Offender Profiling Flashcards
What is offender profiling?
behavioural and analytical tool used to help investigators of crimes to predict and profile characteristics of unknown criminals.
(what kind of person committed crime from the scene)
What are the 2 types of offender profiling
Top-down approach (American)
Bottom-up approach (British)
Describe the Top-down approach
-data from 36 interviews with sexually motivated serial killers
-pre-existing template of murderers/rapists
-profiler matches crime to template
-tells what type of criminal they are looking for: organised or unorganised
What are characteristics of an organised crime scene
victim deliberately targeted
high degree of control
little evidence
take trophies
What are characteristics of an disorganised crime scene
spontaneous/ little planning
lots of evidence
weapons improvised
no trophies
What are characteristics of an organised offender
socially/ sexually competent
skilled/professional
married
have victim type
What are characteristics of an disorganised offender
unskilled/ unemployed
sexual disfunction
live close to scene
low IQ
What are the 4 main stages in Top-down profiling
- Data assimilation = review evidence
- Crime scene classification = organised/ unorganised
- Crime reconstruction = hypothesis of event/behaviours
- Profile generation = hypothesis related to offender
What are the strengths of the Top-down approach
:) Research support
e.g. Canter et al - 100 USA murderers examined with 39 org/unorg characteristics, found evidence of a distinct organised type
exp. effective & increases usefulness
What are the weaknesses of the Top-down approach
:( RS (Canter) not fully supportive
e.g. no evidence of unorganised
exp. dis traits don’t exist , decreases usefulness
:( Only applicable to some crimes
e.g. murder & rape
exp. not always appropriate & limited approach, not effective
:( Simplistic
e.g. Organises and disorganised not mutually exclusive. Holmes suggests there are 4 types of serial killer: visionary, mission, hedonistic, power.
exp. classifications aren’t applicable, not useful
:( methodological limitations of top-down approach
e.g. based on 36 killers in US (bias sample), sample is too small and question reliability of interview
exp. internal & external validity questioned as evidence is weak, not effective
Describe the Bottom-up approach
systematic analysis of scene informing potential characteristics
data driven = rigorous scrutiny of scene
two examples: investigative psychology and geographical profiling
What is geographical profiling
-crime mapping
-identify the modus operandi of criminal
-based on Canter’s Circle Theory suggesting criminals are marauder’s (opportunistically) or commuters.
-identify a operational base of criminal as well as where they live
-show centre of gravity as they live in a location that is circumscribed by their crimes
What is investigative psychology
-match scene with statistical analysis of typical behaviour patterns
-specific details are matched against a data base to reveal details
-central to app = interpersonal coherence
-scene reflects behaviour in non crime situations
-time, place & forensic awareness
What are the strengths of the Bottom-up approach
:) Research support using stat analysis
e.g. Canter and Heritage analysis on 66 SA cases, identified a correlation of behavioural patterns across cases.
exp. useful, effective form of profiling
:) Research supporting geographical profiling
e.g. Canter & Lundrigan stat analysis of info from 120 serial killer/ murder cases in USA revealing consistency and centre of gravity
exp. usefulness identify base & help locate criminal
:) Objective & scientific
e.g. advanced artificial intelligence can use materials from other crimes to quickly produce data
exp. internally valid and more reliable
:) Wide application
e.g. techniques like Canter’s stat analysis ‘principle of spatial consistency’ can be used in different crimes
exp. useful
What are the limitations of the Bottom-up approach
:( Research refuting- mixed results
e.g. Case of Rachel Nickell’s, false arrest of Colin Stagg as he fit the description built by Paul Britton
exp. Isn’t always applicable or accurate
