3-2

Link analysis uses

-Identify all known conspirators -Develop potential presence and level of unknown conspirators -Ascertain distribution network and/or criminal hierarchy -Evaluate the strengths of various relationships and/or associations -Identify key individuals in the associations -Identify potentially weak links in the associations

Association analysis uses

-When large amounts of data -When there is a need to show relationships between a number of people and organization in a visual form -When there is extensive or disorganized data in the shared problem -When there is a need to clarify organizations or transactions too difficult to understand in a written report

Rectangles

Businesses

Link charting/diagramming

a graphical representation of the known and unknown associations among businesses and/or individuals that are potentially involved in criminal activity

Link analysis

a visual representation of associations from information collected up to a specific point in time. This means the data is only valid at the time the chart was made. You should always date your link analysis chart and matrix

Association matrix

a working tool to assist in organizing the relationship information on a given case to facilitate reviewing it and creating a Link Analysis Chart; an immediate format that will facilitate organizing relationship material into a compact arrangement for review and charting

Association Analysis

analysis of the relationships among individuals, businesses, locations, groups, and other entities involved in a crime and how those relationships impact on, or are impacted by, the criminal activity; products include charts, biographical profiles, chart summaries, conclusions, and recommendations for further action (The Who)

Two significant things produced from conducting association analysis are

association matrix and link analysis chart

Solid Lines

confirmed relationship between individuals (colored circles from matrix)

Triangle

conveyances (vehicles, boats, planes, etc) (use as much descriptive information as possible , make/model, tag, color, year, registered owner, etc)

Purpose of association analysis

determine who is or is not involved and the level of involvement, role of involvement with other people in the organization

Use of association analysis can lead to

discovering "unknown associates in the organization. There may be information involving parties that are yet to be identified...include them

Plus sign

individual is "key" player in a business (owner, etc)

Associations to business, but not to owner

line drawn from individual to business rectangle

Inside rectangles

only key individuals (generally owners, or key decision makers)

Multiple businesses owned by one person

stack or overlap rectangles

Circles

subjects

Dashed lines

suspected or unconfirmed relationship between the individuals (open circle from matrix)

Cliques

to illustrate a group of people who are informally associated, such as friends who "hang out" or family members (large circle holding smaller circles representing each person) - ALL people must know each other individually and you can document their relationships.

Solid Circle

"confirmed" relationship between the individuals

Open Circle

"suspected or unconfirmed" relationship between the individuals

Rules for charts

-Always consider adding "unknown" individuals to the chart if they are a key part of the organization -NEVER cross lines or have curved lines in a Link Analysis diagram -If using color scheme, use legend -Avoid "red" to signify guilt -Always include name, agency, and date on chart -Internal links are implied

Post charting/diagramming

-Analyze the diagram - what does it tell you about the network/organization -Document the diagram - what sources used to prove associations -Draw conclusions - what do the associations mean in relation to the investigation -Make recommendations - what additional information or evidence is needed? What is next to investigate

Steps in association analysis

-Collect relevant material -Organize case information -Extract association material -Place into association database -Prepare association matrix -Count associations of each person or thing -Create diagram based on association matrix