SpotCrime - The Public's Crime Map

Media coverage of gun violence, can crime be predicted with AI and machine learning, lack of facial recognition laws, SpotCrime's FOIA testimony, open data to transform and engage communities, and more... POLICE CONDUCT Beyond crime rates and community surveys: a new approach to police accountability and performance measurement  (Crime Science Journal) IRS Claims to Have Identified “Dozens” of New Crypto Criminals  (Inside Bitcoins) Detailed look into Winston-Salem Police Department’s need for gunfire detection system  (MyFox8) Can We Trust the FBI's Crime Estimation Procedures?  (Academia.edu) Lessons to learn from a school resource officer  (PressHerald) Portland police chief walks out of meeting as school board asks for more time on body camera issue  (PressHerald) CRIME RATE Bias, Sensationalism Distort Media Coverage of Gun Violence, Conference Told  (TheCrimeReport) Chicago gun violence, drug cartel mayhem fueled by straw purcha...

Drop in crime across US, MI stopping property seizures, cyber crime attacks children, gun control background checks, dirty data in AIs, and more... POLICE CONDUCT 'Significant' drop in crime credited to Sheriff, deputies  (KVIA) 5 Chicago Police Officers Died By Suicide Since July. Is The Department Doing Enough?  (NPR) Bodycam video shows moments suspect, deported 3 times, shoots at Napa deputy  (KRCR) Downtown Memphis neighborhood wants police precinct, SkyCop cameras to reduce crime  (FOX13) Michigan May Stop Police From Seizing Property Without Getting a Conviction First  (Reason.com) CRIME RATE Oklahoma Governor Signs 'Constitutional Carry' Bill, Allowing Residents to Openly Carry Guns Without a Background Check  (TIME) see also:  U.S. House approves expanded background checks for gun sales  (Reuters) For Students in Baltimore, Getting to School Can Be a Scary Ride Regulatory Intelligence: Criminals Mix & Match Children'...

POLICE CONDUCT Palantir has secretly been using New Orleans to test its predictive policing technology  (The Verge) See also:  The Future of Policing Is Being Hashed Out in Secret  (Bloomberg) and also:  Artificial intelligence could identify gang crimes—and ignite an ethical firestorm  (ScienceMag) Homebuying incentive could help San Diego with police officer shortage  (San Diego Tribune) 2017 saw highest number of officer-involved shootings in more than two decades  (The Spokesman Review) CRIME RATE Philly Study: Cleaning Vacant Land Can Significantly Reduce Crime  (PhillyMag.com) When the Saints play, do fewer people in New Orleans get shot?  (NOLA.com) Global Cost of Cyber-Crime Reached a New High of $600 Billion in 2017  (eWeek) Did mass shootings increase 200 percent since assault weapons ban expired?  (Politifact) See also:  Four Or Five Mass Shootings A Year-Not One A Day  (CrimeInAmerica.net) Port...

Crime is up...or down, the efficiency of AI and data in policing, the problem with stolen guns, transparency an antidote to fake news, plea bargains and bail a problem with the justice system, and more... POLICE CONDUCT Data shows Utah is ‘headed in the right direction’ with criminal justice reforms, report says (Salt Lake Tribune) St. Louis Police Continue to Cite Blacks for Marijuana Possession at a High Rate (Riverfronttimes.com) See also: Florida Police Issue Hundreds of Bad Pedestrian Tickets Every Year Because They Don’t Seem to Know the Law (ProPublica) Local law enforcement authorities support DACA in federal court (Houston Chronicle) In Alabama, an official’s use of public funds and behavior toward critics have raised questions about the broad powers of American sheriffs. (NYTimes) CRIME RATE Year-End Analysis: Crime and Murder Down in 2017 (BrennanCenter.org) See also: U.S. Crime Rate is Stable, Victimization Survey Says (TheCrimeReport.org) and also: ...

WHAT IS AI AND MACHINE LEARNING? Artificial intelligence and machine learning are hot topic terms that are sometimes used interchangeably. Artificial intelligence (AI) is the theory and development of computer systems able to perform tasks that normally require human intelligence. Machine learning is the field of computer science and application of AI that gives computers the ability to learn without being explicitly programmed through access to data.  Google’s DeepMind lab project ‘AlphaZero’ recently learned chess in four hours. It’s being labeled a ‘superhuman performance’ because not only did AlphaZero learn chess, it absorbed all data on the entire history of chess and then figured out how to beat anyone or anything in the game in one-sixth of a day. This type of technological advancement not only changes the way chess will be played, but it creates endless possibilities for technology that can be applied to other aspects of everyday human life. THE BIG DA...