You’ve probably heard the phrase children are our future more times than you can count. Even if you don’t have children of your own, it’s important to consider our collective youth and help set them up for a bright future. Without preparing the next generation to be productive members of society, we can look ahead to a future with increased crime, homelessness, and unemployment. Intervention before youths commit crimes is a great way to reduce prison populations and help keep people out of the cycle of poverty. But how can we accomplish that? Could big data help? Let’s take a look at its current role in crime prevention, and how it relates to juvenile crimes.
The Rise of Predictive Policing
Predictive analytics have been used to great effect by large companies to reduce inefficiencies and bring in more revenue. The number of potential applications for predictive analytics has been growing, however, and has even begun to spread to police departments. In the past, crime prevention has been based largely on cursory study of crime reports, and seasoned officers’ own knowledge of their area to help prevent crime before it starts. Today, algorithms are making that job easier and more effective than even the most veteran cop’s knowledge. Using everything from crime records to Facebook pages, officers can allocate resources more effectively to prevent crime and keep incarceration rates down. Crime maps can show where crimes are most likely to happen, and can even collate data to show the types of crimes. This can be a useful tool, whether it’s used to prevent violent crime or keep juveniles from offending.
Predictive Analytics’ Role in Reducing Juvenile Offenses
When kids end up in a juvenile detention center, it often begins a revolving door that keeps moving throughout life. As of 2015, about 70,000 youths were living in detention centers. While this number represents a 42% decline since 1997, the rate is still much higher (more than five times higher) than that of other developed countries. Incarceration makes it less likely that youths will graduate from high school, will be more likely to commit crimes in the future, and may live below the poverty line. By predicting crime patterns and preventing offenses before they happen, more youths can be kept out of detention, reducing their risk and allowing intervention before they get caught in the cycle of incarceration. Increased social work, youth programs, training and mentoring can then step in and keep some youths on track for a productive future, rather than one in a jail cell.
Concerns About Big Data in Crime Prevention
Of course, although predictive analytics could have a positive impact on incarceration rates for juveniles, there is some worry about how the data will be collected and used. As with many discussions over big data use, privacy is a sticking point for those who are unsure about predictive analytics in crimes. Others are deeply concerned with the potential for increased racial profiling, which has already caused major unrest and inequalities in the United States. Some assert that using predictive analytics in crime prevention is unfair, while others defend the practice ”as long as it’s done correctly. In reality, law enforcement has been using data to predict crimes for decades ”it’s just that now, big data is able to use more sources of data and process it more efficiently.
Big Data: The Potential for Changing Lives
Whether or not you agree with the use of big data in crime prevention, the recent success of some programs in reducing crime rates indicate it could be a tool for keeping youths out of detention centers. In order for that to work, however, social programs need to match these preventative measures. It’s not enough to keep crime from happening; communities need to band together and help lift families out of the cycle of crime. Everyone deserves a chance at a secure and productive life, and if we can use tools like big data to accomplish that, we can look forward to a better future for all.
