Understanding and managing crime dynamics

The integrated, interdisciplinary study of society through computational tools is leading a deep change in the way we relate to social dynamics. Computational social sciences (CSS), joining together simulation models, ICT, complexity, computer and social sciences, not only are driving a paradigm shift in the investigation of social matters, but are also enabling innovative ways to manage complex social issues from financial crisis to crime spread. The talk will take into account the developments of CSS related with crime emphasizing the perspectives disclosed in the field of policy and norm making. A promising research area is indeed represented by the applications of computational models in the regulatory impact analysis, a set of techniques, by now spread in many legal systems, devoted to provide a systematic appraisal of the potential impact of new regulations. After brief preliminary remarks about the opportunity of a more scientifically and empirically grounded law making, the issues so far mentioned will be addressed presenting the ongoing project of an interdisciplinary “Crime Exploratory”, a structure to be created within the FuturICT Flagship proposal. Details on the underlying vision will be provided in order to foster discussion and collaboration on this point.