Civilian crime analysts might have full access to extensive layering options. Patrol officers might have access to less extensive list of layers, while still having the ability to create customized maps to meet their needs. At the most basic level, GIS is nothing new to police organizations. Agencies have used pin maps for decades as a means to visually explore crime in their jurisdiction. GIS offers users with the opportunity to convert basic pin maps into a powerful tool for planning and management.
Users can instantly create countless customized maps to meet their unique needs.
Departments establishing GIS need to make sure that their base map is accurate and is updated on a regular basis. Agencies might check with other city or county government departments to find out if a suitable base map is available. Geocoding programs must be able to correctly interpret different ways of expressing the same location. GIS might assign a location geocode based on where a crime is reported, as opposed to where it occurred. Any patrol beat or neighborhood where there is a hospital or a police facility could appear to be a hot spot, even though the offenses actually occurred elsewhere.