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Forensic > Offender Profiling > Flashcards

Offender Profiling Flashcards

1
Q

Offender profiling is making ____ about a criminal’s behaviour and personality characteristics, based on the ____ they have committed (Douglas et al, 1986).

A

Offender profiling is making PREDICTIONS about a criminal’s behaviour and personality characteristics, based on the CRIMES they have committed (Douglas et al, 1986).

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2
Q

However, not all scholars define offender profiling in the same way e.g. Jackson et al (1994) termed offender profiling as a combination between knowledge gained as a result of dealing with similar crimes and..

A

.. knowledge gained from clinical research and practice.

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3
Q

Witch profiling illustrates the ____ of profiling in general.

A

Witch profiling illustrates the DANGERS of profiling in general.

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4
Q

What are the problems associated with relying on DNA to catch an offender?

A
  1. DNA links a person to a crime SCENE but necessarily the crime
  2. Offenders are becoming increasingly experienced at concealing DNA e.g. through water emersion or burning
  3. Offenders may attempt to plan another individual’s DNA at the scene
  4. If the offender has never been arrested, their DNA will not be on record
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5
Q

We can use behavioural measures in order to link sexual homicides to one individual. For example:

  1. ‘this body has been carried a good half a mile. The perpetrator is stronger than the average person and is therefore likely to be a man’ (____ ____).
  2. ‘all of these similar offences have been committed at or near a service station- perhaps the perpetrator is a lorry driver’ (______).
  3. ‘this body has 35 stab wounds- the perpetrator is clearly able to become extremely angry and aggressive’ (_____ _____).
  4. ‘this offender has selected a victim from off the street rather than actively gone to a red light district, therefore it seems the offender’s actions were spontaneous’ (____ and ___-___ ____).
  5. Criminal history
A

We can use behavioural measures in order to link sexual homicides to one individual. For example:

  1. ‘this body has been carried a good half a mile. The perpetrator is stronger than the average person and is therefore likely to be a man’ (physical characteristics).
  2. ‘all of these similar offences have been committed at or near a service station- perhaps the perpetrator is a lorry driver’ (lifestyle).
  3. ‘this body has 35 stab wounds- the perpetrator is clearly able to become extremely angry and aggressive’ (personality characteristics).
  4. ‘this offender has selected a victim from off the street rather than actively gone to a red light district, therefore it seems the offender’s actions were spontaneous’ (pre and post-event information).
  5. Criminal history
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6
Q

The modus ____ is an offender’s way of performing a crime.

A

The modus operandi is an offender’s way of performing a crime. Modus operandi are likely to become more consistent across offences as an offender learns and repeats ‘effective’ behaviours.

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7
Q

The modus operandi for sexual homicide can be split into 3 categories. What are they?

A
  1. Finding and attacking the victim
  2. ID protection
  3. Escape
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8
Q

What if the modus operandi between two offences is different?

A

EITHER the offender is different OR both offences were committed by the same person BUT the offender’s modus operandi has evolved in between times.

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9
Q

How do we get information in order to generate an offender profile?

A
  1. Crime scene reports
  2. Crime scene photographs
  3. Forensic pathologist’s reports
  4. Detailed accounts from the victim
  5. Geographical information
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10
Q

The first ever offender profile was created by Dr Thomas Bond of which offender?

A

Jack the Ripper.

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11
Q

In 1964, the Medical Psychiatric Committee (consisting of individual’s with diverse expertise) all drew different conclusions about the ____ Strangler, despite being exposed to _____ crime scene information.

A

In 1964, the Medical Psychiatric Committee (consisting of individual’s with diverse expertise) all drew different conclusions about the BOSTON Strangler, despite being exposed to IDENTICAL crime scene information.

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12
Q

What are the 4 stages of FBI offender profile generation?

Jack and Bekerian (1997)

A
  1. Data collection
  2. Crime categorisation
  3. Crime reconstruction
  4. Profile generation

(Jack & Bekerian, 1997)

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13
Q

The accuracy and predictive validity of FBI offender profiling has ____ been empirically tested.

A

The accuracy and predictive validity of FBI offender profiling has NOT been empirically tested.

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14
Q

What percentage of crimes with FBI profiles were solved?

