Bottom Up Approach Flashcards
Define the bottom up approach
Profiler work up from evidence collected from crime scene→ develop hypotheses about likely characteristics,motivations & social background of offender
Define investigative psychology
Form bottom up profiling that matches details from crime scene with statistical analysis of typical offender behaviour pattern based on psychological theory
- Define geographical profiling
Form bottom up profiling based on principle of spatial consistency= Offender operational base & possible future offences revealed by geographical location of previous crimes
What is the aim of BUA
Generate picture of offender→ their likely characteristics, routine behaviour and social background
What method is used to investigate BUAS aim
though statistical analysis of evidence at crime scene
- Where is bu approach used
Britain
How does bu approach differ from the top down (2)
- Does not begin with fix typologies→ profile is ‘data driven’ + emerges as investigator engages in deeper and more rigorous scrutiny of details of offence
- Much more grounded in psychological theory
Explain investigative psychology (3)
Attempt to apply statistical procedures alongside psychological theory→ To analysis of crime scene evidence
Establish patterns of behaviour that likely to occur or co exist across crime scenes⇒ to develop statistical ‘database’ which then acts as baseline for comparison Specific details of offence or related offences can be matched against this database→ reveal important details about offender, their personal history, family background, etc. + whether series of offences are linked in that they’re likely to have been committed by same person
What is interpersonal coherence
Central to this approach
Watt that’s offender behaves at crime scene, including how they ‘intersect’ with victim⇒ may reflect their everyday behaviour→ eg while some rapists want to maintain max control and humiliate their victims, others more apologetic (Dwyer)⇒ tell police how offender relates to women more generally
What is forensic awareness
Describes individuals who have been subject of police interrogation before→ behaviour may denote how mindful they’re at covering tracks
Who first described geographical profiling
Rossmo
Explain what this person explained about geographical profiling (4)
Uses info to do with location of linked crime scenes to make inferences about likely home or operational base of offender= crime mapping
Can also be used in conjunction with psychological theory→ to create hypotheses about how offender is thinking as well as their modus operandi (signature way of working) Assumption is that serial offenders will restrict their ‘work’ to geographical areas they’re familiar with→ so understanding spatial pattern of their behaviour provides investigation with ‘central gravity’ which likely include offenders base (often in middle) Help investigator to make educated guess where offender likely to strike= jeopardy surface
What are the two models proposed by canters circle theory
- Marauder: who operates in cose proximity to their home base
- Commuter: who likely have travelled distance away from their usual residence
What does canter’s circle theory suggest (2)
Pattern of offending likely to form circle astound their usual residence→ becomes more apparent the more offences there are
Such spatial decision making can offer investigative team insight into nature of offence→ eg were planned or opportunistic + reveal other important factors about offender such as ‘mental maps’, mode of transport, employment, status, approximate age etc
evaluate the evidence for investigative psychology (+ve) (4)
Canter & Heritage
conducted content analysis of 66 sexual assault cases→ using smallest space analysis= computer program that identifies correlation across patterns of behaviour Several characteristics identified as common in most cases eg interpersonal language & lack of reaction to victim These characteristics occur in diff pattern in diff individuals→ can lead to understanding of how offenders behaviour may change over series of offences or establish whether 1 or more offences were committed by same person Sees how statistical technique can be applied
Evaluate evidence for geographical profiling (+ve) (3)
Lundrigan & Canter
Collated info from 120 murder cases involving serial killers in USA Smallest space analysis revealed: spatial consistency in behaviour of killers⇒ location of body disposal site was in diff direction from previous→ create ‘centre of gravity’ → offenders base was invariably located in centre of pattern Effect more noticeable for marauders
Evaluate wider application of the bua (+ve) (2)
Applies to wider range of offences
Techniques such as smallest space analysis & principle of spatial consistency⇒ investigate crime such as burglary & theft + murder & rape
Evaluate mixed results for profiling case using bua (-ve)
Despite many successes in BU profiling→ has had some significant failures
Rachel nickels case: Rachel nickell raped and stabbed→ only witness was 2 yr old son→ wrongfully convicted stagg→ individual that was walking his dogs in area & fitted offenders profile→ year later new evidence reviewed finding Napper was offender→ was ruled out on earlier stages of profiling bc didn’t meet profiling of offenders height
