IACA Represented at IA-IP Conference in Amsterdam

Greeting Fellow IACA Members:

Secretary Dawn Clausius and I have returned from representing the IACA at the International Academy of Investigative Psychology (IA-IP) at their 2011 Symposium in Amsterdam, The Netherlands (also known as "Holland").  We traveled over seven time zones overnight March 29th, arriving in Holland on March 30th.  That evening, we met with the top two leaders of the IA-IP, Dr. David Cantor and Dr. Donna Youngs for the longest dinner in the history of long dinners.  During the many hours over dinner and a lot (!) of very strong coffee, we gained a great deal of insight into the formation and goals of the IA-IP. 

In a nutshell, the IA-IP (http://www.ia-ip.org/) was formed for similar reasons the IACA was formed back in 1990 - to facilitate communication between individuals involved in a relatively new discipline and to help coordinate professionalism in training, research and practice.   The members, mostly Investigative Psychologists and students of Investigative Psychology, are concerned with the psychological principles, theories and empirical findings that may be applied to investigations and the legal process.

Perhaps more importantly (and of greater interest), a significant amount of their focus is on understanding "Modus Operandi" (or "MO").  Certainly crime analysts (and other members of the IACA) would take great interest in gleaning information from this group to help inform our analysis of crimes.  In fact, in my keynote address to the group, I stated (in part):

"Over the last 30 years, crime analysts have developed expertise in analyzing crime series for temporal factors, spatial factors, and offender and victim descriptions, but our approach to the question of modus operandi has never been fully informed. We use modus operandi to help link crimes in a series, and our experience with crime data allows us to determine what is unusual or unique about an offender’s chosen M.O.


Where we lack knowledge is in the science of turning M.O. data into useful inferences about the offender. What can M.O. data tell us about an offender’s likely characteristics? How can it help us craft a solution to the crime series? How can it inform our efforts to increase the likelihood of arrest, strategies to deter the offender, or ways that investigators can approach interrogation? How can it inform future efforts on similar crime series? How can we use the M.O. data to better understand the decisions and choices offenders make and how is this information useful to us as analysts, as well as police officers and investigators in training for and eventually responding to crimes that can be linked, associated and studied together in the future?
We believe that crime analysts are natural investigative psychologists who have so far lacked any real training in investigative psychology. We study crime series and have an innate sense of what is normal and what is abnormal. We have long wrestled with questions of offender behavior, but absent a framework or typology to assist us. This is what we hope to get out of our partnership with IA-IP. In return, we are in a good position to help ensure that the science of investigative psychology is actually applied in police agencies."

The presentation (Day Two of the Symposium) seemed to be received very well and Dr. Cantor even asked for a printed copy of my entire speech.  This was followed the next day with Dawn Clausius' presentation on Applying Theory to Crime Analysis Practice which was presented to a jam-packed room of academics and practitioners.  Her presentation led to a number of heated debates and discussions amongst those present, including Dr. David Cantor who had "showed" specifically for her presentation.  We were very pleased with the involvement of the attendees and interest in the presentation.

That evening (the final evening of the Symposium), the group hosted a dinner and award presentation banquet onsite. Dawn and I were thrilled to have both Dr. Cantor AND Dr. Youngs choose to sit with us for the event, despite having many other VIPs present to which they needed to attend.  During the awards and recognition, we were presented a "thank you" gift of appreciation of chocolate and a book on Holland, as well as a "toast" to us and our presence. 

At the end of the evening, Dr. Cantor expressed to us his excitement about this new link between our association, and with promises of continued open lines of communication.  Additionally, he suggested that we consider a collaboration through the IA-IP and the IACA "Press" (publishing arm of the IACA) to deliver booklets "by crime type" on the "MO" information that is known about each crime.  In other words, there would be a booklet on robbery MO's and what they mean / how to interpret them / how to respond / how to incorporate the MO in a forecast, etc., and another booklet on commercial burglary...and another on residential burglary....etc.  Dr. Cantor also suggested further collaboration involving Geographical Profiling and on case studies.   We believe this is just the beginning of a mutually beneficial relationship for both organizations.

Outside of our time with Drs. Cantor and Youngs and the time spent in class at the Symposium, we were able to meet with a number of international professional interested in IACA membership and collaboration.  This included an intelligence analyst with the EuroPol who inquired about the possibility of an IACA Symposium (like the upcoming Vancouver event) in The Haag, Holland.  She stated there were more than 40 analysts there that could support the Symposium.  We saw and met with an IACA member analyst from Trinidad and Tobago who also suggested support for a Symposium in the Caribbean would be strong if the IACA would consider hosting it there. A number of individuals inquired about membership and time was spent with each directing them to our website.  We awarded three complimentary one-year IACA memberships to the three individuals expressing the MOST interest in our association.

