CBS News Chicago: Left in the dark: Tens of thousands of moments were never captured on Chicago Police body cameras. Lax oversight allows it to happen

Marcus Smith arrived at the Pulaski Orange Line Station on Chicago’s Southwest Side at about noon. It was Thanksgiving Day, 2017, and his mother was waiting for him in a parked car beneath the tracks.
As the roar of the departing train echoed off the station’s worn concrete walls, he spotted his mom’s red Honda sedan.

“I didn’t feel unsafe when I pulled up,” said Marcus’ mom, Jacquelyn Smith. “I pulled up because I said, ‘What better place to be parked than next to a cop car?’”

An officer in that police car spotted Marcus, too.

It happened fast. Marcus saw a gun in the officer’s hand. He instinctively moved to get out of the way, assuming the officer had seen something behind him.

“I’m thinking, okay, I just got bad luck here, I’m literally walking into the middle of the crossfire,” Marcus said.

He wasn’t. Marcus quickly realized the officer, Eric Puszkiewicz, was pointing the gun at him. Jacquelyn, helpless as she watched from the driver’s seat, said she knew Puszkiewicz was a trigger pull away from killing her son.

“I knew any kind of movement, it was over,” Jacquelyn said…

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Measuring the Temporal Stability of Near-Repeat Crime Patterns: A Longitudinal Analysis

David N. Hatten & Eric L. Piza (2020)

Crime & Delinquency

Open Access Post Print
Published Article

Study Abstract

This study investigates the temporal stability of identified near-repeat patterns using robbery crimes data in Newark, NJ. With the noteworthy exception of Hoppe & Gerell (2019) scholars have yet to explore the temporal stability of identified spatiotemporal crime clusters. Furthermore, researchers have yet to measure the near-repeat phenomenon longitudinally. To fill this gap, the current study employs a longitudinal design to measure variation in effect size and significance of identified near-repeat crime patterns across 13 “rolling” one-year time periods within a two-year study period (2015-2016). Temporal instability was found within two out of six spatiotemporal crime clusters. Results are reported in the form of formalized descriptive statistics and visualizations of temporal trends.

The Criminogenic Effect of Marijuana Dispensaries in Denver, Colorado: A Microsynthetic Control Quasi-Experiment and Cost-Benefit Analysis

Connealy, N., Piza, E. and Hatten, D. (2020)

Justice Evaluation Journal, 3(1): 69-93

Published Article (Open Access)

Study Abstract

The study analyzed the criminogenic effect of legalizing recreational marijuana dispensaries in Denver. Street segments with recreational dispensaries experienced no changes in violent, disorder and drug crime but did experience an 18% increase in property crime, and street segments adjacent to recreational dispensaries experienced some notable (but non-significant) drug and disorder crime increases. Medical dispensaries demonstrated no significant crime changes. A cost-benefit analysis found the associated crime costs were largely offset by sales revenue. Monetary benefits were much less pronounced, and barely cost effective, when only considering tax revenue.

The Sensitivity of Repeat and Near Repeat Analysis to Geocoding Algorithms

Haberman, C., Hatten, D., Carter, J. and Piza, E. (2021)

Journal of Criminal Justice, 73: 1-12

Open Access Post Print
Published Article

Study Abstract

Purpose: To determine if repeat and near repeat analysis is sensitive to the geocoding algorithm used for the underlying crime incident data.

Methods: The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department provided 2016 crime incident data for five crime types: (1) shootings, (2) robberies, (3) residential burglaries, (4) theft of automobiles, and (5) theft from automobiles. The incident data were geocoded using a dual ranges algorithm and a composite algorithm. First, descriptive analysis of the distances between the two point patterns were conducted. Second, repeat and near repeat analysis was performed. Third, the resulting repeat and near repeat patterns were compared across geocoding algorithms.

Results: The underlying point patterns and repeat and near repeat analyses were similar across geocoding algorithms.

Conclusions: While detailing geocoding processes increases transparency and future researchers can conduct sensitivity results to ensure their findings are robust, dual ranges geocoding algorithms are likely adequate for repeat and near repeat analysis.