Offender Profiling

Question 1

Introduction

Answer 1

Offender profiling also known as criminal profiling is an investigative strategy used by law enforcement agencies to identify likely suspects and has been used by investigators to link cases that may have been committed by the same perpetrator. The first attempts at linking criminals was in the early 20th century. Lombrosso (1911) suggested that criminals could be predicted by ear size, sloping foreheads and long arms. However, more recently we link offences and criminals by looking at the sociodemographic characteristics of an offender based on the information that is available at the crime scene.

Question 2

FBI Approach

Answer 2

The FBI recognised the need to classify offence scenes in order to see which offender was linked to the crime. Based on 36 sexual murders the FBI categorised the types of offender into two groups based on the crime scene information. These groups were organised and disorganised. An organised offender is one that plans the offence beforehand, targets the victim and acts in a controlled manner.

Question 3

UK Approach/Offender Profilers

Answer 3

In the UK, theories and methods were applied from areas of expertise and were used to assist in investigations. Early research eventually led to full time offender profilers being recruited to assist in investigations and in lots of cases were able to successfully assist with investigations. For example, Canter (1994) drew on principles and concepts from social and environmental psychology when constructing the profile of the railway rapist. More recently, there has been a change in title from offender profiler to Behavioural investigative advisor (West, 2001) reflecting an increase in services beyond just profiling of an offender. Some of the duties include crime scene assessment, profiling, prioritising persons of interest and linking offences.

Question 4

Underlying Assumptions

Answer 4

• Behavioural consistency – eg.someone committing a violent offence is likely to be violent on other occasions.
• Homology- offenders from similar backgrounds commit similar offences

Question 5

Forensic Criminal psychologists

Answer 5

Also provide support to investigations regarding interview, risk assessment, utilizing the media

Question 6

Strengths of BIA/Offender profiling

Answer 6

• Pinizotto and Finkel (1990) profilers wrote richer and more accurate sexual profiles compared to detectives
• Jackson et al (1997) advice was highly rated
• Small but useful part of investigations

Question 7

Weaknesses

Answer 7

• Ainsworth (2001) – too vague and is just common sense
• The results of offender profiling does not stand up in court- Sheldon and Mcleod (1991) information about past behaviour of other offenders is irrelevant to the case that is in court. It will not stand up as evidence
• Petherick and Ferguson (2014) rely on consistency and homology. Research has failed to show this is valid or it is only valid for certain crimes meaning there is limited generalisability