How to Use Investigational Analytics for Operational Insights

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Today’s law enforcement agencies are expected to do more with less—less time, fewer resources, and tighter budgets. That’s where investigational analytics come in. By leveraging modern technologies, agencies can turn raw data into actionable operational insights—ultimately saving time, reallocating resources, and increasing investigative efficiency.

Start with the Right Platform

To leverage investigational analytics, it’s important to start with a platform built for both structured and unstructured data—everything from CAD/RMS entries to video, bodycam footage, and narrative reports. Structured data reveals trends; unstructured data provides the critical context that ties cases together.

That’s where CaseBuilder and CrimeTracer excel. CaseBuilder’s case management system enables patrol officers to upload field notes, videos, and witness statements directly into the system. And CaseBuilder’s integration with SoundThinking’s law enforcement data management solution, CrimeTracer makes it easy for leads to be automatically added to the CaseBuilder case folder with one click.

Import CrimeTracer leads into CaseBuilder with one click 

CrimeTracer can pull from all available agency data, surfacing links and patterns across cases that might otherwise be missed. And when those leads emerge, they can be seamlessly uploaded into CaseBuilder and marked as high-priority and requiring prompt investigative follow-up.

By bridging analysis and casework and turning intelligence into immediate action, CaseBuilder and CrimeTracer help agencies close cases faster and more efficiently.

Empower Your Patrol Officers to Leverage Technology at the Scene

Effective investigations and investigational analytics depend on strong leads, the right tools, and empowering your team to make immediate, informed decisions. Consider that up to 70% of crimes are resolved at the patrol level, and even in the 30% of scenarios that require escalated response, patrol is often first on the scene. As such, it’s important to empower these officers to be able to respond at the scene without feeling reliant on crime analysts back at the office.

CrimeTracer’s upcoming AI chatbot is designed to streamline the investigative process by eliminating the complexity of traditional search workflows. Instead of navigating multiple fields or systems, users can simply enter queries in plain language—whether describing a suspect, incident, or lead. The chatbot quickly surfaces relevant information, making it faster and more intuitive to uncover critical insights.

New AI chatbot

With seamless integration into CaseBuilder, those leads are automatically routed to the correct case folder, ensuring they’re easy to track and act on. This user-friendly approach stands in stark contrast to other platforms with cumbersome logins and clunky interfaces. By making investigative tools more accessible to all officers and analysts, agencies are better positioned to drive timely, effective outcomes.

Leverage Comprehensive Reporting Capabilities

By leveraging the robust reporting and analytics capabilities of case management software like CaseBuilder, agencies can gain real-time visibility into how investigative resources are performing. Command staff and supervisors can monitor key metrics such as case load, average time to close investigations, and case status progression. This level of oversight is critical—not just for operational awareness, but for taking action when cases begin to stall.

 

investigations-compstat-dashboard

Investigations CompStat dashboard

If an investigation isn’t maturing as expected, supervisors can quickly identify bottlenecks and reallocate personnel or support where it’s needed most.

Ultimately, CaseBuilder’s comprehensive reporting capabilities empower leadership to maintain accountability, optimize workloads, and proactively support investigators, strengthening clearance rates and delivering better outcomes for victims and communities.

Prioritize Both Data Breadth and Depth

Unlike the dramatized portrayals on TV, searching across multiple law enforcement databases isn’t instantaneous or straightforward. In reality, data sharing between agencies involves navigating complex systems and multiple sources, each with its own limitations. That’s why leveraging investigational analytics requires a strategic focus on both the breadth and depth of available data.  CaseBuilder integrates seamlessly with an agency’s RMS and comes equipped with built-in tools like CompStat, trend analysis, and spatial mapping. CrimeTracer expands that capability even further—connecting to over 30 data sources and accessing more than a billion records, including RMS, CAD, LPRs, ShotSpotter, and more.

crimetracer-data-sources

Together, CaseBuilder and CrimeTracer offer unmatched analytical power and visibility, helping agencies not only see where crime is happening but also understand the deeper patterns driving it

Turn Insight into Impact

In an era where law enforcement agencies are stretched thin, the ability to act on data-driven insights and investigational analytics isn’t just a nice-to-have—it’s essential. Tools like CaseBuilder and CrimeTracer transform disparate, complex data into a clear operational picture, allowing agencies to be more strategic, proactive, and efficient. From the first moments on scene to final case resolution, these technologies empower every level of the organization—from patrol officers to command staff—to make informed decisions, allocate resources effectively, and close cases faster. By embracing investigational analytics, agencies are not only improving performance—they’re delivering justice more swiftly and effectively for the communities they serve.

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Author Profile
Jamie Algatt
Jamie has worked in public safety for over 20 years as a first responder and partner. His expertise is...Show More
Jamie has worked in public safety for over 20 years as a first responder and partner. His expertise is web-based, cloud-native solutions for public safety utilizing Windows and mobile platforms for delivery. Jamie has helped implement enterprise solutions with some of the largest law agencies in North America and internationally. At SoundThinking, Jamie helps agencies achieve higher case closure rates by successfully implementing CaseBuilder. Show Less
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