Evidence-Based Policing Hall of Fame
Julie Wartell
Inducted May 2026
Nominated by John Eck, University of Cincinnati
Biography:
Julie Wartell has spent over 30 years working with local, state, and federal criminal justice agencies and communities on crime analysis, research, and prevention strategies addressing a wide range of crime problems. This work has included serving as a crime analyst for police and prosecution, managing a regional crime mapping initiative, conducting research and evaluation for non-profits, assessing information technologies, and lending her subject matter expertise to several Department of Justice components, including as a National Institute of Justice fellow. She has provided extensive training and technical assistance in the U.S. and internationally on problem-oriented policing and manages a GIS/Data team working on homelessness issues. Julie has edited or authored numerous publications and teaches and conducts research at the University of California–San Diego. She has an MPA from San Diego State and a Postgraduate Diploma in Applied Criminology and Police Management from the University of Cambridge. She is currently pursuing her PhD at the University of Ghent, Belgium.
Evidence-Based Research and Practice:
Wartell is foundational to the institutionalization of crime analysis and problem-solving in American policing. In his nomination, John Eck praises Wartell, noting that he "can think of no practitioner who is a more relentless champion of evidence-based policing practices, stretching back to the 1990s, before anyone uttered the phrase 'evidence-based policing.' Indeed, some of the Hall of Fame members have noted that she originally trained them in crime analysis and problem-solving. Her extensive history as a civilian member of and advisor to several law enforcement and justice agencies has directly contributed to the development of crime analysis in the United States and beyond for over three decades.
Wartell has been central to the implementation of rigorous scientific research throughout her career, most notably a randomized experiment to reduce crime through improved place management at the San Diego Police Department, along with several other studies, only a few of which are cited below. Wartell also served as a Visiting Fellow at the National Institute of Justice during a formative period when NIJ was advancing the use of GIS, crime research, and practitioner-researcher partnerships. She has co-authored several Problem-Oriented Guides and serves as a judge for the Herman Goldstein Award.
Wartell is well-known for translating and incorporating evidence-based practices into the field, providing training and technical assistance to hundreds of police departments worldwide on problem-oriented policing and crime analysis. She has personally presented to or trained over 10,000 individuals internationally, helping agencies move from rudimentary number crunching to true scientific analysis. Her work as a strategic advisor to the National Institute of Justice and a subject-matter expert to the Office of Community Oriented Policing, as well as for various Bureau of Justice Assistance Smart Policing Initiatives, further demonstrates her leadership in applying science to operational decision-making.
Statement from Inductee:
Forthcoming.
Contributions to Grants, Publications, and Projects:
Only select publications are listed. See the full range of her work here.
- Eck, J. E., & Wartell, J. (1998). Improving the management of rental properties with drug problems: A randomized experiment. In L. Mazerolle & J. Roehl (Eds.), Civil remedies and crime prevention: Crime prevention studies (Vol. 9). Criminal Justice Press.
- Garvey, T., LaBerge, G., & Wartell, J. (2023). Forensic intelligence models: Assessment of current practices in the United States and internationally. National Institute of Justice.
- Groff, E. R., Kearley, B., Fogg, H., et al. (2005). A randomized experimental study of sharing crime data with citizens: Do maps produce more fear? Journal of Experimental Criminology, 1(1), 87–115.
- La Vigne, N. G., & Wartell, J. (Eds.). (1999). Crime mapping case studies: Successes in the field (Vol. 2). Police Executive Research Forum.
- La Vigne, N. G., & Wartell, J. (1999). Crime mapping for problem solving. In Problem-oriented policing: Crime-specific problems, critical issues and making POP work (Vol. 2). Police Executive Research Forum.
- La Vigne, N., & Wartell, J. (2015). Robbery of pharmacies (Problem-Oriented Guides for Police Series, Guide No. 73). Center for Problem-Oriented Policing.
- Schmerler, K., Wartell, J & Weisel, D. (2004). “Applied research in Crime Analysis and Problem Solving” in Exploring Crime Analysis: Readings on Essential Skills. Overland Park, KS: IACA Press.
- Wartell, J. (2003). Crime mapping and data sharing. In M. Leipnik & D. Albert (Eds.), GIS in law enforcement: Implementation issues and case studies (pp. 85–91). Taylor & Francis.
- Wartell, J. (2014). Using GIS to problem solve across public safety agencies. Crime Mapping News, 1. Police Foundation.
- Wartell, J. (2023). “Craft Breweries and Crime: Not all alcohol establishments are created equally” in Craft Breweries & Cities: Perspectives from the Field, United Kingdom: Routledge.
- Wartell, J., & Gallagher, K. (2012). Translating environmental criminology theory into crime analysis practice. Policing: A Journal of Policy and Practice, 6(4), 377–387.
- Wartell, J., & Gallagher, K. (2017). Crime analysis for non-criminal justice researchers [Guide]. LISC/U.S. DOJ Bureau of Justice Assistance.
- Wartell, J., & Greenhalgh, F. (2000). Using technology for problem solving. Problem Solving Quarterly, 13(1). Police Executive Research Forum.
- Wartell, J., & La Vigne, N. G. (2012). Prescription drug fraud & misuse (Problem-Oriented Guides for Police Series, No. 24, 2nd ed.). Community Oriented Policing Services.
- Wartell, J., & McEwen, J. T. (2001). Privacy in the information age: A guide for sharing crime maps and spatial data. National Institute of Justice.
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