The Impact of Street Geocoding on Crime Hot Spot Prediction

Abstract

Geocoding is used in criminology in a variety of settings. Law enforcement agencies use geocoding to help determine hot spot crime locations within their jurisdiction. Hot spot locations are those where crimes are found to occur more frequently than expected in a given land area (Sherman et al., 1989). Geocoding may also be utilized by parole boards to track the travel patterns of parolees. Another application of geocoding in the criminal justice system is to determine the residency restriction zones for sex offenders in relation to schools and daycare facilities (Zandbergen and Hart, 2009).