The crime rate in many major cities has either continued to drop or has remained stable despite the fact that the job market is tougher, police officers have taken on added duties for homeland security, and social services budgets have been cut, all factors thought to contribute to a rise in the crime rate.

So why is crime holding steady or dropping? It could be because policy are more effectively analyzing information.

This article in today's Christian Science Monitor says that in June 2003, Chicago's police department changed the way they fight crime:

"The police began using technology that showed crime trends as they occurred, and deployed officers to violent areas."

The department observes drug activity neighborhood by neighborhood, videotapes the activity using street-corner cameras, and swoops in for arrests.

Similarly, New York City uses a system called ComStat, which supplies precinct commanders with real-time information.

These systems are not perfect, but hopefully with an increase of information will come better ideas about how to prevent crime instead of react to it.

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