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Law Enforcement Wants To Try 'Predictive Policing'

Posted by Soulskill on from the don't-anger-the-precogs dept.

Harperdog with this excerpt from a story about using statistics to fight crime: "It’s great when cops catch criminals after they've done their dirty work. But what if police could stop a crime before it was even committed? Though that may sound like a fantasy straight from a Philip K. Dick novel, it's a goal police departments from Los Angeles to Memphis are actively pursuing with help from the Department of Justice and a handful of cutting-edge academics. It's called 'predictive policing.' The idea: Although no one can foresee individual crimes, it is possible to forecast patterns of where and when homes are likely to be burgled or cars stolen by analyzing truckloads of past crime reports and other data with sophisticated computer algorithms. 'We know where crime has occurred in the last month, but that doesn't mean it'll be there next month,' Los Angeles Police Department Lt. Sean Malinowski says. 'The only way for us to continue to have crime reduction is to start anticipating where crime is going to occur.'"

6 of 377 comments (clear)

  1. a bunch of colored balls by metalmaster · · Score: 3, Funny

    first futurama and now slashdot. I think my daily dose of minority report has been satisfied

  2. Re:They're spending a lot of money on this? by SengirV · · Score: 3, Funny

    No, that would be profiling. And we all know that is frowned upon these days.

    --

    Prof. Farnsworth - "Oh a lesson in not changing history from Mr I'm-My-Own-Grandpa!"

  3. Re:Fuck you by deadhammer · · Score: 5, Funny

    *ALERT* Crimewatch 0.1b has detected a possible future equestrian molestation. Units have been dispatched and are authorized to use deadly force.

    --
    I'll be honest, we're throwing science against the wall to see what sticks. -Cave Johnson
  4. Re:Stopping a crime is a great idea by Sponge+Bath · · Score: 5, Funny

    Sixty percent chance of prostitution with scattered drug deals, so dress appropriately.

  5. Re:They're spending a lot of money on this? by davester666 · · Score: 5, Funny

    I was just walking along with a crowbar in my hand, and the pig stopped me and started hassling me about why there are 5 cars with busted windows just down the street from me.

    Clearly, I was profiled because I'm black.

    --
    Sleep your way to a whiter smile...date a dentist!
  6. Re:They're spending a lot of money on this? by elrous0 · · Score: 4, Funny

    Spending money to research the blatantly obvious is an American tradition.

    Can you cite any research that supports that claim?

    --
    SJW: Someone who has run out of real oppression, and has to fake it.