Law enforcement's usage of business intelligence collaboration

Abstract

In recent years, current events have often coined the term "officials are gathering business intelligence." The purpose of this research paper is to gain an understanding of what business intelligence is and to investigate the collaborative usage of business intelligence within law enforcement. First, the varied and many definitions and scopes of business intelligence will be explored and explained, with particular relevancy to law enforcement. The paper will then provide an overview of collaborative business intelligence practices within law enforcement. The paper will support current research, which suggests that law enforcement in the United States are using some form of business intelligence to assist with their cases and reported crimes. For investigators, this translates into an increase in closed cases. The last part of the paper will focus on specific collaborative business intelligence tools that can be utilized by law enforcement. Numerous crimes are committed and linked to multiple locations and perpetrators. Collaboration tools can be used beneficially within departments and with outside agencies to identify patterns, trends, and relationships not normally discovered through individual analysis.