2. bottom-up approach

Question 1

what is the aim of the bottom up approach

Answer 1

Aims to generate the likely characteristics, social background, and routine behaviour through systematic analysis of evidence at the crime scene.
Does not use fixed typologies and it is much more grounded in psychological theory.

Question 2

explain investigative psychology

Answer 2

Is an attempt to apply statistical procedures alongside psychological theory to the analysis of crime scene evidence. The aim is to establish patterns of behaviour that are likely to occur across crime scenes. This is done to develop a statistical database that acts as a baseline for comparison. Specific details of an offence can then be matched against this database to reveal important details about the offender, their personal history etc. this may also determine if a series of offences are linked e.g. committed by the same person.

Question 3

Interpersonal coherence:

Answer 3

is the way an offender behaves at the crime scene, including how they interact with the victim, may reflect their behaviour in everyday life

Question 4

Significance of time and place:

Answer 4

may indicate where the offender is living.

Question 5

Forensic awareness:

Answer 5

individuals that have been subject to police interrogation before are mindful of covering their tracks.

Question 6

describe geographical profiling

Answer 6

Uses information about the location of linked crime scenes to make inferences about the likely home or operational base of an offender (crime mapping) it can be used with investigative psychology to create hypotheses about how the offender is thinking and their modus operandi.

Question 7

what does geographical profiling assume

Answer 7

The assumption is that the serial offender will restrict their work to geographical areas they are familiar with so understanding this pattern provides the offenders with a centre of gravity that is likely to include the offenders home base.
This is the basis of Canter’s circle theory because the pattern of offending forms a circle around the offender’s home base

Question 8

The distribution of offences leads to the description of the offender either as:

Answer 8

The marauder - operates near their home base.
The commuter - likely to have travelled a distance away from home.
These can offer the investigative team important insight into the nature of the offence e.g. age, mode of transport, employment status etc.

Question 9

AO3: strength of the bottom up approach

(EVIDENCE FOR INVESTIGATIVE PSYCHOLOGY, Canter & Heritage)

Answer 9

Evidence supports the use of investigative psychology.
Canter and Heritage conducted an analysis of 66 sexual assault cases. The data was examined using smallest space analysis and several behaviours were identified as common in different samples of behaviour, such as the lack of reaction to the victim. Each individual displayed a characteristic pattern of such behaviours, and this can help establish whether two or more offences were committed by the same person.
This supports one of the basic principles of investigative psychology that people are consistent in their behaviour.

Question 10

AO3: strength of the bottom up approach

(EVIDENCE FOR GEOGRAPHICAL PROFILING, Canter)

Answer 10

There is evidence to support geographical profiling.
Canter collated information from 120 murder cases involving serial killers in the US. smallest space analysis revealed spatial consistency in the behaviour of the killers. The location of each body disposal site was different but in the end all these different sites created a circular effect around the offender’s home base. The offender’s base was located at the centre of the pattern and the effect was more noticeable in offenders who travelled short distances (marauders).
This supports the view that geographical profiling information can be used to identify an offender.

Question 11

AO3: limitation of the bottom up approach

(INSUFFICIENT)

Answer 11

One limitation is that geographical profiling may not be sufficient on its own.
As with investigative psychology, the success of geographical profiling may be reliant on the quality of the data that the police can provide. Unfortunately, recording of crime is not always accurate and it can vary between police forces. An estimated 75% of crimes are not reported to the police in the first place. This calls the utility of an approach that relies on the accuracy of geographical data into question. Other factors such as the timing of the offence, age and experience is also important in creating a profile.
This means that geographical information alone may not always lead to the successful capture of an offender.