And, our trip was not all business - we DID get to see the Coffee (marijuana) shops, dozens of canals and the canal housing ($$$$), the Red Light District, the Floating Flower Market, the Weeping Tower, the windmills of Kinderjik, Centraal Station, Rembrandt Square, Leids Square and an authentic castle from the 1500s.  We found that everything in Holland came in small packages (small portions), but was outrageously expensive!  They are also a very physically fit society, with bicycles outnumbering cars 40-1 in Amsterdam (less outside of the city).  And, because parking is at a premium, the cars that they do have are mostly "Smart Cars" and smaller (yes, smaller!) and can often be found parked on the sidewalk.  The culture was phenomenal and the experience was outstanding.  We believe we represented the IACA very well and hope this event, in addition to the Vancouver Symposium and a visit to Chile by other IACA members, helps work toward true internationalization of our association.

With all good wishes (as they say in Holland),

Susan C. Smith
VP Administration

Dawn Clausius
Secretary

News from the IACA Board and Committee Chairs

Greetings, Colleagues!


Here is a short update from the IACA Board and Committee Chairs:

Vancouver Symposium: The agenda for the IACA Spring Symposium in Vancouver, BC, has been posted on the IACA website. Chair Stacy Belledin and her committee have assembled a collection of interesting and innovative topics, presented by crime analysis professionals with a variety of experience and education. Don't miss this exciting opportunity to gain new perspectives and to network with your peers! Register today! http://iaca.net/Symposium2011.asp

IAIP Conference (Amsterdam, The Netherlands): The Vancouver symposium is not the IACA’s only move towards expanded internationalization this spring. At the end of March, IACA Vice President Susan Smith and Secretary Dawn Clausius will be representing the association at the International Academy for Investigative Psychology (IAIP) conference in Amsterdam where Susan will present a keynote address and Dawn will lead a breakout session. Here we hope to not only strengthen our presence in Europe, but to establish close ties to another organization with a compatible mission. Here is the link for more info: http://www.ia-ip.org/

Fundacion Paz Ciuadana (Santiago, Chile): In April, Vice President Ericka Jackson, Technology Director Jim Mallard, and President Christopher Bruce will travel to Santiago, Chile, to present a three-day workshop to more than 150 members of the country’s three major law enforcement organizations. The sponsors of this workshop, the Fundacion Paz Ciudadana, is helping to translate our literature into Spanish and to find key members in South American nations. And speaking of translations, Exploring Crime Analysis is currently being translated into Portuguese and Chinese for international publications.

IACA Professional Training Series: Training Chair Lakpinder Takhar announced the addition of a new course, "Advanced Crime Mapping" which is being offered in late August in Westfield, Massachusetts. Find out more about this and several other classes currently listed on the IACA website at http://www.iaca.net/IACATraining.asp.

MAPS Conference: NIJ's Crime Mapping Research Conference, "MAPS" is being held April 13-15, 2011 in Miami Florida. There is no charge for the conference (registration is free). Three (3) of the pre-conference classes are being taught and assisted by IACA members including President Chris Bruce, 2011 Conference Chair Mary Craige, Secretary Dawn Clausius, and members Trina Cook and Phil Mielke. You can find out more about the conference at http://www.crimemapping2011.com/

CAU Development Center: The Development Center, unveiled several months ago, is now one of the most popular pieces of the IACA website. Here you can find out about setting up a new unit, resources for analysts and lots of frequently asked questions with answers. Check it out at http://www.iaca.net/DevCenter.asp

The IACA 2011 Annual Training Conference: Chair Mary Craige and her committee are already hard at work on the 2011 Conference in Hyannis, Massachusetts (Cape Cod). They've even made a Facebook page to join (IACA MACA 2011 Conference). Find out more about the conference at http://www.iaca.net/Conference2011.asp

The new Standards, Methods and Technology Commission: Led by Jason Elder, Cinncinnatti PD, and with the support of Derek Paulsen, Chris Delaney and Matt Harris, this newly formed group has completed their Charter and is anxious to begin their work in developing and publishing "white papers" which will further define our profession. For more information, email Jason at Jason.Elder@cincinnati-oh.gov.

