Using Coplink to analyze criminal-justice data

The paper discusses the Coplink system. The system applies a concept space-a statistics-based, algorithmic technique that identifies relationships between suspects, victims, and other pertinent data-to accelerate criminal investigations and enhance law enforcement efforts. The Coplink concept space application, which began as a research project, has evolved into a real-time system being used in everyday police work. Coplink CS has been successfully deployed at the Tucson Police Department, where crime analysts, officers, detectives, and sergeants from 16 departmental units use the technology voluntarily as part of their daily investigative routine.