically designed to teach the theoretical and practical aspects of using GIS mapping methods for criminal justice purposes.

The course provides a solid understanding of the contemporary realities of the geographic aspects of crime. In addition, the course provides students with the practical tools necessary to conduct effective spatial analyses of crime using GIS software. This is a hands-on, exercise-based GIS for Law Enforcement course; the workshop has been tailored to aptly benefit those working in areas related to public safety and emergency response systems.

Course Objectives

This class explains the characteristics of spatial data and the role of geographic information systems in crime pattern analysis. The course is designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills necessary to examine geospatial data.

Expectations

Students will integrate different information technology tools, map making methods, and specific geographic topics in order to visualize spatial aspects of crime.

Exemplar projects and exercises will be drawn from crime reports,and students will input and examine geographic information with the help of GIS software.

Throughout the semester, quizzes may be given without notice. This is to measure your comprehension of the material discussed in class. These quizzes do not serve as punitive action; they are designed to assess your learning experience. These short examinations are a small portion of the assignment/quiz grade, not the exam grade criterion.

Quizzes, laboratory activities, and assignments may differ in value (points) depending on their complexity. Do not expect that an elementary assignment will have the same worth as a more complicated activity.

Weights

Exercises (homework), laboratory activities, and quizzes: 40% of course grade

Three exams: 60% of course grade

Learning Outcomes

At the end of the semester students will be able to design crime mapping projects using basic GIS techniques;

Students will be able to predict delinquent activity with the help of GIS crime analysis methods.

Course Policies and Rules

It is my policy that disrespectful behavior, lack of consideration towards the participants of the course, tardiness, or any disturbance on your part will influence my decision regarding your final grade.

Side conversations are discourteous to classmates, instructors, and guests. Conversations between classmates while I instruct won't be tolerated and I will ask disruptive students to leave the classroom if I deem it necessary. A student may be dropped from a course by the administration if disrespectful behaviors persist and I recommend this action. Raised voices, temper tantrums, and rude behavior will not change my 16-year-old policy.

Attendance is not mandatory, but you are highly advised to attend. If you want to succeed in this course, you should come to every session. While about 90% of the material covered by the lectures could be found in the course book, some topics are not sufficiently covered by the text. Even though attendance is not mandatory, points will be deducted for those students who leave class early, especially on days that test and quiz grades are returned (permission to leave early is required). I prefer that you are absent instead of having to witness students leaving the classroom disrespectfully.

Past experience indicates that grades correlate with attendance and an absence on a test day is detrimental to one's grade. Please, consult any of your classmates for notes or handouts distributed during lecture if you miss a class session. Do not visit my office asking for old handouts. My duties during office hours are to clarify concepts and answer questions pertinent to tests or assignments, not tutoring (private instruction).

Under special circumstances, I will make electronic notes and Power Point slides available (you are expected to make an office appointment with me, and bring a PC-formatted USB flash memory drive so you can copy the lecture files). If you were absent, I would give you copies of the class notes or a make-up quiz if you provide a documented valid excuse.

Valid excuses include

• personal illness, as verified by a valid medical excuse;

• death or critical illness in the immediate family;

• participation in a university-sponsored activity;

• military service;

• law enforcement or public safety service.

If you examine MSUM's Student Handbook (the "Students' Responsibilities" section), you will find that item number two lists the following policy:

"Individuals will respect and foster the academic endeavors of others. Minnesota State Mankato exists to promote learning, and as such, students must behave in such a way to allow the process of learning to take place by group or individual. Examples of violations include but are not limited to: harassment of a faculty member; disrupting teaching or learning; excessive noise that disrupts classes, studying or University activities; other activities that seriously disrupt the educational process; intentionally altering, inhibiting, or stealing another person's research."

Cell phone use (of any kind - voice, texting, calculator, or photography…) is prohibited during class. Phones must be turned off or at least set them not to make noise during class time.

The following activities are not to be engaged in during class because they are disruptive and detract from the learning focus of the course: listening to distracting electronic devices such as MP3 players, I-Pods, smartphones, CD players, or Walkman radios; playing electronic games; looking at pagers, Facebook/Twitter/My Space, or other social media; texting, internet faxing, or web browsing. In essence, all students are required to turn off laptop computers before class starts to avoid distracting activities. Reading the newspaper or other materials not related to the course is not permitted during the lecture. Audio or video recording of lectures is not permitted.

Students are not permitted to make unauthorized, electronic recordings of lectures or electronic copies of course materials (e.g., PowerPoints, formulas, lecture notes) using personally owned recording devices (e.g., smart phone, iPad, computer, digital recorder).

Recorded lectures or copied material must be destroyed at the end of the course or semester. Unauthorized downloading, file sharing, distribution of any part of a recorded lecture or course materials, or using information for purposes other than the student’s own learning may be deemed a violation of Minnesota State University, Mankato’s “Statement of Student Responsibilities” subject to disciplinary action.

Side conversations are discourteous to classmates, instructors, and guests. Conversations between classmates while I instruct will not be tolerated and I will ask disruptive students to leave the classroom if I deem it necessary. A student may be dropped from a course by the administration if disrespectful behaviors persist and I recommend this action. Raised voices, temper tantrums, and rude behavior will not change my 25-year-old policy.

Class time will be reserved for the definition of concepts, discussion of topics, lab activities, and explanation of analytical techniques. Office hours are devoted to answering your questions.

There may be in-class assignments or quizzes, which are a portion of your course average grade. I give these occasional quizzes during the last 15 minutes of the session, throughout the semester. I am not obligated to announce most quizzes in advance.

Quizzes and assignments may differ in value (points) depending on their complexity. Do not expect that an elementary assignment will have the same worth as a more complicated activity.

Late or make-up exams will only be given in verifiable cases of hardship or illness (you need to provide a note from the physician, court, or police department to demonstrate a legitimate reason for your absence). Projects or exercises turned in late after the original assignment has already been graded and returned will be worth zero points. There will not be any make-up quizzes or group activities. However, if you miss only one quiz, that zero will not be included during the calculation of the final grade (remember you have only one chance!).

The course is lecture format, not cooperative learning. Geography is a different type of science that involves very specific facts and theories. Basically, come to class, listen to the lecture, and take notes. Stop me (politely!) if I go too fast or if you have a question. The type of participation that I expect from you could be asking good questions, providing helpful facts during the discussion of concepts, and clarifying ideas that might be considered complex by other students.

The syllabus serves as a guideline and is subject to change, depending on circumstances as the semester progresses.

If you are a student with a documented disability, please see me as early in the semester as possible to discuss the necessary accommodations, and/or contact the Disability Services Office at (507) 389-2825. Minnesota State University, Mankato provides students with disabilities reasonable accommodation to participate in educational programs, activities or services.

Class Schedule:

Week - Topic

1-5 - Introduction to Spatial Aspects of Crime, Theories, and Mapping

Exam 1 – September 28

6-10 - Exploring G.I.S Tools

Exam 2 – October 26

11-15 - Spatial Analysis of Crime

Final Exam – December 7, 2:45 pm.

Grading Criteria

4 points (A+)

3.75 points (A)

3.5 points (A-)

3.25 points (B+)

3 points (B)

2.75 points (B-)

2.5 points (C+)

2.25 points (C)

2 points (C-)

1.75 points (D+)

1.5 points (D)

1.25 points (D-)

0 points (F)