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Hi everyone,

Here is an interesting article that shows how crime mapping and other data can be used to make decisions about crime reduction:

Vacant Detroit homes where crime thrives the first to go

Detroit Mayor Dave Bing's demolition plan includes a concerted effort to bulldoze houses in neighborhoods where the most crime and arsons occur -- not just those structures that are the most run-down, the Free Press has learned.

Using crime and arson statistics from 2009, officials from the Police, Fire and Buildings & Safety Engineering departments worked to determine which homes were located in areas with the highest concentration of homicides, assaults, rapes, robberies and arsons.

Bing has pledged to use federal stimulus money to tear down 3,000 abandoned homes this year. The city's first phase -- 1,000 addresses have been identified -- began April 1. Second phase addresses are to be released July 1, and the third phase Sept. 1.

"By far, this is the most comprehensive overall look at the city's demographics, housing stock, public safety issues and fire issues," said Detroit Police Chief Warren Evans. "The more structures that are down are the fewer places for illegal activities to be going on. This is a good tool for the city when departments are talking to each other and thinking more globally."

Full article