Lecture 4 part 2

Question 1

Geographic profiling

Answer 1

• Technique used that involves analysis of crime scene location to determine most probably area of offender residence
• Assumes offenders do not travel long distance

Question 2

Stuart Kind

Answer 2

• Called in as consultant to Yorkshire Ripper case
• Murder of girls and women occurring between 1975 and 1980
• First documented application of geographic profiling

Question 3

Canter’s circle theory

Answer 3

• Based upon assumption that criminals will commit crime in places they know and not exactly where they live
• If all crimes fall within a circle then the offender will most likely reside in that circle

Question 4

Assumptions behind geographic profiling

Answer 4

• Offender tends to live within Canter’s circle theory
• As distance from offender’s home increases, probability of them committing the crime decreases
• If giving options on locations, offender will choose the most convenient option (Least effort principle)

Question 5

Cognitive mapping theory

Answer 5

Process by which people construct and use subjective mental representations of their surrounding geography

Question 6

Buffer zone

Answer 6

Area close to offender’s home that they won’t commit any crimes in

Question 7

Activity spaces

Answer 7

Area surrounding buffer zone that crimes will be committed

Question 8

Awareness spaces

Answer 8

Area around activity spaces will crimes usually won’t be committed due to lower familiarity

Question 9

Target selection theory

Answer 9

• Uses cognitive mapping to explain how offenders locate targets
• Offenders usually find targets by either becoming aware of them while moving through activity spaces or find targets by actively searching awareness area

Question 10

Canter’s offence patterns: marauders

Answer 10

Commit crimes outward from their anchor point

Question 11

Canter’s offence patterns: commuters

Answer 11

Commit crimes outside of normal activity spaces in an attempt to leave no geographical link

Question 12

Criminal consistency hypothesis

Answer 12

• Assumes targets are more or less evenly distributed throughout space
• Works well in urban areas, not so well in rural areas

Question 13

Incorrectly linked incidents

Answer 13

incorrectly linking incidents to an offender can corrupt geographical profile by confusing cognitive maps of multiple offenders