Frequently Asked Questions:

What is A2Crime.com?

A2Crime.com is a website dedicated to providing transparent and accessible information regarding crime statistics and incidents in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Our goal is to empower residents with knowledge to foster a safer community.

Crime dashboards from peer city’s like Boulder, Madison, Minneapolis, and Portland are examples of the open source information other communities make readily accessible to citizens. Since crime is a barrier, it’s important to know where it’s occurring and how it impacts walkability.

Where does the data on A2Crime.com come from?

The data displayed on A2Crime.com is sourced directly from the Ann Arbor Police Department (CLEMIS) official public safety records. We strive to present the most accurate and up-to-date information available.

What is the CLEMIS system?

The CLEMIS (Courts and Law Enforcement Management Information System) is a comprehensive information system used by law enforcement agencies in Michigan, including the Ann Arbor Police Department, to manage and share critical data related to criminal justice. It helps streamline operations, improve data accuracy, and enhance inter-agency communication for more effective law enforcement.

How often is the data updated?

Our data is typically updated on a daily basis to reflect the latest crime incidents and statistics reported by the authorities. We aim for timely updates, but the site is not “real-time”. New incidents are typically loaded overnight EST.

WHAT IS THE DOWNTOWN AREA?

The Downtown Area is the DDA & Downtown Shopping Districts as defined in the Post-Pandemic Downtown Activity Report (Feb. 21, 2024) published by the DDA. Or, you can click here to see the boundary on Google Maps.

Why aren’t these incidents in my local print newspaper?

The Ann Arbor local print newspaper also uses CLEMIS for their data; however, they report only a couple specific categories instead of showing all crime incidents like A2crime.com and the example peer cities. Also, if you like ads, other sites like Crime Grade provide crime information about Ann Arbor but don’t always disclose their methodology or show the 1st party data directly.

Using A2Crime.com:

How can I search for specific crime incidents?

You can search for specific crime incidents by using the drop down menus at top of the site. You can filter results by date range and type of crime.

Can I view crime statistics for a specific neighborhood?

Yes, A2Crime.com allows you to view crime statistics by specific Wards within Ann Arbor. Go to Crime Distribution by Location and Severity Level widget.

Is there a map view of crime incidents?

Absolutely! A2Crime.com features an interactive map that visually displays crime incidents, with geospatial features such as Clusters, Heat Map, and Hotspot Grind view, allowing you to see their geographical distribution across Ann Arbor.

What kind of Crime Analysis can I find on A2crime.com?

A2crime.com provides robust time series, geo-spacial, concentration, correlation, and visualization analysis to help the user discover insights, patterns, and trends in crime for Ann Arbor.

Data Interpretation:

What do the different crime categories mean?

Each crime category on A2Crime.com is defined according to the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program guidelines established by the FBI. Category data is pulled directly by the AAPD CLEMIS reporting system.

Crime Types and Sub Categories

Assault: (Aggravated, Simple)
Burglary: (Forced Entry, No Forced Entry, Home Invasion, Non-Home Invasion)
Drugs: (Crack/ Cocaine, Heroin, Opioids, Cannabis, Dangerous Other)
Fraud: (Swindle, Credit Card/ ATM, Identity, Wire)
Harassment: (Aggravated Stalking, Intimidation, Stalking)
Homicide
Robbery: (Strong Arm, Non-Strong Arm, Street, Business, Residence)
Sexual Assault: (Forcible Fondling, Rape (Penetration), Forcible Sodomy)
Theft: (Motor Vehicle, Building, Shoplifting, from Motor Vehicle, Vehicle parts, all other Larceny)
Traffic: (Driving under the influence)
Vandalism: (Property Damage & Destruction, Arson)
Other: (Disorderly Conduct, Drunkenness, Purse Snatching, Pick Pocketing, Liquor Law Violation, Runaway, Animal Cruelty)

How is crime severity determined?

Crime severity is determined by sentencing guidelines.

Does A2Crime track reported incidents only?

Yes. The official reported crime source is CLEMIS. Unfortunately a lot of crime goes unreported and is not captured in the CLEMIS system.

For additional information on potential unreported crime we recommend learning about the National Crime Victimization survey sponsored by the Department of Justice: https://bjs.ojp.gov/data-collection/ncvs

What are the covariates of Crime?

Movement is crime is strongly associated in the relative changes in:

Guardianship
Suitable Target
Motivated Offender

For example, If a policy is changed and weakens Guardianship, The relative impact makes targets more suitable for motivated offenders, thus triggering an increase in crime level. Direction of crime is influenced by the interplay of Guardianship, Suitable Target and Motivated Offender. A factor that can disrupt this balance may influence the direction of crime level.

How does A2Crime.com ensure data accuracy?

We implement rigorous data validation processes and cross-reference our information with official public records to ensure the highest possible level of accuracy. However, please note that minor discrepancies may occur due to reporting delays or ongoing investigations.

Can I download the crime data for my own analysis?

Yes, There is export button at the bottom of the Crime Incident Dashboard page that allows you to download a CVS file of all incidents selected by your date range and crime type filtering. The data for 2023 can also be downloaded from the City of Ann Arbor on thier Data Catalog page or by clicking here for 2023 Part A/B and 2023 Calls for Service.

Privacy and Security:

Is my personal information safe when using A2Crime.com?

A2Crime.com is committed to protecting your privacy. We do not collect any personal identifying information from our users. Your browsing activity on our site is completely anonymous.

Does A2Crime.com use cookies?

Yes, A2Crime.com uses essential cookies to ensure the proper functioning of our website. These cookies do not collect any personal information and are strictly for site optimization.