Crime Characteristics Flashcards
Holmes and Holmes
Reported that many serial killers shared characteristics being white, male and between the ages of 25-34. They also tended to be intelligent or at least ‘street smart’ and were considered to be charming and charismatic. they also noted that they were different subtypes of serial killers: Visionary serial killers, mission serial killers, hedonistic serial killers and power control serial killers.
Visionary serial killers
are motivated to kill by voices or visions. These individuals can be both lucid and then on occasions lose touch with reality. They frequently report that their actions are due to orders from For or the Devil. During the commission of their crime they usually kill quick and don’t engage in staging at crime scenes. They are usually declared insane or incompetent to stand trial.
Mission serial killers
Believe they have a calling to eliminate a certain group of people. This sort of killer is in touch with reality apart from their self- imposed need to eradicate certain groups. In the commission of their crimes the mission serial killer may stalk a potential victim and generally displays and organised typology.
Hedonistic serial killers
They have two subtypes, lust thrill and comfort orientated. For the lust/thrill there is an established link between sexual gratification and violence, for them murder is erotic. The lust/thrill killer tends to have a distinct process that they follow, and the crimes are protected. The comfort orientated killer kills for personal gain, such as money. They are the only type of serial killer where the perpetrator tends to be female. They tend to be geographically mobile.
Power control serial killers
serve sexual gratification from dominating and controlling the life of another. They may be a sociopath and they choose to live by their own rules, but they are aware of the norms and values of the society which they live. This serial killer tries to derive the most gratification by prolonging their crimes and although they may use weapons they often experience a strong compulsions to strange their victims.
Aamodt
Noted that the mean IQ of serial killers was recorded at 95.1 (below average) but there was also a range from 57 to 165, this suggest that the iq distribution of serial murders can be just as dispersed as the general population. Aamodt’s findings contradict Holmes and holmes’ findings that serial killers are typically street smart, suggestion that the characteristics of serial killers are far from definite.
Fraud in the UK
Fraud is the most common form of criminal behaviour in the UK. The ONS reported 3675000 incidents. Fraud can be perpetrated against individuals, but it can also be perpetrates against organisations like companies and charities.
Fraud agains individuals was estimated by the national Fraud authority in 2013 to cost 9billion every year. This was considered an underestimate since victims of fraud do not always report it to the police. most victims are elderly and vulnerable people.
Characteristics of Fraudsters
In 2009 report, The national Fraud authority noted that many fraudsters demonstrated characteristics similar to that of an entrepreneur, specifically risk taking, the need to achieve, the need to be the locus of control, over optimistic and the desire for autonomy.
KPMG (2016)
The KPMG reported the findings of a survey of KPMG forensic professionals who had investigated cases of fraud perpetrated by 750 fraudsters from over 81 countries between march 2013 and August 2015.
Findings from KPMG Forensic professionals
- 69% were between 36-55
- 79% male, proportion of women grew 4% from 2010
- A threat within, 65% were employed by the company
- holds an executive or director position 35%
- 38% were employed by the organisation for 6 year
- 18% described as an autocratic individual, three times as likely to be regarded as friendly.
- Esteemed, described themselves as well respected in their organisation
- likely to have colluded with other (62-70%)
Motivated by personal gain (60) - greed (36) and the sense of ‘because I can’ (27)