We are also in the beginning stages of developing a Mentoring Program for analysts and starting our IACA Annual Training Conference 2012 city / hotel search. More to come on both topics!

We hope all is well with you. Please do not hesistate to contact any board member with questions, concerns and suggestions.

Susan

Susan C. Smith, BS (hons.), MBA

Certified Law Enforcement Analyst (CLEA)

Crime Analyst, Shawnee Police (www.cityofshawnee.org)

Vice President of Administration, IACA (www.iaca.net)

Past President, MARCAN (www.marcan.org)

Office (913) 742-6815

Cell (913) 302-4455

ssmith@ci.shawnee.ks.us

The Crime Analysis Unit Development Center

If you've been poking around the IACA web site lately, you may have noticed a new feature: the Crime Analysis Unit Development Center (CAUDC).


The CAUDC represents a year's worth of work by three dedicated IACA members--Kirkland, Washington crime analyst Kristina Shull; Redmond, Washington crime analyst Craig Werre; and IACA Technology Director Jim Mallard--plus the many of you who contributed examples, products, and profiles. This comprehensive resource is meant for crime analysis units at all stages of development, from those agencies wondering "what is crime analysis?" to experienced analysts looking for training, literature, or a new job. Its features answer many of the common questions that agencies ask when developing a crime analysis program, including:

• How many analysts does my department need?
• What should the job posting include?
• Where should we advertise the position?
• What questions should we ask candidates during the interviews?
• What types of products should our analysts issue?
• How do we measure analytical performance?

Among the most enjoyable features of the CAUDC are the profiles located under the "Meet an Analyst!" link. These profiles offer practical insights into the day-to-day realities of crime analysis and serve as an invaluable resource for police administrators, students, and anyone unfamiliar with a crime analyst's job.



We unveiled the CAUDC at the IACP conference in October, but we have been making incremental updates and improvements since then. We believe it is now ready for widespread dissemination and use. Do you know an agency looking to develop a crime analysis capability? Point them to the CAUDC! Are you looking to improve your own skills and processes? Check out the resources for ideas and guidelines.

Most important, please give us your feedback on the CAUDC. We want to know what is and is not useful--and what your ideas are for improving this resource. You can use the IACA contact form or send an e-mail to caudc@iaca.net.

I am confident that the CAUDC represents a major step forward for the IACA and the crime analysis profession, and I hope you'll join me in thanking Kristina, Craig, and Jim for the extraordinary effort they made in assembling these resources and designing the site.

Sincerely,

Christopher W. Bruce
President
International Association of Crime Analysts

IACA at IACP

This week, the IACA is exhibiting at the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) conference in Orlando, Florida. It is our fourth year at IACP and by far the most productive. Hundreds of police chiefs have visited our booth and received material they need to start or augment their crime analysis capabilities. Many of your chiefs have stopped by to compliment your work and ensure that you are members of the association. Delegations from several nations have expressed interest in IACA training and group memberships (there are huge delegations from Nigeria, Brazil, the Bahamas, and several other countries). Several universities and nonprofit associations have talked to us about mutually beneficial partnerships. Now, in the last hours, our literature and promotional materials have dwindled dangerously (which, of course, is mostly a good thing).

We can credit the success of this year's exhibit to a number of factors:

1. This year, we unveiled a new exhibit, featuring panels depicting the crime analysis process in action, an electronic display, and games. IACA Vice President Susan Smith and IACA Secretary Dawn Clausius worked hard to select a modular, professional exhibit that fit within our limited budget.

2. We have twice the amount of exhibit space this year as normal--and a great location! On a corner near the entrance, with enough room for a golf mat, a plinko board, and a round table, we have created an open an inviting place for attendees to stop and chat.

3. This year, IACA Technology Director Jim Mallard and Lincoln, Nebraska Police Chief Tom Casady (who is helping to staff our exhibit) provided a Chief Executive Track workshop on predictive policing, emphasizing the role of good crime analysis. This presentation has already received a fantastic write-up on the PoliceOne blog.

4. We are regaling chiefs and other executives with our Crime Analysis Unit Development Center, a new section of our web site that, with text and samples, walks police agencies through the process of implementing, staffing, using, and advancing crime analysis. IACA members Kristina Shull (Kirkland, Washington) and Craig Werre (Redmond, Washington) have assembled this material over the last year, and we expect that it will be the most heavily-trafficked section of the new site (rolling out this week).

