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With the rise of proactive approaches to resolving community crime problems, Environmental Criminology has increasingly become an important area of study. Theories such as Rational Choice, and Routine Activities are useful frameworks by which to understand the occurrence of crime and disorder. Spatially oriented perspectives, like the Crime Pattern Theory, provide explanations for crime concentration. These theories enable us to better understand the dynamics of crime situations; thereby, providing a solid foundation from which effective crime prevention strategies can be developed.

Environmental Criminology involves applied research methodologies and spatially oriented analytic techniques borrowed from Geography, in concert with, place-intensive research designs from Urban Planning and Social Ecology. Recent technological developments that reduced the complexity of geographic software and systems (Geographic Information Systems) have lead many scholars and practitioners to devise an array of criminal justice applications to examine crime spatially. Improvements in data quality, including the introduction of geo-referenced data links, supports these efforts. These changes are rapidly transforming the way many people in the criminal justice system think about crime. Applying geographic perspectives and research techniques to crime problems has the potential to revolutionize our understanding of the nature and dynamics of community crime problems. In turn, we can develop more effective crime prevention strategies.

The mission of the Crime Prevention Analysis Lab-California State University, San Bernardino is to support and conduct research focusing on public space, through grants and contracts, with a variety of tools and methods not commonly used within criminal justice. Research will involve the Blended Approach to crime analysis incorporating both community-wide crime mapping and place intensive methods. The purpose is to: provide a comprehensive problem dissection from which solutions can be developed; assist agencies and community groups in the process of developing solutions; conduct evaluations of crime prevention strategies; and, disseminate best practices.

Dr. Gisela Bichler-Robertson, Director
CPAL-CSU, San Bernardino Research Lab

California State University, San Bernardino,
College of Social and Behavioral Sciences,
Department of Criminal Justice