Abstract:  This paper reviews modern crime analysis with regard to the research and educational challenges outlined by the University Consortium for Geographic Information Science. In the context of the geographical information system, attention is devoted to the role that crime analysis currently and potentially plays in reducing crime and improving the efficiency of police activity. It is our aim to stimulate interest in advancing crime analysis in the areas of crime mapping and visualization. It is hoped that an outcome of this effort will be the attention that granting agencies may give to this rich and productive mixture of state-of-the-art technology and social responsibility.