Social Network Analysis of an Urban Street Gang Using Police Intelligence Data
Authors: Daniel Gunnell, Joseph Hillier, Laura Blakeborough
Summary & Critique by: Billy
The authors of this paper employed social network analysis as a way of better understanding how gangs operate and assist police in allocating their resources. The researchers developed two research
questions (Gunnell et al., 2016):
1 1.. What can social network analysis tell us about gangs?
2. How useful are the social network analysis outputs for the police?
The network began with 5 individuals who were known by police to be gang affiliated. The researchers followed the following steps to construct their social network (Gunnell et al., 2016):
1 1. Researchers collected police intelligence data on the 5 gang-affiliated individuals dating back 6 months. These individuals were the “primary individuals” for this research.
2 2. Any secondary individuals mentioned within the data were identified
3 3. Relationships between primary and secondary individuals were coded
4 4. Researchers collected police intelligence data on secondary individuals dating back 6 months. This data was then coded.
5 5. Other individuals that were mentioned in data were identified
6 6. Relationships between the “other” individuals and secondary individuals were coded
The relationships were coded based on a framework that recorded charged or suspected criminal relationships, non-explicit criminal relationships and the nature of the relationship (Gunnell et al., 2016).
According to the authors, the analysis produced a network of 137 individual nodes that included a previously unknown link between two gangs. Although not all of the individuals within the social network analysis are gang members/criminals, it provides police with knowledge of those who may be at future risk of gang activity.
The individuals circled in red are the original five members who are known gang members (Gunnell et al., 2016).
Critique:
I agree with the authors when they state that social network analysis can provide a solid framework of understanding a groups structure when little is previously known. They also state that it can remove bias in constructing a network because little experience related to the targeted group is required to populate the data. From the framework of anonymous nodes constructed by the authors, it is easy to see how analysts can build a very detailed network by including photographs, personal data, etc.
Gunnell, D. Hillier, J., Blakenborough, L. (2016). Social Network Analysis of an Urban Street Gang Using Police Intelligence Data. Research Report 89. Retrieved from https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/491578/horr89.pdf
Posts
Billy - I like how you structured the summary of this article because it allows me to understand the utility of social network analysis beyond criminal justice to the business realm. I wonder if constructing a network like this in business would render a more complicated picture. Criminals operate outside of legal confines, so communication is limited, making connections more important. Frequent communication in and between business players might make it more challenging to identify the key nodes of the network.
ReplyDeleteI think the closest example of this I have seen in the business world, specifically dealing with competitive intelligence, are business executive profiles.
DeleteWhat is the basis for the coded data? By that I mean the data source. You never mention how complete it is? The key to any analysis using SNA is how the data is collected, organized, and coded so while I understand the upsides to visualizing the data in understanding networks you haven't elaborated on the process that led to the visualization.
ReplyDeleteI recommend reading the study to best answer your question. I have provided a link at the bottom of the post.
DeleteThanks!
I like the way the authors went about writing this. Your summary shows it was a simplified read that helps one grasp the basic understanding of social networking. I too, would like to know if any of the researchers' sources they used in conducting the analysis were stated in this article.
ReplyDeleteI believe the article stated police intelligence data. I cant recall if they stated exactly how that data was collected but I recommend reviewing the article via the link I provided at the bottom of the post.
DeleteHi Billy,
ReplyDeleteThe authors state that the analysis will help law enforcement determine who is at risk of being involved in future gang activity. In your humble opinion, where on the social network analysis are these individuals who are most at risk?
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ReplyDelete
ReplyDeleteBilly, your summary was straight forward and to the point! I found it interesting that they were able to predict who is at risk of becoming a gang member. In the article was the degree of the relationships ever defined, or did it just simply show there was a connection? In my opinion, knowing the depth of the connection makes social networking more actionable.