Crime and Community Mapping Certificate

Mapping technology allows police departments to visually track and identify types of individuals. This map shows addresses of known gang members.

This 12 credit certificate in crime and community mapping develops data mapping and analytic skills which are highly marketable in the criminal justice and social service professions. You will not only learn the principles of criminal justice and the factors associated with criminal behavior, but will also collect geographical data and evaluate it from the perspective of police and criminal justice agencies.Even better – you will work with real police department data and provide results that assist local law enforcement agencies.

What is crime mapping?

Crime mapping is a form of crime analysis which allow you to find geographic trends on anything, from the number of home burglaries in a certain radius to the location of criminally charged persons within 20 miles of an elementary school. If there is an increase of armed robberies in a town, you will know how to map the location of the robberies and analyze the results to find patterns and aid prevention efforts.

Crime mapping is used for incident analysis, gang hazards, resource allocation, offender tracking, and parole and probation monitoring. Social service agencies and police departments need to work smarter, not harder, and these mapping skills are essential to accomplishing this.

Why earn a crime mapping certificate?

Crime mapping is a highly valued skill. Cedar Crest’s criminal justice degree is unique in that it is a behavior-based program where you learn and understand what influences criminal behavior, and, therefore, how to aid in the prevention of criminal acts. Over the past 20 years, police and criminal justice agencies have increasingly devoted attention to crime prevention and have developed mapping technology which allows them to evaluate patterns of behavior in select areas.

For those pursuing degrees in social service disciplines, the ability to organize and analyze geographic data has become a sought after and essential skill. Cedar Crest students learn using ESRI, one of the top crime mapping software products used by social service agencies. Whether your interest lies in criminal justice, social work or psychology, crime mapping can increase your marketability and provide greater insight into crime prevention.

Is this certificate for you?

The crime mapping certificate is designed to easily fit within the schedule of any student interested in a social service discipline. Day and evening classes are offered in either accelerated or traditional formats. The certificate provides the highest quality education at a pace that works for your schedule. Students who come to Cedar Crest solely for the crime mapping certificate may wish to consider continuing on to complete their bachelor’s degree. Credits from the certificate will count toward your degree.

Program Highlights

• ACCELERATED EVENING COURSES make it possible to complete the certificate in two semesters.
• LEADING-EDGE, industry standard mapping software for students to develop their skills, using real police department data to provide actual results through concepts learned in class.
• CRIMINAL JUSTICE INSTITUTE provides crime mapping solutions to police departments and social service agencies while giving students real world data and scenarios.
• HIGHLY QUALIFIED PROFESSORS  with expertise in the criminal justice field, as well as, mapping software analysis.
• 1 or 2 YEAR PROGRAM options allow you to choose between traditional or accelerated classes.