Course

Crime and Intelligence Analysis

Faculty
Humanities & Social Sciences
Department
Criminology
Course code
CRIM 3390
Credits
3.00
Semester length
15
Max class size
25
Method(s) of instruction
Lecture
Lab
Typically offered
To be determined

Overview

Course description
This course introduces students to the types of crime and intelligence analysis, and the roles played by analysts themselves. Students will also learn the fundamentals of crime analysis, core competencies, models of intelligence and logic; as well as, preparing and presenting intelligence end-products. Students are introduced to data-mining and visual investigative systems, as well as crime analysis and mapping software for criminal justice purposes.
Course content
  1. The role of the crime and intelligence analyst in operational policing and public safety.
  2. Transforming raw data into actionable intelligence end-product for criminal justice purposes.
  3. Role of the crime analyst in addressing the following areas:
    • preventing crime at problem places;
    • controlling high-activity offenders;
    • protecting repeat victims;
    • facilitating crime reduction strategies and models; and
    • addressing displacement.
  4.  Role of the criminal intelligence analyst in addressing the following areas:
    • applying models in intelligence analysis;
    • leveraging information sharing systems
    • ensuring data integrity and analyzing evidence;
    • mining data and recognizing criminal patterns; and
    • displaying quantitative information.
Learning activities

The course will employ a variety of instructional methods to accomplish its objectives, including some of the following: lectures, computer labs as well as practical exercises, and may include guest speakers, audio-visual presentations, and projects/presentations by students.

Means of assessment

Evaluation will be carried out in accordance with Douglas College policy. Evaluation will be based on the course objectives. The instructor will provide a written course outline with specific evaluation criteria at the beginning of the semester.

Mid-term  30%
Mini-Labs (4)  20%
Final Project  40%
Final Quiz  10%
Total 100%
Learning outcomes

At the conclusion of the course the successful student will be able to:

  1. Describe the history of crime and intelligence analysis and its function
  2. Explain the difference between crime analysis, criminal intelligence analysis, and competitive analysis
  3. Explain and apply the different techniques utilized in strategic analysis, administrative analysis and tactical analysis
  4. Explain the relationship between crime analysis and intelligence analysis in the public safety domain
  5. Identify the role of analysis in addressing local, national, and trans-national crime
  6. Apply the intelligence cycle to the work of crime and intelligence analysis
  7. Explain the relevance and application of information systems to crime and intelligence analysis
  8. Articulate the relevance of a variety of policing models (e.g. traditional, community-based, intelligence-led, and problem-oriented)
  9. Comprehend current issues associated with crime and intelligence analysis (e.g. resistance to change and changing paradigms)
  10. Utilize computer software for statistical and geographic analysis of crime patterns
  11. Analyze and interpret crime patterns by synthesizing and applying all theoretical and practical knowledge gained in the course

 

Textbook materials

Texts and materials will be updated periodically as needed. An example of materials used are: 

Boba, Rachel. Crime Analysis with Crime Mapping. Newbury Park, CA: Sage Publications, Inc. 2012, (3rd Ed).

Westphal, Christopher. Data Mining for Intelligence, Fraud & Criminal Detection: Advanced Analytics & Information Sharing Technologies. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press (Taylor Francis Group), 2009.

Heuer, Richard J. Psychology of Intelligence Analysis. New York, NY: Novinka Books, 2006.

 

Requisites

Prerequisites

Minimum 30 credits, including CRIM 1100 and CRIM 1150

Corequisites

Courses listed here must be completed either prior to or simultaneously with this course:

  • No corequisite courses

Equivalencies

Courses listed here are equivalent to this course and cannot be taken for further credit:

  • No equivalency courses

Course Guidelines

Course Guidelines for previous years are viewable by selecting the version desired. If you took this course and do not see a listing for the starting semester / year of the course, consider the previous version as the applicable version.

(Current)

Course Transfers

These are for current course guidelines only. For a full list of archived courses please see https://www.bctransferguide.ca

Institution Transfer details for CRIM 3390
Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) KPU CRIM 3XXX (3)
Langara College (LANG) LANG CRIM 2XXX (3)
Simon Fraser University (SFU) SFU CRIM 2XX (3)
Thompson Rivers University (TRU) TRU CRIM 3XXX (3)
Trinity Western University (TWU) TWU HUMA 3XX (3)
University of British Columbia - Okanagan (UBCO) UBCO SOCI_O 2nd (3)
University of British Columbia - Vancouver (UBCV) No credit
University of Victoria (UVIC) UVIC SOCI 3XX (1.5)

Course Offerings

Winter 2025