Crime Analysis Consortium (CAC): Building Capacity in Bexar County, Texas

The Recovery Act Edward Byrne Memorial Competitive Grant Program (Byrne Competitive Program) will help communities improve the capacity of state and local justice systems and provide for national support efforts including training and technical assistance programs strategically targeted to address local needs. This competitive grant announcement focuses on initiatives in eight areas: 1) preventing and reducing violent crime through community-based data-driven approaches; 2) providing funding for neighborhood-based probation and parole officers; 3) reducing mortgage fraud and crime related to vacant properties; 4) hiring of civilian support personnel in law enforcement (training staff, analysts, dispatchers, etc.); 5) enhancing forensic and crime scene investigations; 6) improving resources and services for victims of crime; 7) supporting problem-solving courts; and 8) national training and technical assistance partnerships.

Under category 1, the University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) will use the grant award to expand its comprehensive community-based, data-driven approaches to prevent and reduce violent crime. This program will address both the short-term and long-term needs for crime analysis in Bexar County, Texas by creating a Crime Analysis Consortium (CAC). CAC will provide analytic support to local law enforcement agencies and train graduate students to be highly competitive for current and future analyst positions [e.g., those required by the South Texas Fusion Center (STFC)]. UTSA's specific program goals include: 1) developing a data-driven interagency approach to crime problems in Bexar County, centered on a partnership with the local university; 2) building capacity for generating analysts who will implement best practices in crime analysis; and 3) assessing and reorienting current policing strategies based on action research guided by evidence-based practices and crime analysis. UTSA will hire six graduate students to train in crime analysis (three per year). Training will involve theoretical and analytic skill development and practical experience in identifying and
analyzing crime problems while embedded with the San Antonio Police Department.

CA/NCF