The analysis highlights the major reasons why crime analysis is critical to the effective and efficient management of patrol, investigative, and other line and support personnel; describes the way it may be better used to facilitate executive decisions pertaining to resource allocation and manpower issues; and discusses departmental benefits from a crime analysis unit. The study also asserts that crime analysis fosters organizational change, and it describes the manner in which change can be managed to ensure positive outcomes. The use of automated systems to assist in the determination of crime patterns is discussed, as is the regionalization of crime analysis services for a number of police agencies. The study reports information received from a survey of police chiefs, sheriffs, and crime analysis practitioners throughout the United States. The survey focused on how agencies define crime analysis, manage crime analysis, select and train crime analysts, and project the future of crime analysis. Appended questionnaire and methodological information, 27 endnotes, 50-item bibliography. (Author abstract modified)