A

46%

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15
Q

In what percentage of cases did the FBI offender profile focus the investigation?

A

72%

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16
Q

In what percentage of cases did the FBI profile help to locate possible suspects?

A

20%

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17
Q

In what percentage of cases with FBI offender profiles was the suspect correctly identified?

A

17%

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18
Q

In what percentage of cases did FBI offender profiling assist with the prosecution of the suspect?

A

6%

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19
Q

In what percentage of cases was FBI offender profiling of no assistance?

A

17%

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20
Q

In the early 1990’s, the APA were commissioned by ____ to evaluate the validity of a profile complied by the FBI. What were their conclusions? What did this instigate?

A

In the early 1990’s, the APA were commissioned by congress to evaluate the validity of a profile compiled by the FBI. The APA concluded that the FBI profile was invalid, criticising the procedures, methodologies and limitations of profiling. This lead to the FBI adopting a more scientific and empirically sound approach to profiling.

21
Q

In the UK, profiling is based on which 3 things?

A
  1. Detective experience
  2. Psychological theory
  3. Statistical analysis of cases solved
22
Q

Profiling calls on which 2 areas of psychology?

A
  1. Clinical psychology

2. Investigative psychology

23
Q

The clinical approach to profiling involves looking for evidence of the offender’s cognition and _____.

A

The clinical approach to profiling involves looking for evidence of the offender’s cognition and AFFECT.

24
Q

When Davies and Follette (2002) evaluated clinical profiling, they argued that clinicians base their profiles on ‘intuitive profiles of criminal stereotypes’ which is an example of which heuristic?

A

The representativeness heuristic.

25
Q

During the Rachel Nickell case in 1992, Paul Britten created an offender profile which strongly matched a man called Colin Stagg. The police even went under cover to try and trick Stagg into admitting his guilt. He infact insisted his innocence, even under these circumstances. Stagg was acquitted in 1994 after spending 14 months in custody. Then in 2008, a man named Robert Napper admitted (already in Broadmoor) admitted to killing Rachel. A report on Napper highlighted what?

A

The police had failed to deal with a claim from Napper’s own Mother that her son had admitted to raping a woman in Plumbstrad in 1989. Despite this, shortly after Rachel’s murder, Napper was eliminated from the enquiry as he was deemed ‘too tall’ on the basis of Britten’s profile.

26
Q

When environmental psychologists analyse a crime, the analyse 5 factors:

A
  1. Attempted intimacy
  2. Sexual gratification
  3. Aggression
  4. Impersonal interaction
  5. Criminality
27
Q

Smallest Space Analysis computes _____ between all variables and then ____ orders them.

A

Smallest Space Analysis computes CORRELATIONS between all variables and then RANK orders them.

28
Q

An example of attempted intimacy and SSA:

A

If the offender asks the victim to participate physically during a sexual assault, this received an attempted intimacy score of 18. If the offender compliments the victim, this is regarded as a greater attempt at being intimate with the victim and receives a ‘closer’ score of 9.

29
Q

Golblatt (1992) conducted an analysis of 57 offender profiled cases which used Canter’s Investigative Psychological method. What percentage of these cases were solved?

A

21%

30
Q

Of the 21% of cases solved, what percentage were incorrect?

A

19%

31
Q

The FBI argue that profiling is more of an ___ than a ____ and should never replace traditional investigative methods.

A

The FBI argue that profiling is more of an ART than a SCIENCE and should never replace traditional investigative methods.

32
Q

Jaskcon (1994) recommended that profiles be used as ____ rather than substantive tools for investigation.

A

Jaskcon (1994) recommended that profiles be used as SUPPORTIVE rather than substantive tools for investigation.

33
Q

Offender profilers recently had their job title changed to ___ ____ ____ (BIA).

A

Offender profilers recently had their job title changed to BEHAVIOURAL INVESTIGATIVE ADVISOR (BIA).

34
Q

BIA evidence cannot stand up in _____.

A

BIA evidence cannot stand up in court.

35
Q

Behavioural Investigative Advisor (BIA) profiles could be bad for the CPS because the profile could strengthen the _____ case if the profile is different from the defendant.

