- Law enforcement employees (both sworn and professional staff) who want to leverage data or assist in investigations.
- Those looking for a career in law enforcement (not including peace officers).
- Those looking for Crime and Intelligence Analysis positions in the private sector.
Crime and Intelligence Analysis Program
Certificate Program
This program introduces students to the field of crime analysis, including five steps in the data analysis process: data collection, collation, analysis, dissemination, and feedback/evaluation. Learners will be introduced to sources of criminal justice information and an understanding of how to collect general and specific crime data; create data tracking matrices; use data to determine the emergence of new crime problems; and prepare basic charts, graphs, and crime and intelligence analysis reports. Students will also learn techniques to properly communicate findings to law enforcement agencies.
This program will help prepare students for internships and entry-level positions in both the public and private sectors. Courses within this program meet law enforcement analyst training standards as established by the International Association of Crime Analysts and the International Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysts. The curriculum integrates hands-on exercises, practical applications, and experiences that closely mimic law enforcement settings. It will provide students with a toolbox of strategies, skill sets, experiences, and sample products that will allow them to hit the ground running at an investigative agency. These include an introduction to standard law enforcement software programs that aid in crime-solving, linking crimes together, knowledge of criminal behavior, and problem-solving methods.
Classes are taught by a cadre of experienced crime analysts, supervising crime analysts, criminal justice professors, and other law enforcement professionals knowledgeable in the fields of crime analysis, policing, and criminology. Many instructors are also part of the California Peace Officers Standards and Training (POST) in CSULB's Crime Analysis Core Course. The Certificate curriculum is also based on the CA POST Crime and Intelligence Analysis curriculum delivered by the Center for Criminal Justice Research and Training at CSULB.
- How to articulate and demonstrate the necessary skill set and job functions as an entry-level employee or intern in a crime analysis or investigative support unit
Program Outline
- Role of crime analysis in law enforcement
- Crime analysis functions and sources of information
- Types of crime, classifications, and radio and penal codes
- Data analysis, translation, and communication
- Computer skills including beginner Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Crystal Reports, and Tableau
- Identifying crime patterns
- Forecasting crimes
- Identifying crime hot spots (tools, density maps)
- Tactical, strategic, and administrative crime analysis
- Eight functions of a crime analysis unit
- Specialized subjects including special victims, homicide, major crimes, gangs, and human trafficking
- Computer statistics (COMPSTAT) analysis and other crime reduction strategies
- History of investigative analysis
- Typology and motives of crime
- Criminal profiling process
- Psychological make-up of suspects
- Analysis of career criminals
- Criminal deviants
- Research and statistics principles
- Concepts in research design and content analysis
- Sampling, survey techniques, statistics methods (Excel)
- Research and writing, government documents, studies, and grants
- Administrative documents, COMPSTAT and crime reduction, software programs
- History and fundamentals of intelligence aka intel
- Intelligence cycle
- Proper handling of intel
- Development of intel (critical thinking, analysis process, data analysis)
- Intel techniques and tools
- Applications of intelligence
- Briefing products, writing intel products, intel reports
- Using social media for intel and link analysis
- Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, LinkedIn
- Open source databases, public/private databases, software programs
- Ethical considerations, elements of social media
- Mapping usage as crime analysis tool
- Crime mapping methods
- Crime visualizing using maps
- Hot spots
- Spatial analysis and spatial statistics
- Map components
- Daily analysis and creating products (BOLOs, link charts)
- Photoshop and graphic design, creating “six-packs”
- Finding information including records, dispatch, RMS, CCTV/images, ALPR
- Pitching to officers and testifying in court
- Future of law enforcement
- Data products and presentations
- What not to do, learning from mistakes
- Product review
- Student testing
- Career prep, interview strategies
- Getting hired
- Testing process
- Mock interviews
Instructors
Cindy Anderson started her law enforcement career in 2007 with the Carlsbad Police Department, where she worked as both the Senior Crime Analyst and the Senior Management Analyst for 15 years. She is currently the Manager of Regional Information Services with ARJIS, which compiles and analyzes data for the entire San Diego region. Cindy was also a Sergeant in the Marine Corps from 2001-2005. She has both Master's and Bachelor's degrees in Criminal Justice with an emphasis in Behavioral Studies. She also won the California Crime & Intelligence Analyst Association (CCIAA) Crime Analyst of the Year award in 2022.
