Policing that is smarter, more effective, and more proactive is clearly preferable to simply reacting to criminal acts. Predictive policing uses statistical techniques to identify promising targets for police intervention with the goals of preventing crime, solving past crimes, and identifying potential offenders and victims. Predictive policing methods can allow police to work more proactively—with limited resources—to develop effective strategies that will prevent crime or make investigation efforts more effective. However, applying predictive methods is not the equivalent to finding a crystal ball. For departments interested in predictive policing, there are promising technical tools for making predictions about future crime risks. As with other proactive policing concepts, these predictions must be coupled with effective interventions in order to reduce the risk of crime.