The Crime Analysis Unit (CAU) provides support for all divisions within the Santa Clara Police Department, offering information on patterns and trends so that deployment of the appropriate resources can be done in a timely and effective manner.  Analytical support within the Department is offered in three forms: strategic, tactical and administrative.

The CAU provides strategic analysis to the Patrol Division by directing enforcement to areas that experience higher crime rates, minimizing the opportunity for continued criminal activity. Ongoing crime trends are presented to the Investigations Bureau, to develop a tactical plan for identifying and apprehending suspects and addressing immediate and high level threats of criminal activity, such as: murders, robberies, rape and abduction. Administrative support is offered to the command staff of the Santa Clara Police Department through summaries of findings, providing a bridge in communication between the Patrol Division, the Investigations Bureau and the Administrative staff. 

The CAU partners with the Neighborhood Watch program to provide Neighborhood Watch Captains with detailed information about their neighborhoods to disseminate to their members. Residents also have the ability to access LexisNexis to access a summary of crime activity in their neighborhood.