Cindy Anderson,
Manager of Regional Information Services, ARJIS
Since becoming the Crime Analyst for Arcadia Police Department, Kristin Blair has expanded her expertise to include facial recognition by becoming a SME for the Los Angeles County Regional Identification System. She has also served on the board of the Southern California Crime & Intelligence Analysts’ Association. She has been the president of the City of Arcadia’s Employee Advisory Committee since 2019. After obtaining both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in Criminal Justice from California State University, Long Beach, Kristin went on to get her Crime & Intelligence Analysis certification at Cal State Fullerton.
Kristin Blair,
Crime Analyst, Arcadia Police Department
Aine began working for a local department as an intern, and has worked a variety of positions there since, including Police Aide, Senior Community Services Officer – Court Liaison, and Executive Assistant to the Chief. Currently, Aine is employed as the department’s first ever Civilian Investigator, a role she helped create, and works under the Detective Bureau. She obtained her Bachelor's in Criminal Justice from CSULB with minors in Forensic Studies and Communication Studies.
Aine Eisenhauer,
Civilian Investigator
Samantha Epton began her law enforcement career as an intern at the Huntington Beach Police Department and Orange County Sheriff's Department before becoming a part-time Crime Analyst at both agencies. Since 2021, Samantha has been a Crime Analyst at the Irvine Police Department, where she focuses on tactical analysis. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminology and Criminal Justice from CSULB, a master’s degree in Criminal Justice from Arizona State University, and a Certificate in Crime and Intelligence Analysis from CSU Fullerton.
Samantha Epton,
Crime Analyst, Irvine Police Department
Carina Gomez started in Law Enforcement as a Crime Analysis Intern for the Anaheim Police Department. From there, she went on to be a part-time Analyst at the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. She is now currently a Crime Analyst with the Anaheim Police Department. Carina focuses
on tactical analysis and works closely with patrol officers. She attends patrol briefings daily, and helps direct patrol officers on where crime hotspots are occurring. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and a Certificate in Crime and Intelligence Analysis.
Carina Gomez,
Crime Analyst, Anaheim Police Department
Ashley Hood has worked in Law Enforcement for 14 years in a variety of positions. She has worked in crime analysis for the last eight years, and is currently the Crime Analysis Unit Supervisor at Anaheim Police Department. Ashley has co-presented at the Crime and Intelligence Analysis state conference and is teaching multiple Crime Analysis courses for undergraduates, graduates, and law enforcement professionals. She is on the mentoring committee with the International Association of Crime Analysts and is a mentor herself. Ashley has a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and a graduate degree in Business Management.
Ashley Hood,
Crime Analysis Unit Supervisor, Anaheim Police Department
Suzanna Howard joined the Tustin Police Department in 2006 as their first Crime Analyst. She is currently embedded in the Detective Bureau and assists with criminal investigations. Suzanna attends patrol briefings weekly to share relevant information about crime. She is a Subject Matter Expert for Call Detail Records and a Cellebrite Certified Analyst for forensic analysis of cell phones. She holds a BS in Organizational Management, an MBA in International Development, and a MS in Forensic Science.
Suzanna Howard,
Detective Bureau, Tustin Police Department
Darcy Jones has been employed in law enforcement since 1999, and she is currently supervising Crime Analysis and Crime Prevention at Irvine Police Department. Darcy holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice from Cal State Fullerton and a master’s degree in Public Administration from Cal State Northridge. She studied Criminology in the doctoral program at University of California at Irvine where she was a Teaching Assistant, Research Assistant, and teacher of an Introduction to Criminology course.
Darcy Jones,
Crime Analysis and Crime Prevention, Irvine Police Department
In 2017, Ashley was offered a position as an Intelligence Analyst with the Department of Justice. In 2015, Ashley obtained the Crime and Intelligence Analyst certification along with a certification in Geographic Information Systems. That same year, Ashley completed her crime analysis Internship with Redlands Police Department and shortly after was hired as a Crime Analyst for Chino Police Department. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Sociology with an emphasis in Criminology in 2013, and a Master of Science in Homeland Security in 2014.
Ashley M.,
Intelligence Analyst, Department of Justice
Eva Mazzeo is a safety and government services professional with 20 years of experience. She is currently a Crime and Intelligence Analyst who collaborates with police administrators, detectives, patrol officers and her peers to pursue leads and solve crimes. Eva believes that an analyst's ability to identify distinct patterns in the complex world of big data drives the crime and intelligence analysis world forward. Eva is skilled in GIS, location-based technology analysis, link analysis, business analysis, and relational databases. She holds a Professional Certificate in Crime and Intelligence Analysis, and a BA in Sociology.
