Offender Profiling - Top Down Approach

Question 1

Describe the Top-Down Approach

Answer 1

● Originates with the FBI in the US
● Developed to help solve some of the most extreme murder cases by producing a profile
of the most likely offender.

● It starts with examining the details of the crime scene. From these details, a profiler uses
their intuition to predict certain factors about the offender.

● It is ‘intuitive’ as the profiler tries to develop a ‘feel’ for the kind of person who committed
the crime.

Question 2

What is the process of the Top-Down Approach

Answer 2

1. Profiling inputs are combined with insights from investigating other serial offenders.
2. A profile is drawn up informed by categorising the crime as organised or disorganised.
3. Suspects are identified (or lists shortened) using the profile.
4. Police interview suspects and either make charges or repeat the process using any
   new evidence
5. Information from successful arrests can inform future uses of the approach.
6. The crime is often categorised as organised or disorganised. (Hazelwood and
   Douglas, 1980). They suggested that characteristics of a crime link to the likely
   characteristics of the offender.

Question 3

What is an organised murder + murderers characteristics?

Answer 3

-Crime is planned
- Shows self control at the crime scenes
- Targeted victim
-Few clues

Characteristics
-Above average IQ
-Married
-Socially competent
-Follows it on media

Question 4

What is an disorganised murder + characteristics?

Answer 4

-Little planning
-Little attempt to hide the evidence
-No restraint

Characteristics
-Lives alone near to the scene
-Socially and sexually inadequate
-Unskilled
-Frightened and confused at the scene

Question 5

A03 - Reductionist

Answer 5

● Top down profiling is reductionist as the classification system (organised/disorganised) is too simple.
● Offenders are not simply either disorganised or organised. It may be that there are both organised and disorganised features to all their crimes. An offender may start off being disorganised and become more organised as they develop their modus operandi.

● The classification of organised/disorganised offenders has been challenged by Canter (2004) who analysed the data of 100 murders in the US using “smaller space analysis”. He found that there was support for the organised typology but no support for the
disorganised typology.

● This undermines the classification system and questions the usefulness of the Top-down approach.

Question 5

A03 - Classification is based on interviews with American, male serial killers

Answer 5

● The organised/disorgnaised classification was developed using a limited sample.

● The theory is based on interviews with 36 of the most dangerous and sexually motivated American, male murderers, including Ted Bundy and Charles Manson.

● Such individuals (who are highly manipulative) are not likely to be the best source of
reliable information.
In addition, their approach and rationale are likely quite different to offenders who commit different crimes. It is also unlikely to reflect the criminal profile of women and criminals from cultures outside of the USA.

● This questions the validity, usefulness and applicability of the Top-down approach to all
crimes committed.

Question 5

A03 - Alternative Approach

Answer 5

● The top-down approach may not be the most effective option for identifying suspects.

● According to Holmes (1998), the top-down approach has contributed to arrest in only
17% of the cases in which it was used. This is still a valuable contribution as it is used
in very serious cases where lives are at risk.

● However, alternative approaches such as Canter’s Bottom up approach, which is data driven, may be a more reliable approach to finding offenders than the top-down
approach.