# Analyzing Your Research

Part of the Crime Prevention Merit Badge Digital Resource Guide: [Introduction & Overview](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/crime-prevention/guide/index.md)

*3. Crime in Your Community*

> **3b.** Record notes on which law enforcement agencies and courts were involved in the pursuit of justice for the victims and the accused person, why you think these crimes were committed, and what could be done to prevent similar crimes. Review your research with your counselor.

Now it's time to think critically about the three crimes you researched in Req 3a. This requirement asks you to move beyond "what happened" and dig into "who responded," "why did it happen," and "how could it have been prevented."

## Identifying the Agencies Involved

For each of your three crimes, identify every law enforcement agency and court that played a role. Remember the different levels you learned about in Requirement 2:

**Law enforcement agencies to look for:**
- **Local police or sheriff's department** — Usually the first responders for local crimes
- **State police or highway patrol** — Often involved in crimes on state highways or crimes crossing county lines
- **Federal agencies** (FBI, DEA, ATF, Secret Service) — Involved when crimes cross state lines, involve federal laws, or are particularly large-scale
- **Specialized units** — Cybercrime units, fraud divisions, environmental enforcement agencies

**Courts to identify:**
- **Municipal or district courts** — Handle misdemeanors and initial hearings
- **Superior or circuit courts** — Handle felony trials
- **Federal courts** — Handle federal crimes
- **Juvenile courts** — Handle cases involving minors
- **Appeals courts** — Handle cases where a conviction is challenged

> **Tip**
>
> News stories often mention which agency is "leading the investigation" or which court the case was filed in. Look for phrases like "the FBI is investigating," "arraigned in county court," or "the district attorney's office charged." These clues tell you exactly who is involved.

## Analyzing Why the Crimes Were Committed

This is the heart of your analysis. For each crime, think about the factors that may have contributed. Refer back to the list of reasons from Requirement 1:

- Economic pressure or financial desperation
- Substance abuse or addiction
- Peer pressure or gang involvement
- Opportunity (something was easy to steal or no one was watching)
- Anger, revenge, or emotional impulse
- Greed or desire for power
- Mental health challenges

Most crimes involve more than one factor. A burglary, for example, might involve both economic pressure *and* opportunity (an unlocked door in an unlit neighborhood). A white collar crime might stem from both greed and the belief that "everyone does it."

> **Did You Know?**
>
> Criminologists use a concept called the "Crime Triangle" to analyze why crimes happen. Every crime requires three elements: a motivated offender, a suitable target, and the absence of a capable guardian (someone or something that could prevent it). Remove any one of the three, and the crime doesn't happen.

## Proposing Prevention Strategies

For each crime, think about what could have been done to prevent it — or to prevent similar crimes in the future. Use the Crime Triangle framework:

### Reduce Motivation
- Better economic opportunities, education, and youth programs
- Substance abuse prevention and treatment
- Anti-gang intervention programs
- Mental health services

### Harden the Target
- Better locks, lighting, and security systems
- Cybersecurity measures (strong passwords, two-factor authentication)
- Inventory controls and loss prevention in retail
- Environmental monitoring and enforcement

### Strengthen the Guardian
- Neighborhood Watch programs and community engagement
- Security cameras and alarm systems
- More community policing and foot patrols
- Bystander intervention training

> **Be Prepared! Presenting to Your Counselor**
>
> When you review your research with your counselor, organize your notes clearly:
>
> - **For each crime**, have a brief summary of what happened, which agencies and courts were involved, your analysis of why it was committed, and your prevention ideas.
> - **Be ready to discuss** — your counselor will likely ask follow-up questions. Why do you think one prevention strategy would work better than another? Could the crime have been prevented at multiple points?
> - **Show your sources** — bring your notes, printouts, or bookmarks so your counselor can see the quality of your research.

**Analysis Notes Template** — Complete this for each of your three crimes

- [ ] Crime summary: What happened? (3–4 sentences)
- [ ] Agencies involved: Which law enforcement agencies responded or investigated?
- [ ] Courts involved: Where was the case heard? What type of court?
- [ ] Motivation analysis: Why do you think this crime was committed?
- [ ] Prevention ideas: What could have prevented this specific crime?
- [ ] Broader prevention: What would prevent similar crimes in the future?

![A triangular diagram showing the Crime Triangle with three vertices labeled Motivated Offender, Suitable Target, and Absence of Guardian](https://ik.imagekit.io/doulacoop/tr:w-800/mbu-assets/merit-badges/crime-prevention/guide/crime-triangle-diagram?v=9708f628)

[FBI Crime Data Explorer](https://cde.ucr.cjis.gov/): Search and explore national crime data by state, agency, and crime type to support your research.

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- Previous: [Researching Crimes](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/crime-prevention/guide/req3a/index.md)
- Next: [How Communities Prevent Crime](https://merit-badge.university/merit-badges/crime-prevention/guide/req4a/index.md)