June 2015 Update to the SpotCrime Crime Data Transparency Ranking
We’ve updated the SpotCrime Crime Data Transparency Ranking that was featured on GovTech early April 2015.
Let’s start with the good:
Dallas, TX - We stand corrected!
When the GovTech article was published, we had Dallas at a 1 ranking because their system went down and there was no data available for a while. However, by the time the GovTech article was published their system was up and running again, but we failed to update their ranking. After they reached out to express concern for their ranking we checked into things and rightfully moved them back to a 2!
Albuquerque, NM - Moved from a 1 to a 2!
ABQ is now OPEN for business! They began publishing an easy to digest feed. Our residents in Albuquerque have been pretty happy about the timely updates we’ve been able to make to their SpotCrime alerts.
Pittsburgh, PA - Moved from a 1 to a 2!
Pittsburgh began posting data in a machine readable format! Woohoo!
Jacksonville, FL - Moved from a 1 to a 2
Jacksonville turned their CAD data feed back on after turning it off for a couple of months. So we happily moved them back up to a 2.
Ok now for the cringe worthy cities:
Durham, NC - Moved from a 2 to a 0
Durham turned off their open access point to crime data in preference of a proprietary vendor. Durham even admits that the new vendor is not open. They have promised to add Durham data to an open data portal. But, we haven’t seen anything yet. Until access is opened back up, they’re staying at a 0. Check out the YouTube video below where they admit the new vendor is not open. Talk about cringe worthy
Minneapolis, MN - Moved from a 1 to a 2 to a 0
Minneapolis is an enigma to us. They were a 1, but then started publishing data to the Minneapolis Open Data Portal so we moved them to a 2. Unfortunately, shortly after the data was published, it stopped getting updated, so we moved them to a 1. Then, the data completely disappeared from the data portal and now there is no way to get Minneapolis crime data. And they are still posting data to a proprietary crime mapping vendor site. We’ve moved them to a 0 for this.
Las Vegas, NV - Moved from a 2 to a 0
Las Vegas is choosing who to share and who to not share their data feed with. They don’t want to see to open the feed all of the way up for civic groups like Code for America Las Vegas. So we’ve moved them to a 0. Choosing who can and can not have access to data is not being open. And it’s not nice.
Cities we added to the list - Honolulu, HI and St Paul, MN.
Honolulu, HI - 2
We realized there was no representation from the Aloha state, so we’ve added Honolulu to the list. They are at a 2 because of their open data feed!
St Paul, MN - 0
We added St Paul because they’re Minneapolis’ ‘Twin’ city. Unfortunately, St Paul starts at a 0. They were posting data publicly, but they haven’t updated information since April due to technical problems. We’ve reached out to the department to offer any programming help, they haven't taken us up on the offer yet. They do not have a timeline as to when the data will be back again.
Are there any cities you think should get a different ranking? Any cities you’d like us to rank? Let us know!
LIVE LIST
Read more about the ranking system used here.
Let’s start with the good:
Dallas, TX - We stand corrected!
When the GovTech article was published, we had Dallas at a 1 ranking because their system went down and there was no data available for a while. However, by the time the GovTech article was published their system was up and running again, but we failed to update their ranking. After they reached out to express concern for their ranking we checked into things and rightfully moved them back to a 2!
Albuquerque, NM - Moved from a 1 to a 2!
ABQ is now OPEN for business! They began publishing an easy to digest feed. Our residents in Albuquerque have been pretty happy about the timely updates we’ve been able to make to their SpotCrime alerts.
Pittsburgh, PA - Moved from a 1 to a 2!
Pittsburgh began posting data in a machine readable format! Woohoo!
Jacksonville, FL - Moved from a 1 to a 2
Jacksonville turned their CAD data feed back on after turning it off for a couple of months. So we happily moved them back up to a 2.
Ok now for the cringe worthy cities:
Durham, NC - Moved from a 2 to a 0
Durham turned off their open access point to crime data in preference of a proprietary vendor. Durham even admits that the new vendor is not open. They have promised to add Durham data to an open data portal. But, we haven’t seen anything yet. Until access is opened back up, they’re staying at a 0. Check out the YouTube video below where they admit the new vendor is not open. Talk about cringe worthy
Minneapolis, MN - Moved from a 1 to a 2 to a 0
Minneapolis is an enigma to us. They were a 1, but then started publishing data to the Minneapolis Open Data Portal so we moved them to a 2. Unfortunately, shortly after the data was published, it stopped getting updated, so we moved them to a 1. Then, the data completely disappeared from the data portal and now there is no way to get Minneapolis crime data. And they are still posting data to a proprietary crime mapping vendor site. We’ve moved them to a 0 for this.
Las Vegas, NV - Moved from a 2 to a 0
Las Vegas is choosing who to share and who to not share their data feed with. They don’t want to see to open the feed all of the way up for civic groups like Code for America Las Vegas. So we’ve moved them to a 0. Choosing who can and can not have access to data is not being open. And it’s not nice.
Cities we added to the list - Honolulu, HI and St Paul, MN.
Honolulu, HI - 2
We realized there was no representation from the Aloha state, so we’ve added Honolulu to the list. They are at a 2 because of their open data feed!
St Paul, MN - 0
We added St Paul because they’re Minneapolis’ ‘Twin’ city. Unfortunately, St Paul starts at a 0. They were posting data publicly, but they haven’t updated information since April due to technical problems. We’ve reached out to the department to offer any programming help, they haven't taken us up on the offer yet. They do not have a timeline as to when the data will be back again.
Are there any cities you think should get a different ranking? Any cities you’d like us to rank? Let us know!
LIVE LIST
Read more about the ranking system used here.
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