Crime analysis can be used in crime prevention, tactical deployment, investigation, and evaluation. Given the potential for predictability in criminal behavior, crime analysis can identify the locations, times, or situations related to particular types of crimes, along with the criminal methods used. This provides information needed to harden potential targets from a variety of threats. Crime analysis also provides information that is useful in tactical-deployment decisions. As crime patterns are identified, including locations and times, personnel can be deployed in such operations as surveillance and stakeouts to increase the likelihood of apprehending offenders. A third role for crime analysis is the identification of crime-suspect correlations to assist investigations. Since offenders tend to be creatures of habit, their methods or descriptions can often reveal their identities. By matching suspect and modus operandi (MO) files, police can often develop leads. If so, more arrests can result. Crime analysis can also be used to test the impact on crime patterns of various police operations. With the careful use of crime analysis, police managers can usually determine the benefits of a program or activity. Effective crime analysis must be based in complete and accurate data collection. With this in mind, this paper discusses the sources of information and the collecting of information from external and internal sources. A section also explains the techniques of data collation. Some guidelines for the creative use of crime analysis are included also. 21 references and 1 table