PredPol Rolls Out Crime Prediction Technology

PredPol is deploying its predictive policing technology to help police predict and deter gun violence. It determines when and where gun violence is most likely to occur in order to prevent it, according to the company. 

Los Angeles and Santa Cruz (Calif.) Police Departments were the first agencies to utilize the technology, and it is now available for any agency. Both departments experienced crime reductions of 12% to 25% in burglaries and auto thefts after launching the use of the technology, according to PredPol.

PredPol's methodology utilizes existing crime data, advanced mathematics, computer learning, and cloud computing. The crime data is analyzed through an algorithm that applies theories about crime and gun violence. It analyzes the times, dates, and places of recent crimes to map “hot spots” for future crimes.

The information is accessible from any tech device or on paper. For security, it is run on a secure, cloud-based software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform. It doesn't collect personal information about victims, offenders, or law enforcement.

The PredPol tool was developed over the course of six years by PhD mathematicians and social scientists at UCLA, Santa Clara University, and UC Irvine in collaboration with crime analysts and officers from LAPD and Santa Cruz PD.