offender profiling Flashcards
what is the top down approach
the profiler has experience and can use the evidence at the crime scene to develop a profile of the likely criminal
what is the bottom up approach
research and statistics of similar crimes are used to develop a profile based upon previous convictions
what does modus operandi mean
way you behaviour or operate
what are the core assumptions of profiling
congruence and consistency
there is consistency in the individuals modus operandi because of what
the offenders personality will be consistent and it reflects back in the crime scene
name the 7 decision making tools
1) murder type
2) primary intent
3) victim risk
4) offender risk
5) escalation
6) time factors
7) location factors
what is meant by primary intent
if it was deliberate or pre-meditated murder
what are the characteristics of a organised behaviour towards victim
victim has been targeted
agressive
controlling conversation
what are the characteristics of a disorganised crime scene detail
weapon present
sexual activity after death
body left in view
what are the characteristics of a organised criminal
high intelligence
social competent
skilled occupation
what is the background of a disorganised criminal
low birth order – youngest child
harsh discipline as a child
Robert K Ressler interviewed serial killers, what did he think criminals are driven by..
pre-meditation and fantasies
evaluation advantage- Copson 1995 US
he questioned 184 US police officers where by 82% said the bottom up approach was useful and 90% said they would use it again
evaluation disadvantage- top down approach
organised and disorganised crime came from 36 of the most dangerous and sexually motivated murders, therefore it is not a reliable source and cannot be generalised to ‘typical’ offenders
evaluation advantage- copson 1995 UK
surveyed 48 UK police forces using investigating profiling and found 75% of police officers that where questioned said bottom up approach was useful.
But only 3% said it had helped so may not be useful in catching offender
evaluation advantage bottom up approach Rossomo 1999
supports geographical approach and claims it may not solve crimes but it can be useful in identifying a location where DNA is found
evaluation disadvantage bottom up approach Rossomo 1999
can’t distinguish between multiple offenders in the same area
the method is limited to spatial behaviour
what are the 4 main principles in geographical profiling to help shape a profile
1) location
2) systematic crime location choice
3) centrality
4) comparative case analysis
what are the 2 types of offenders in centrality and define them
1- commuter who travel to commit crime
2-maraudes who commit crime close to home
what is the bottom up approach linked with
geographical location
what are the 5 assumptions by David Canter
- interpersonal coherence
- time and place
- criminal characteristics
- criminal career
- forensic awareness
what is the advantage of geographical profiling to the police
it helps narrow down the field of availables
