Forensics- Offender Profiling: Bottom-up Approach

Question 1

The bottom-up approach -

Answer 1

Profilers work up from evidence collected from the crime scene to develop hypotheses about the likely characteristics, motivations and social background of the offender.

Question 2

Investigative psychology -

Answer 2

A form of bottom-up profiling that matches details from the crime scene with statistical analysis of typical offender behaviour patterns based on psychological theory.

Question 3

Geographical profiling -

Answer 3

A form of bottom-up profiling based on the principle of spatial consistency: that an offender’s operational base and possible future offences are revealed by the geographical location of their previous crimes.

Question 4

What is the aim of the bottom-up approach?

Answer 4

To generate a picture of the offender, including their likely characteristics, routine behavior, and social background, through systematic analysis of crime scene evidence.

Question 5

How does the bottom-up approach differ from the US top-down approach?

Answer 5

The bottom-up approach is data-driven, emerging from detailed scrutiny of the offence, whereas the top-down approach begins with fixed typologies.

Question 6

What is the bottom-up approach grounded in?

Answer 6

It is grounded in psychological theory.

Question 7

What is investigative psychology?

Answer 7

A discipline that applies statistical procedures and psychological theory to analyze crime scene evidence.

Question 8

What is the aim of investigative psychology in offender profiling?

Answer 8

To establish patterns of behavior across crime scenes and create a statistical database for comparison.

Question 9

What is interpersonal coherence in investigative psychology?

Answer 9

The concept that an offender’s behavior at the crime scene reflects their everyday behavior, such as their interactions with others.

Question 10

How can time and place be significant in investigative psychology?

Answer 10

They may indicate where an offender is living or operating from.

Question 11

What does forensic awareness refer to?

Answer 11

It describes individuals who have been interrogated by police before and are mindful of covering their tracks.

Question 12

What is geographical profiling?

Answer 12

A technique that uses the locations of linked crime scenes to infer an offender’s likely home or operational base (crime mapping).

Question 13

What is the assumption behind geographical profiling?

Answer 13

Serial offenders usually operate within familiar geographical areas, creating a spatial pattern investigators can analyze.

Question 14

What is a ‘centre of gravity’ in geographical profiling?

Answer 14

The central area of a spatial pattern, likely to include the offender’s home or base.

Question 15

What is a ‘jeopardy surface’ in geographical profiling?

Answer 15

An educated guess about where the offender might strike next.

Question 16

What are Canter and Larkin’s two models of offender behavior?

Answer 16

•The marauder: operates close to their home base.

•The commuter: travels a distance away from their residence.

Question 17

How does the pattern of offending relate to an offender’s home base?

Answer 17

It often forms a circle around their usual residence, becoming more apparent with multiple offences.

Question 18

What insights can spatial decision-making provide investigators?

Answer 18

It can reveal whether the crime was planned or opportunistic and offer clues about the offender’s mental maps, mode of transport, employment status, and approximate age.

Question 19

What evidence supports investigative psychology?

Answer 19

David Canter and Rupert Heritage (1990) conducted a content analysis of 66 sexual assault cases using smallest space analysis, identifying common behaviors such as impersonal language and lack of victim reaction. These findings demonstrated how offender behavior patterns can change over time and how crimes can be linked to the same offender.

Question 20

How does this evidence support investigative psychology?

Answer 20

It shows that statistical techniques can be applied effectively to analyze behavior patterns and aid in criminal investigations.

Question 21

What evidence supports geographical profiling?

Answer 21

Samantha Lundrigan and David Canter (2001) analyzed 120 serial murder cases in the USA using smallest space analysis, revealing spatial consistency. Body disposal sites often formed a pattern around a ‘centre of gravity,’ which aligned with the offender’s base, especially for marauders.

Question 22

How does this evidence support geographical profiling?

Answer 22

It validates Canter’s claim that spatial information is crucial for determining an offender’s base.

Question 23

Why is the bottom-up approach considered to have a scientific basis?

Answer 23

It is grounded in evidence and psychological theory, relying less on speculation. Advanced AI tools help process geographical, biographical, and psychological data quickly, producing actionable insights.

Question 24

What wider applications does the bottom-up approach have?

Answer 24

Unlike the top-down approach, it can be applied to a range of crimes, including burglary and theft, as well as serious crimes like murder and rape.

Question 25

What is a limitation of the top-down approach in comparison?

Answer 25

It is best suited to a narrow range of crimes, such as murder and rape, and is less adaptable to other offences.

Question 26

What are the mixed results for profiling?

Answer 26

While profiling has produced many successes, there have also been failures. For instance:
•Gary Copson (1995) found profiling advice was ‘useful’ in 83% of cases but only led to accurate offender identification in 3%.

•Richard Kocsis et al. (2002) showed that chemistry students outperformed experienced detectives in creating an accurate offender profile in a solved murder case.

Question 27

What do these mixed results suggest about profiling?

Answer 27

Although profiling can aid investigations, it is not consistently reliable for identifying offenders and should be used alongside other investigative methods.