Offender profiling: top-down approach

Question 1

Crime

Answer 1

any act which is unlawful and can result in punishment by the state (government). The act is harmful to individuals, groups or society

Question 2

offender profiling

Answer 2

behavioural and analytical tool used when trying to find suspects. It aims to predict the probable characteristics of the unknown criminals using evidence from the crime scene

Question 3

top down approach

Answer 3

FBI developed approach
based on profilers judgement

Question 4

Top down profiling process

Answer 4

1. data assimilation
2. crime scene classification
3. crime reconstruction
4. profile generation

Question 5

Data assimilation can be split into 2 steps

Answer 5

1.profiling inputs
2.decision process models

Question 6

profiling inputs

Answer 6

data will be collected including a description of the crime scene, background info of the victim and details of the crime

Question 7

decision process models

Answer 7

profiler will go through data and organise it in meaningful patterns

Question 8

crime scene classification

Answer 8

crime is assessed using the data collected in data assimilation
the defender is categorised as either organised or disorganised

Question 9

organised offender

Answer 9

crime is planned
victim is targeted
victim is likely to be taken to a pre-chosen location
highly intelligent offender

Question 10

disorganised offender

Answer 10

unplanned crime
random victim
little time spent with victim
evidence left behind

Question 11

crime reconstruction

Answer 11

hypothesis in terms of sequence of events e.g.behaviour of the victim

Question 12

profile generation

Answer 12

hypotheses related to the likely offender e.g. demographic background,physical characteristics