Do real-time crime centers improve case clearance? An examination of Chicago's strategic decision support centers

Abstract

PurposeReal-Time Crime Centers (RTCCs) integrate a variety of technologies and information with the goal of helping police to more efficiently identify and respond to crime. A growing number of law enforcement agencies have implemented RTCCs in recent years, but few studies have evaluated their impact on crime control or investigative outcomes. This study uses a quasi-experimental design to examine whether RTCCs improve rates of case clearance for violent, property, and overall crime in Chicago, IL. MethodsRTCCs were established in different police districts over the course of a three-year period. Difference-in-differences estimation with Poisson panel regression models are used to estimate the effect of RTCCs on case clearance, while controlling for other policing factors and neighborhood characteristics that may influence case clearance at the district level. ResultsOn average, RTCCs were associated with a 5% increase in clearance rates for violent crime (IRR = 1.05, p = .004), a 12% increase for property crime (IRR = 1.12, p = .003), and an 11% increase for overall crime (IRR = 1.11, p < .001). These findings were robust across various model specifications. ConclusionsRTCCs may provide investigative benefits to police through the integration of technologies and data, thus enhancing case solvability.