5. IACA member Debra Piehl is with us, representing both the IACA and the Data-Driven Approaches to Crime and Traffic Safety (DDACTS) program, in which the IACA is a national partner. DDACTS is directly promoting the use of crime analysis in police agencies and increasing the need for new analysts.

5. We have a well-staffed exhibit this year, with at least four IACA members at any time. These staff members--Susan, Dawn, Jim, Deb, Tom, Vice President Ericka Jackson, and Treasurer Tamara Otley--have been simply excellent, drawing in visitors with our games and give-aways, engaging them in conversations about analysis, demonstrating the new web resources, and sending them away with our literature.

I thank all of the IACA members listed above who have been instrumental in making this year's exhibit a success, particularly Susan for organizing all of the logistics for our appearance

Exhibiting at the IACP conference is expensive for the association, but we believe that the benefits are worth the cost. These include increased membership, increased conference and training attendance (and not just for us; we've been directing many visitors to regional associations), increased visibility for the IACA (which translates into inclusion on national and international projects and programs), and--indirectly but still surely--increased status for the profession, which ultimately translates to better pay and working conditions for analysts, and better use of the work that they do.

Christopher W. Bruce
President
International Association of Crime Analysts

The IACA's Most Successful Conference

Many of us are returning from what appears, by most measures, to be the most successful conference in IACA history. To recap some highlights:

• The conference was a joint effort between the IACA and the Center for Problem-Oriented Policing. This brought the IACA to the attention of numerous police executives, government officials, and researchers who were unaware or only vaguely aware of us before. We have received 20 new membership applications in the past week.
• The conference featured a record-breaking 811 registrants. Our previous record was 343, set in 2007. You might argue that the 2010 figure is a bit artificial, considering the POP partnership, but even without the POP attendees, we beat the previous record with around 355.
• Preliminary evaluations from both POP and IACA attendees have been very positive as to the quality of the training and the wisdom of the partnership. The POP Center is already talking to us about future joint conferences.
• Although POP is the larger organization, we were able to hold this joint conference without sacrificing the various features that make IACA conferences memorable, including our reception (complete with karaoke), networking events, computer lab training, exhibitors, awards, and prizes.
• The final financial accounting has not been completed, but a preliminary review suggests it will be our most financially successful conference, too.

We are still tabulating reviews, but if you attended the conference, I would welcome your written feedback as to how it went, particularly if you have any critical comments about the IACA/POP partnership. Don’t let me assume that everything was just peachy if you had concerns or problems that I did not see.

Dave McClocklin's staggering "Best Analytical Chart" winner.

While I’m writing, let me take a moment to congratulate Membership Award winner Tess Sherman, Board Award winner Carolyn Cassidy, President’s Award winner Debra Piehl, and the first-place winners of this year’s bulletin contest: Michael Winslow, David McClocklin, Scott Peacock, Dana Muskova, and the Onondaga Crime Analysis Center in Syracuse, NY. Their contributions were truly staggering. I would also congratulate the Colorado Springs Police Department for winning this year’s Goldstein Award for their homeless outreach initiative.

The IACA Board presents the Lifetime Achievement Award to Dallas Police Lt. Mark Stallo, past IACA president

  

We owe the success of this conference primarily to its chair, Carolyn Cassidy, and her excellent committee: Stephanie Beach, Mary Craige, Julie Garriety, Mary Kirkwood, and Allison Mayer, who had to not only run a much larger, more elaborate IACA conference than normal, but also had to effectively work with two other organizations. Fortunately, the representatives from those organizations, Nancy Leach of the POP Center and the men and women of the Arlington Police Department, were unparalleled in their professionalism. The APD provided constant staffing during the conference and I heard numerous remarks as to their courtesy and helpfulness. I would also thank my counterpart at the POP Center, director Michael Scott, keynotes Darrel Stephens and Rana Sampson, our various sponsors, all of the excellent presenters this year, and of course the IACA Board.

I know you’ll have more follow-ups concerning presentations, evaluations, and other details from Carolyn. From now, I’ll just say that this last year has brought the IACA to a higher level of complexity, but also a higher level of value. The 2010 conference established a tough new standard for future conferences to follow, but I am confident that our 2011 conference (as we join with the Massachusetts Association of Crime Analysts on Cape Cod from September 19-23, 2011, chaired by Mary Craige) will be even more successful.

Time to shake off the P.C.D.* and start planning for next year!

Best wishes,

Christopher W. Bruce

President

International Association of Crime Analysts

*Post-Conference Depression. You thought you were the only one?