offender profiling : the bottom-up approach

Question 1

the british approach

Answer 1

-david canter
-generate a profile from only the available evidence

Question 2

investigative psychology

Answer 2

use statistical procedures to create a prediction of behaviour

Question 3

interpersonal coherence

Answer 3

how the offender acts during the crime relates to how they act in non-criminal situations (scene is neat - the offender is neat in everyday life)

Question 4

forensic awareness

Answer 4

attempted to cover up their tracks - may have been questioned before

Question 5

geographical profiling pt 1

Answer 5

-what offender are thinking, how they operate or where they live (centre of gravity)
-where they are next likely to commit a crime (jeopardy surface)

Question 6

geographical profiling pt 2 - circle theory

Answer 6

the marauder - operates near home
the commuter - travels away from home

Question 7

strength - evidence for investigative psychology

Answer 7

canter (1990) - analysis of 66 sexual assault cases
-each had the same characteristic (speaking to the victim like they are a thing)
-criminal behaviour is consistent proving the theory is valid and reliable

Question 8

strength - support for geographical profiling

Answer 8

canter (2001) - 120 murder cases with serial killers
-disposed of bodies in different locations which formed centres of gravity and their base was always in the middle of this
-helps determine killers’ base

Question 9

weakness - geographical profiling is not always sufficient on its own

Answer 9

-crimes recorded differently between police departments (75% of crimes go unreported)
-the quality of prior evidence hinders investigative psychology (lacks usefulness)
-Ainsworth said geographical information is not enough to identify the offender