Eva Mazzeo,
Senior Crime Analyst, Anaheim Police Department
Alexandra Monzon’s tenure in Law Enforcement extends over 15 years. She has spent the past 12 years working as a Senior Criminal Intelligence Analyst for the Anaheim Police Department. Prior to her current assignment, she worked numerous investigative support positions throughout the department, which included the Tourist Oriented Policing team and the Economic Crimes Unit. Alexandra has a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration with a minor in Criminal Justice and a graduate degree in Public Administration.
Alexandra Monzon,
Senior Criminal Intelligence Analyst, Anaheim Police Department
Jenette Osborne is currently employed by the Hermosa Beach Police Department as a Crime and Intelligence Analyst. Prior to Hermosa Beach, Jenette served as the Crime Analyst for the Los Gatos / Monte Sereno Police Department. Jenette graduated from Indiana State University with a master’s degree in Criminology; and obtained a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from University of California Riverside.
Jenette Osborne,
Crime and Intelligence Analyst, Hermosa Beach Police Department
Martha Robbins has over 20 years of crime analysis experience. She began her career as a Crime Analyst with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department (LASD) in 2001, where she was assigned to East L.A. Station and West Hollywood Station. She spent the majority of her 17 years with LASD assigned to Detective Division as the Crime Analyst for Major Crimes Bureau and Operation Safe Streets Bureau. Martha has also worked as a Crime Analyst at the Costa Mesa Police Department. She has been honored with the Distinguished Service Award from LASD, the highest award bestowed upon a civilian employee. She has also served as a board member for the Southern California Crime and Intelligence Analysts' Association. She earned a BS in Criminal Justice from Northern Arizona University and holds a Professional Certificate in Crime and Intelligence Analysis from CSU Fullerton.
Martha Robbins,
Crime Analyst, Huntington Beach Police Department
Natalie Rowe has been working as a civilian in law enforcement and public safety since 2013. She has worked in several different areas including patrol operations, investigations, and most notably in crime and intelligence analysis. At present, she is a Senior Crime and Intelligence Analyst with a tribal public safety department, and has created all crime analysis and intelligence functions for her department. Natalie holds bachelor’s degrees in Criminal Justice and Psychology. She is also a certified Crime and Intelligence Analyst with the California Department of Justice.
Natalie Rowe,
Senior Crime and Intelligence Analyst
Frequently Asked Questions
According to the International Association of Crime Analysts (IACA), crime analysis is “a profession and process in which a set of quantitative and qualitative techniques are used to analyze data valuable to police agencies and their communities.” Analysts use data to inform policing decisions and often assist with investigations.
No. You must register for all 10 modules in one semester. If you miss a module due to an emergency, we will try to help you make it up the following semester.
Unfortunately, we do not offer financial aid or payment plans for this course. Full payment is due prior to the 1st day of class.
No, this course is not limited to California State University, Long Beach students.
You must have graduated from high school and have an interest in working as a Crime Analyst, Civilian Investigative Support, or similar position.
Registration is open to anyone, whether you are a college student or an employee with a law enforcement agency.
Click the “Add to Cart" button on the right-hand side of the page to enroll. If the program has already started, email cpace-info@csulb.edu .
This program is offered twice per year.
No, this course is not eligible for college credit. However, you may earn Continuing Education Units (CEU's) through the College of Professional and Continuing Education (CPaCE).
No, there is no regulatory agency in California that certifies a person as a Crime Analyst. It is a combination of education, training, and experience. This program is designed to give students the basic knowledge of the position and a working knowledge of crime analysis.
Some positions require a certificate from an educational institution. This course should satisfy that requirement, but it varies by employer. Each job posting will have slightly different requirements. This course will provide you with experience and skills that interviewers are looking for in a candidate.
We do not guarantee internship or job placement, but all of our instructors are active employees in the crime analysis field, and may notify you of openings if they think you would be a good fit. Internships and jobs are dependent on a number of factors, including the ability to pass a background investigation, work history, work ethic, and the ability to work in a high-paced environment. A portion of the coursework covers how to prepare for the testing process and what to expect when applying for positions.
