Maryland Crime Research and Innovation Center

A University of Maryland (UMD) research team affiliated with the Maryland Crime Research and Innovation Center (MCRIC) presented on a predictive analytics project focused on community safety and public health to a group of over 40 academic, health department, law enforcement, and public safety personnel at Salisbury University on August 24.

The main objective of the project is to increase the availability of data-driven predictive analytics that offer local officials an additional set of tools that can supplement and enhance existing proactive strategies to improve community health and public safety. The researchers are incorporating stakeholder feedback, testing predictive models, and developing a prototype software program called Computer Aided Tools & Applications Leading & Inspiring Community Safety (CATALICS), which they plan to make available for use as a pilot tool for practitioners, direct service providers, and community health and public safety personnel in the future.

The partnership between the City of Salisbury and the UMD team, comprised of Research Professor Kiminori Nakamura (Criminology and Criminal Justice), Professor Shuvra Bhattacharyya (Electrical and Computer Engineering and Institute for Advanced Computer Studies), Professor Rod Brunson (Criminology and Criminal Justice), and Yujunrong Ma, a graduate student in Electrical and Computer Engineering, was previously awarded an Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant (BJAG) from the Maryland Governor’s Office of Crime Prevention, Youth, and Victim Services (GOCPYVS) that has supported the work.  

Over the course of the project, the UMD team has engaged in data collection, research, and analysis to assist with the development of the prototype software package. The team is working to incorporate data on community health and safety concerns, such as drug overdoses and incidents of crime. The project will further incorporate various data sources for geographic and place-based features, as well as other types of data to improve the versatility and usefulness of the application.

The UMD team is working closely with Salisbury partners to help create an innovative, customized tool, prioritizing transparency with respect to the software application development. The team is also committed to fairness and equity in the development of the software, with the ultimate goal of improving public safety for all community members.

“Our approach differs from other predictive analytic strategies by incorporating stakeholder feedback, resulting in a more nuanced and carefully considered product that supports the unique community it is intended for,” said Nakamura.

The UMD researchers will continue to develop the software over the next year and intend to expand this collaborative project to include other partners and locations across Maryland.