Offender Profiling & Psychological Autopsies

Question 1

What is profiling?

Answer 1

Construction of a psychological description of an offender

Question 2

What construction is involved of profiling? (2)

o M_____, p___________, p________ t_____, h_____, i_________, v_______ s________
o D__________

Answer 2

o Motives, psychopathology, personality traits, habits, intelligence, victim selection
o Demographics

Question 3

What does the FBI call profiling?

Answer 3

Criminal Investigative Analysis

Question 4

What are offender profiling goals? (5)

Answer 4

o Identify/eliminate suspects
o Narrow search areas
o Predict future crimes
o Guide interrogations
o Overcome linkage blindness

Question 5

What is linkage blindness?

Answer 5

Not seeing the links that lead you to see it was committed by the same person

Question 6

What are the different approaches to offender profiling?

Answer 6

Clinical (diagnostic)
Crime Scene Analysis (FBI)
Investigative Psychology (scientific)

Question 7

What is the clinical approach to profiling?

Answer 7

Essentially trying to diagnose the offender

Question 8

The Crime Scene Analysis (FBI) approach to profilingIs less dependent and more dependent on what?

Answer 8

It is less dependent on psychoanalysis
More dependent on how criminals behave

Question 9

What is the Investigative Psychology (scientific) approach to profiling?

Answer 9

Only making claims that can be backed up statistically
Started in Europe

Question 10

FBI: Behavioral Analysis Units (BAU)

1. C______-t________, a____, b_______
2. C____-c____, t_____ __________
3. _____ victims (abduction, abuse, school shootings)
4. _____ victims (serial murders, rapes, kidnapping)

Answer 10

1. Counter-terrorism, arson, bombings
2. Cyber-crime, threat assessment
3. Child victims (abduction, abuse, school shootings)
4. Adult victims (serial murders, rapes kidnapping)

Question 11

What does NCAVC stand for?

Answer 11

National Center For The Analysis of Violent Crime

Question 12

FBI BAU was responsible for one of the most extensive computer databases called what?

Answer 12

ViCAP

Question 13

What is involved in the FBI Evidenced Based Approach?

Answer 13

Crime scene analysis
Location & time
Victimology

Question 14

What is meant by crime scene analysis?

Answer 14

“method and manner”

Sexual level of violence, injuries inflicted, weapons used, body disposal etc.

Used to understand what kind of person you are dealing with

Question 15

What is involved in victimology?

Answer 15

Selection
Risk exposure

Question 16

Evidence - Crime Scene Analysis Components

Answer 16

Modus Operandi (M.O.)
Signatures
Staging

Question 17

What does Modus Operandi (M.O.) mean?

Answer 17

“Method of Operation”
What a criminal needs to do to get the job done

Question 18

Signatures are known to be like ________ and are a p_______ _____

Answer 18

trophies
personal touch

Question 19

Staging is also known as _______

Answer 19

undoing

Question 20

Types of criminals (classifications) - ORGANIZED (9)

Answer 20

o Social skills
o Planning
o Controls victims
o Brings & removes weapon
o Targets strangers
o Skilled work
o Mobile
o Follows news
o E.g., Ted Bundy

Question 21

Types of criminals (classifications) - DISORGANIZED (9)

Answer 21

o Poor social skills
o Impulsive
o “hit & run”
o Improvises weapon
o May know victims
o Unskilled work
o Lives nearby
o Not concerned
o E.g., Richards Chase “Vampire Killer of Sacramento”

Question 22

What are issues with the FBI System? (4)

Answer 22

Rationally or intuitively based (need more empirical evidence)

Types are no exhaustive or exclusive

Accuracy is hard to assess (stats are not kept)

Confirmation bias

Question 23

Investigative Psychology is by who?

Answer 23

David Canter

Question 24

Investigative Psychology, tell a bit about the Five Factor Model? (3)

Answer 24

Empirical
Statistical analysis
More prediction than speculation

Question 25

What are the components of the Five Factor Model in Investigative Psychology?

Answer 25

1. Coherence 2. Criminal type 3. Criminal career 4. Forensic awareness 5. Time & place (one of most important)

Question 26

Investigative Psychology - Geographic profiling o S_________ analysis of l________, t_____ o Predict future c____ _____ o Narrow ______ areas o I_______/e_______ suspects

Answer 26

o Statistical analysis of locations, times o Predict future crime sites o Narrow search areas o Identify/eliminate suspects

Question 27

Investigative Psychology - Geographic Profiling Least ______ ______ theory R______ A_______ Theory

Answer 27

Least effort Circle Theory Routing Activity Theory

Question 28

What does Routine Activity Theory refer to?

Answer 28

Where they go out to eat, work, bus station, home, shopping

Question 29

What is an example of Geographic Profiling?

Answer 29

Beltway Snipers Took place in the vicinity of DC

Question 30

Beltway Snipers - D_______ d____ Who is most associated with this? What principle is it based on? What kind of formula does it use?

Answer 30

Distance decay Kim Rossmo Least effort principle Mathematical formula

Question 31

Geographic profiling Distance functions for: H_____ (comfort zone) C________ (buffer zone) T______ (lures victims to them) T______ (opportunistic - see who turns up)

Answer 31

Hunter Commuter Trapper Troller

Question 32

Investigative Psychology - Accuracy More suited for ______ crimes; better prediction with ______ s_____ of prior crimes _____ admissibility in court E____ rates often _______ (little follow-up research until recently)

Answer 32

serial larger sample Legal Error; unknown

Question 33

Investigative Psychology - PSYCHOLOGICAL AUTOPSY definition?

Answer 33

Means to reconstruct mental state of a person prior to death

Question 34

What is involved in psychological autopsy? Examine _________, ______ and ________ health, l________, h_____, etc. Profiling of ______ ________ Deaths

Answer 34

Examine stressors, mental and physical health, lifestyle, habits, etc. Profiling of victim Equivocal deaths

Question 35

Psychological autopsy - how would profiling a victim take place?

Answer 35

Since you can't interview them directly, can interview people they knew

Question 36

Psychological autopsy - Equivocal Deaths What are the NASH Classifications? (4)

Answer 36

Natural Accident Suicide Homicide

Question 37

Psychological autopsy - Equivocal Deaths Questions to ask: (7)

Answer 37

Self-inflicted? Lethal intent? Statements? Mental illness? Stress or loss? Farewells? Substance abuse? Conflicts?

Question 38

Psychological Autopsy - E.g. Howard Hughes Who initiated the process to look into Hughes? ___________ capacity Concluded that from childhood, Hughes had... What type of brain injuries? Fowler concluded:

Answer 38

Raymond Fowler initiated the process and looked into Hughes Testamentary capacity Concluded that from childhood, Hughes had Avoidant personality Disorder and OCD Traumatic brain injuries Substance dependence Fowler concluded personal - incompetent, professional - competent

Question 39

Psychological Autopsy - E.g. U.S.S. Iowa (1989) Focused on the behavior of a crew member called ____ ________.

Answer 39

Clay Hartwick