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New Crime-Predicting Algorithm Borrows From Apollo Space Mission Tech (digitaltrends.com)

Researchers from Georgia Tech and the UK's University of Surrey have developed a new predictive policing algorithm that aims to better manage police resources and gain an upper hand in the war on crime. It reportedly uses technology that's been previously used in weather forecasting and the Apollo space missions. Digital Trends reports: The new algorithm built on previous work carried out by researchers from the University of California and police forces in both the U.S. and U.K. Their 2015 research showed how a predictive policing algorithm could accurately predict between 1.4 and 2.2 times more urban crime than specialist crime analysts. By making recommendations about where to patrol, the algorithm led to a 7.4 percent reduction in crime. However, while effective, this approach has also been criticized due to concerns about possible racial profiling and the underreporting of crime. The new algorithm has so far been demonstrated on a data set of more than 1,000 violent gang crimes in Los Angeles carried out between 1999 and 2002. Early conclusions suggest that the upgraded predictive tool could prove superior for coping with the constantly fluctuating world of real-time crime prediction. The researchers published their paper in the journal Computational Statistics & Data Analysis.

2 of 127 comments (clear)

  1. Re:Police and Rich Fat Old Republicans by Archangel+Michael · · Score: 3, Informative

    Constitutional democracy

    Pedantic Jerk here, but we don't live in a Constitutional democracy, we live in a Constitutional Republic. This is a common issue, I understand, but the distinction is important, even if it is ignored. See Electoral College for a prime example of the difference.

    The alternative is democracy, which is the last step towards tyranny, as the majority will always vote to oppress the minority.

    --
    Agent K: A *person* is smart. People are dumb, stupid, panicky animals, and you know it.
  2. Re: Police and Rich Fat Old Republicans by ShanghaiBill · · Score: 3, Informative

    Other effective ways of reducing crime are not having the rich live next door to the poor

    Not true. Mixed income neighborhoods do not have more crime. The worst crime is in areas with concentrated poverty, where the poor prey on the poor.