L2 - Top-down Approach for Offender Profiling

Question 1

What is offender profiling?

Answer 1

Strategy to narrow field of enquiry based on an idea of the offender’s characteristics

Question 2

What is an organised crime scene classification?

Answer 2

Planned the crime, where, and the crime is committed precisely
Specifically targeted the offender
Show forensic awareness by leaving little evidence behind

Question 3

What is a disorganised crime scene classification?

Answer 3

Offence,victim, and location were spontaneous
Lots of evidence left behind
Crime scene reflects impulsiveness

Question 4

Difference in offender characteristics of organised and disorganised crimes

Answer 4

Organised: Above average intelligence, socially/sexually competent, married, have children
Disorganised: lower than average intelligence, sexual dysfunctions/failed relationships, live alone, live close by to where the crime happened

Question 5

Different stages of an FBI profile?

Answer 5

Data assimilation
Crime scene classification
Crime reconstruction
Profile generation

Question 6

How are offender characteristics deduced?

Answer 6

Nature and details of the crime and its scene, and details given by the victim and witnesses

Question 7

Describe data assimilation

Answer 7

Info on the crime, details from victims and witnesses gathered

Question 8

Describe crime scene classification

Answer 8

Classes as organised or disorganised

Question 9

Describe crime reconstruction

Answer 9

Theorise the sequence of events

Question 10

Describe profile generation

Answer 10

Using info from previous 3 stages to hypothesise the likely characteristics of the offender

Question 11

+ related to offender profile being correct

Answer 11

Arthur Shawcross profiled as white male, cheap car, working near the river - police waited for him there and profile was right

Question 13

• related to reductionism

Answer 13

The crime scene classification is over simplistic, e.g. there are different types of serial killer: hedonistic, power, mission, and visionary

Question 13

• related to generalisation

Answer 13

Crime scene classification was developed on interviews of only 30 sexually motivated serial killers - small samples and won’t apply to all crimes