1- top-down approach

Question 1

what are typical traits of a serial killer

Answer 1

• male (92%)
• white (52%)
• late 20s (27%)
• kills within own race
• murder method is hands on
• victims selected as they share specific characteristics
• history of bed-wetting, fire-starting or cruelty to animals as a child
• kill for enjoyment (lust, thrill or power)

Question 2

what is offender profiling

Answer 2

• tool to narrow down list of likely suspects
• based on idea that offender’s characteristics can be deduced from crime
• usually includes scrutiny of crime scene, analysis of evidence, witness reports

Question 3

what is the top-down approach

Answer 3

• templates of organised/disorganised offenders pre-exist in profiler’s mind
• evidence and crime details are used to fit offender into one of he pre-existing groups

Question 4

describe an organised offender

Answer 4

• evidence of having planed crime in advance
• victim is deliberately targeted (reveals certain victim types)
• high level of control and work with detached surgical precision
• little evidence left behind
• above avg intelligence, skilled occupation and socially/sexually competent
• often married with children

Question 5

describe a disorganised offender

Answer 5

• little evidence of planning (spontaneous)
• crime scene reflects impulsive nature (body left,)
• little control
• lower than avg intelligence, unskilled work/unemployed, history of sexual dysfunction/failed relationships
• tend to live alone and close to crime scene

Question 6

negative evaluation of top-down profiling (5)

Answer 6

• only applies to certain crimes (e.g. rape, cult killings, dissection etc.) and not common offences
• organised/disorganised groups based on 36 USA serial killers so unrepresentative sample for a typology system
• based on interviews with 36 sexually motivated serial killers and self-report data is considered as invalid for a classification system
• the distinctions are overly simplistic, 4 types are suggested; visionary (God/devil directs them), mission (eradicate group they consider undesirable), hedonistic (thrill), power (control over victim)
• analysis of 100 murders in USA showed evidence of distinct organised type but not disorganised type which undermines the whole system