Geography of Crime

In this episode of The Geography of Crime by CAP Index , Dr. Grant Drawve is joined by Dr. Alyssa Chamberlain (Arizona State University) and Dr. Lindsay Boggess (University of South Florida) to explore how neighborhoods shape crime patterns. The conversation dives into the lasting impact of historical policies like redlining, the role of community structure in driving crime risk, and why short-ter...

In this episode of the Geography of Crime podcast, host Grant Drawve spoke with Dr. Tim Hart, Associate Professor of Criminology and Criminal Justice at the University of Tampa. Rather than focusing on any single topic, the conversation highlighted how closely connected issues around GIS, crime data, methodology, and emerging tools like AI have become. Dr. Hart emphasized the importance of underst...

Dr. Alejandro Gimenez-Santana joins Geography of Crime to discuss his work leading the Newark Public Safety Collaborative, a groundbreaking initiative that unites law enforcement, community groups, and local government to co-produce public safety solutions. He shares how place-based, data-driven strategies—like improved lighting and targeted interventions at high-crime areas—have helped reduce vio...

How do thousands of messy crime reports get transformed into clear insights that help communities and businesses make smarter, safer decisions? In this episode of the Geography of Crime podcast, host Dr. Grant Drawve talks with Emily Blackburn , CAP Index’s Director of Geospatial Crime Solutions. Emily shares her career journey from investigating Medicaid fraud to analyzing crime patterns for the...

In a lively discussion with Dr. Eric Piza from Northeastern University and Dr. Grant Drawve, VP of Geospatial Crime Solutions at CAP Index, the two experts explored the power of geospatial crime data in helping law enforcement agencies make better decisions and improve public safety. A key takeaway from the conversation was the critical role of crime analysts in transforming data into actionable i...

Part 3 of Grant and Noah's discussion focuses on creating and improving a crime analysis internship program that bridges academic learning with practical experience. Key points include: Internship Structure & Goals – The program aims to provide students with hands-on crime analysis experience through internships with local agencies, ultimately helping them build strong resumes and secure...

Part 2 of Grant's interview with Noah Fritz introduces several key ideas related to the challenges and advancements in crime analysis, particularly for smaller law enforcement agencies. Here are the main points: Challenges in Small and Rural Agencies – Many small and rural law enforcement agencies operate in an “echo chamber,” resisting change and relying on outdated methods. Leadership often...

Here’s a quick overview of the key topics discussed in Part 1 of Grant's conversation with Dr. Noah Fritz:  Excel in Crime Analysis – Despite its limitations, Excel remains valuable for crime analysis due to its pivot tables, visualization capabilities, and widespread familiarity. Intelligence-Led Policing (ILP) – ILP focuses on targeting the "Chronic 6%" (6% of offenders responsibl...

Why does crime happen in some places more than others? What patterns shape the risks we face?  In The Geography of Crime , we dig into the data, trends, and real-world factors that define crime risk across the country. In this short introductory episode, host Dr. Grant Drawve—Vice President of Geospatial Crime Solutions at CAP Index—shares what you can expect from the podcast.  With expert insight...