Advances in violent crime analysis and law enforcement: The canadian violent crime linkage analysis system

After two years of research and development, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), in conjunction with the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), introduced the Violent Crime Linkage Analysis System (ViCLAS). This computerized system allows trained specialists to link crimes such as serial homicide and serial sexual assaults. ViCLAS represents the application of the latest technology in crime linkage analysis to assist in criminal investigation. Now considered to be the “gold standard” of linkage analysis systems, it has been adopted by Australia, The Netherlands, Belgium, and Austria with 10 other nations examining the possibility of using ViCLAS. In the United States, Indiana and Tennessee use the system. This article examines the evolution and development of ViCLAS and its contribution to criminal investigation.