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  • Bennell et al ViCLAS Final Nov 21

    Rights statement: The final, definitive version of this article has been published in the Journal, Criminal Justice and Behavior, 39 (5), 2012, © SAGE Publications Ltd, 2012 by SAGE Publications Ltd at the Criminal Justice and Behavior page: http://cjb.sagepub.com/ on SAGE Journals Online: http://online.sagepub.com/

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Computerized crime linkage systems: A critical review and research agenda

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

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  • Craig Bennell
  • Brent Snook
  • Sarah MacDonald
  • John House
  • Paul Taylor
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<mark>Journal publication date</mark>2012
<mark>Journal</mark>Criminal Justice and Behavior
Issue number5
Volume39
Number of pages14
Pages (from-to)620-634
Publication StatusPublished
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

Computerized crime linkage systems are meant to assist the police in determining whether crimes have been committed by the same offender. In this article, the authors assess these systems critically and identify four assumptions that affect the effectiveness of these systems. These assumptions are that (a) data in the systems can be coded reliably, (b) data in the systems are accurate, (c) violent serial offenders exhibit consistent but distinctive patterns of behavior, and (d) analysts have the ability to use the data in the systems to link crimes accurately. The authors argue that there is no compelling empirical support for any of the four assumptions, and they outline a research agenda for testing each assumption. Until evidence supporting these assumptions becomes available, the value of linkage systems will remain open to debate.

Bibliographic note

The final, definitive version of this article has been published in the Journal, Criminal Justice and Behavior, 39 (5), 2012, © SAGE Publications Ltd, 2012 by SAGE Publications Ltd at the Criminal Justice and Behavior page: http://cjb.sagepub.com/ on SAGE Journals Online: http://online.sagepub.com/