Police analysts on the job in Canada: work experiences, data work, and the move towards evidence-based policing. (4th July 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: O'Connor, Christopher D.; Ng, John; Hill, Dallas; Frederick, Tyler
• Is Part Of: Police practice & research. Volume 23:Number 4(2022)
• Page Start: 458
• Page End: 472
• Publication Date: 2022-07-04
• Subjects: Data work -- crime analysts -- police data -- evidence-based policing; Police -- Periodicals; Police administration -- Periodicals; Law enforcement -- Periodicals; Crime prevention -- Periodicals; 363.2
• DOI: 10.1080/15614263.2021.2022483
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1561-4263

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Analysts working within police services play a key role in translating data into usable and understandable forms of knowledge for police personnel. Despite the increased focus on data and research in policing, we know little about the everyday data work of police analysts. In this article, we review the literature on analysts' experiences and draw on survey data from analysts working in police services across Canada to examine the types of data work they routinely engage in and the value placed on their work by police personnel. Our findings suggest that analysts are underutilized and spend much of their time reporting descriptive statistics rather than performing more sophisticated analyses. While analysts perceived their work as being valued by police personnel, they did not think it was understood or used to its full extent. We conclude the paper by discussing the implications of these findings on the move towards evidence-based policing.