We’re excited to share that the U.S. Department of Justice has highlighted Risk Terrain Modeling (RTM) as their official “Term of the Month”! This recognition from the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) underscores the growing importance of environmental risk analysis in public safety.
Federal Recognition for Innovative Approach
The NIJ has featured RTM in their Term of the Month series, providing an official definition and acknowledging its value in public safety analysis. This recognition validates what our partners already know: RTM offers a powerful framework for understanding how environmental features contribute to public safety outcomes.
According to the NIJ definition, Risk Terrain Modeling is:
“An approach to spatial risk analysis that identifies environmental factors that contribute to crime and other harmful behaviors. Risk terrain modeling helps diagnose why certain places experience problems by examining the spatial features that create opportunities for crime.”
Simsi: The Original RTM Solution
As the only software platform built specifically for Risk Terrain Modeling, Simsi continues to lead the field in translating this innovative methodology into practical solutions. Our platform was developed by the original researchers who pioneered RTM at Rutgers University, ensuring that our technology represents the most authentic and advanced implementation of these techniques.
While this federal recognition is new, our team has been refining and implementing RTM for over 15 years, working with agencies across 40+ countries to address public safety challenges through environmental analysis.
What This Means For Communities
The DOJ’s recognition highlights the shift toward more holistic, preventative approaches to public safety. Rather than focusing solely on where incidents have occurred, RTM identifies why certain locations experience problems by analyzing environmental risk factors.
This approach enables:
- More precise resource allocation
- Targeted environmental interventions
- Reduced reliance on enforcement-only strategies
- Data-driven partnerships across sectors
Experience the Difference
As RTM continues to gain recognition, ensure your organization is working with the original and most experienced team in the field. Contact us today to learn how Simsi’s platform can help you implement this DOJ-recognized methodology in your community.
Simsi is the only software platform built specifically for Risk Terrain Modeling, developed by the original researchers who pioneered the methodology at Rutgers University.