Using i2 Analyst Notebook in Crime Analysis The i2 analytic and investigative tools take charting to a whole new level and standard in law enforcement. Any agency fortunate enough to have this application has made an invaluable investment. It plays an extremely vital part in gathering, analyzing and disseminating information.

The Tallahassee Police Department uses i2 products, specifically Analyst Notebook. As stated on the website, “i2 products are continually being enhanced to offer comprehensive solutions with the flexibility required to address challenges in law enforcement such as crime, major investigations and neighborhood/community policing. The products are used worldwide which is a testament to its popularity. Its use is not limited to analysis functions, but it can also be used to share and organize information. One of the functions many agencies benefit from the most is the ability of i2 products to interface with existing records management data and other sources of data.

Law enforcement personnel can use i2 products to help combat crime and investigate cases. These products are capable of combining crime analysis information and even intelligence data to create professional looking visual graphics. One of the more popular tools is the Analysis Notebook. Many experts who use i2 products believe, “Analyst’s Notebook is a valuable tool in our analysis arsenal and has saved literally hundreds of hours of work” (Analyst's Notebook, 2012).

Analyst’s Notebook can be used for a variety of work products: timelines, link analysis charts and commodity flow charts. I think when used in any of these products, there is a better understanding of relationships with people and organizations especially in criminal cases. Analyst’s Notebook could actually be used in actual case development as well as pure intelligence gathering. Let’s take a very complex and involved homicide case. It could be very helpful in identifying key players especially if you don’t have any suspect leads. Analytical charting is one of the most valuable techniques an analyst can use to help identify associations and ties to possible suspects. If I used it in a homicide case, three professional products can be created: timelines, link chart and phone analysis charts. The following briefly describes how each of these techniques can be used with i2 Analyst’s Notebook:

Timelines
A timeline would be created to manage data in a chronological order about the activities of the homicide victim. This could be vital to tracking the activities of the victim over a short or long period of time. Important places could also be incorporated with the chronology.

Link Charts
When you have a lot of people, vehicles, addresses, and even phone numbers, it would be very helpful to visual them. What better way to do that than using i2 Analyst’s Notebook. Using Analyst’s Notebook can literally organize hundreds of pieces of data in a matter of minutes so that patterns are identified. I would use the solid lines and solid boxes to identify known or verified associations or links. Dotted lines, boxes and circles would indicate possible or weak associations or links. This would also be done for vehicles, homes (addresses) and phone numbers. When I want to indicate a person I can use the generic man or woman head with appropriate color or I can insert photos of the real person. Most times I would use Department of Motor Vehicle photos.

Phone Analysis Charts
As phone numbers are identified during the investigation, we can start analyzing their connection to the victim’s home phone or cell phones. This is also a good way to development association to the victim’s outgoing or incoming calls. It is also an excellent way to review frequency of those calls and when the calls were made (date and time). This is another way pattern analysis can be applied to determine behaviors and actions of the victim, suspects and associates.
Ultimately i2 Analyst’s Notebook can be a valuable tool in preparing professional visuals and documentation of information that can solve crimes. The professional documents also make court presentations more credible and visually powerful for law enforcement’s use.

Resources

Analyst's Notebook. (2012). Retrieved April 11, 2012, from i2, Inc.: http://www.i2group.com/us/products/analysis-product-line/analysts-notebook

Social Network Analysis. (2012). Retrieved April 11, 2012, from i2, Inc.:
http://www.i2group.com/us/products/analysis-product-line/analysts-notebook/social-network-analysis