Evaluation Of Approaches To Offender Profiling

Question 1

The top down approach is useful.

Answer 1

Police who have used FBI methods believe that the top down approach is useful.
This belief is supported by research by copson who questioned 184 police officers - 82% of whom said that the approach was useful and over 90% of police officers said they would use it again. These findings suggest that there are some benefits of using the top down approach to offender profiling. Although, this approach does not result in actual identification of offenders the top down approach has other useful contributions such as offering investigators a different perspective, therefore it may be useful in preventing wrongful convictions.

Question 2

Crime scene evidence on which profiles are based is often incomplete and ambiguous.

Answer 2

However, crime scene evidence in which profiles are based is often incomplete and ambiguous.
Canter (2000) suggests this could mean judgements based on the evidence can only speculate and not reach firm conclusions regarding the type of offender.
In addition, this approach may be considered subjective as it is up to the profiler to decide what evidence is important in determining the profile.
Consequently, different profilers may reach different conclusions which supports the argument that this approach is subjective in nature and so we must question the reliability of such a method. This is supposedly what led David Canter to propose the Bottom Up approach to offender profiling.

Question 3

Bottom up approach is thought to be more scientific.

Answer 3

The bottom up approach is thought to be more scientific than other approaches to offender profiling like the top down approach.
This is supported by the fact that the theory is based on statistical techniques and computer analysis.
This suggests that the bottom up approach is a more reliable method to offender profiling as it is based on empirical methods rather than subjective views like the top down approach.
However, the data used in such systems is only related to solved cases therefore tells us little about the patterns of behaviour in unsolved cases.
In addition, the formulas used to create such programmes have to be developed by someone therefore may not be correct, hence the argument that the bottom up approach is inevitably bias.

Question 4

Is the bottom up approach useful?

Answer 4

Critiques have questioned the usefulness of investigative psychology in actually solving crimes.
Some research seems to support the usefulness of the theory: for example Gary Copson found that 75% of police officers said that the advice they received from the approach had been useful.
However, only 3% said it has helped find the actual offender.
This suggests that the bottom up approach may not be that useful in catching the actual offender, but the slight benefit that it provides may make it worthwhile.