A

Behavioural Investigative Advisor (BIA) profiles could be bad for the CPS because the profile could strengthen the DEFENCE case if the profile is different from the defendant.

36
Q

Gekowski and Gray (2011) found that police felt ____ into using profiles despite their _____.

A

Gekowski and Gray (2011) found that police felt PRESSURED into using profiles despite their SCEPTICISM.

37
Q

On the other hand, Gekowski and Gray (2011) found that a positive thing about profiling is that profiles can act as a _____ opinion and as a ____ of police judgement.

A

On the other hand, Gekowski and Gray (2011) found that a positive thing about profiling is that profiles can act as a SECOND opinion and as a CONFIRMATION of police judgement.

38
Q

Gekowski and Gray (2011) conducted a study into the usefulness of profiling. Their main conclusion was that police officers were _____ with profiling.

A

Gekowski and Gray (2011) conducted a study into the usefulness of profiling. Their main conclusion was that police officers were DISSATISFIED with profiling.

39
Q

Police told Gekowski and Gray (2011) that in some cases, profiles had the power to _____ investigations.

A

Police told Gekowski and Gray (2011) that in some cases, profiles had the power to DAMAGE investigations.

40
Q

Why might police overrate the usefulness of profiling?

A

Police may overrate the usefulness of profiling due to a disposition to trust information from ‘experts’ in the field of human behaviour. This trust is further enhanced when the experts use jargon in front of the police officers.

41
Q

In some cases, profiling seemed to breed police disempowerment, with some police detectives feeling diminished by their lack of _____ knowledge.

A

In some cases, profiling seemed to breed police disempowerment, with some police detectives feeling diminished by their lack of ACADEMIC knowledge.

42
Q

Unfortunately, Gekoski and Gray (2011) found that, when profilers lead police interviews, they were likely to breach what?

A

PACE.

43
Q

In many cases, profilers’ advice was actually too specific to be helpful as it was un-____.

A

In many cases, profilers’ advice was actually too specific to be helpful as it was UNVERIFIABLE.

44
Q

Gekoski and Gray (2011) argue that in order to combat the limitations associated with profiling, profilers need to be clear and ___ when telling police officers what they can provide.

A

Gekoski and Gray (2011) argue that in order to combat the limitations associated with profiling, profilers need to be clear and REALISTIC when telling police officers what they can provide.

45
Q

Gekoski and Gray (2011) recommend that police officers are ____ as to the limitations of profiling.

A

Gekoski and Gray (2011) recommend that police officers are EDUCATED as to the limitations of profiling.

46
Q

A limitation of the profiling study by Gekoski and Gray (2011) is that the officers were directed to recall a profiling case which they could remember most clearly. Due to our inherent negativity bias, it is possible that the cases the police officers recalled were atypical ones which demonstrate the ____ of profiling.

A

A limitation of the profiling study by Gekoski and Gray (2011) is that the officers were directed to recall a profiling case which they could remember most clearly. Due to our inherent negativity bias, it is possible that the cases the police officers recalled were atypical ones which demonstrate the DRAWBACKS of profiling.

47
Q

Arguably, police rely on profiling ____ now that they have other sophisticated tools such as DNA.

A

Arguably, police rely on profiling LESS now that they have other sophisticated tools such as DNA.

48
Q

A concerning finding of Gekoski and Gray (2011) was that police were using profiling, not due to a belief about its utility, but through cynical concerns about _____.

A

A concerning finding of Gekoski and Gray (2011) was that police were using profiling, not due to a belief about its utility, but through cynical concerns about ACCOUNTABILITY.

49
Q

When Geskoski and Gray (2011) interviewed police about their experiences of profiling, they found that:

  1. Profiling widened the field of investigation to ____ proportions
  2. Profiling ____ to tell the police anything they didn’t already know
  3. Profilers sometimes breached ____
  4. Profiling, in some cases, was simply _____ _____
A

When Geskoski and Gray (2011) interviewed police about their experiences of profiling, they found that:

  1. Profiling widened the field of investigation to UNMANAGEABLE proportions
  2. Profiling FAILED to tell the police anything they didn’t already know
  3. Profilers sometimes breached PACE
  4. Profiling, in some cases, was simply COMMON SENSE

Forensic (13 decks)

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