Computational criminology

Okay, let me explain computational criminology to you like you're five! So, you know how when someone does something wrong, like steal something, we often want to figure out who did it and why? Well, computational criminology is a way of using computer programs to help us do that.

Computers can help us analyze a lot of information really quickly, and that's what computational criminologists do. They use computers to look at things like crime statistics, social media posts, and even patterns of movement caught on video cameras to help figure out things like where and when crimes happen, what kinds of people are likely to be involved in crimes, and what factors might make someone more likely to commit a crime.

For example, let's say there is a lot of bicycle thefts happening in a city. A computational criminologist might use a computer program to analyze data about where and when the thefts are happening, and try to identify patterns. They might find that most of the thefts are happening in a certain neighborhood, or at a certain time of day. They might also look at social media posts and see if people are talking about the thefts and what they're saying about them. With all of this information, they can try to figure out why the thefts are happening and come up with ideas for how to stop them.

Overall, computational criminology is a way of using computers to help us better understand crime and find ways to prevent it. It's like having a super-smart detective who can analyze a ton of information really quickly and help us solve crimes faster and more effectively!