Offender Profiling: Top down approach

Question 1

Offender profiling

Answer 1

a behaviour and analytic tool that is intended to help investigators accurately predict and profile the characteristics of unknown criminals

Question 2

define top down approach

Answer 2

Profile starts with a pre-established typology and works down in order to assign offenders to one of two categories based on witness accounts and evidence from the crime scene

Question 3

The American approach

Answer 3

Also the top down approach which originated in USA which gathered data from in-depth interviews with 36 sexually motivated serial killers.

Question 4

How did the American Approach work

Answer 4

Murderers and Rapists were classified into one of two categories based on evidence found.. Categories are:

Disorganised offender

Organised offender

Question 5

Organised offender

Answer 5

-planed the crime scene in advance
-Targets a specific type of people
-Maintains a high degree of control
-Little evidence left behind
-Are sexually and socially competent (may be married or have children)
-High IQ

Question 6

Disorganised Offender

Answer 6

-little evidence of planning
-body still at the scene
-low IQ
-have history of sexual dysfunction and failed relationship
-live alone and live relatively close to where crime takes place

Question 7

4 stages to Constructing an FBI profile

Answer 7

1)Data assimilation- The profiler reviews the evidence (photographs, pathology report)

2)Crime scene classification- either disorganised or organised

3)Crime reconstruction- Hypotheses in terms of sequence of events, behaviours of the victim, etc.

4)Profile generation- Hypotheses related to the likely offender e.g. Demographic background, physical characteristics, behaviours, etc.