Profiling

Question 1

Origins of Profiling? 
-Malleus Maleficarum : 1400s 
- Jack the ripper: 1888
L> Dr. George Phillips 
-NYC Mad Bomber - 1940
L> Dr. James Brussel 
- FBI Behavioural Science Unit

Answer 1

1. book related to identifying witches and how to get rid of them
2. reconstruct crime scenes to get insight on killer via wound patterns could provide info on behaviour and personality.
3. 30 small bombs via George Metesky, mid age, paranoia, path self centred, virgin, catholic, 1957 arrested right down to the predicted clothes
4. first trained profilers! sent them around jails to interview offenders cases, no structure, not systematic

Question 2

What three parts in the world have profile data bases?

Answer 2

• Canada, UK, USA..

Question 3

Criminal Profiling? Description(4)

Answer 3

• method used to asset police in identifying potential suspects
• based on studying behavioural and personality profiles of known criminals
  -part art part science
  = various forms

Question 4

what can profiles be used for (types of crime)(5)

aka most commonly

Answer 4

rape, serial homicide, sadistic torture, ritualistic behaviour are most common,

Question 5

Characteristics typically predicted by a profiler?(12)

about offender

Answer 5

• age
• sex
• race
• lvl of IQ
• educational history
• hobbies
• family background
• residential location
• criminal history
• employment status
• psychosexual development
• post offence behaviour

Question 6

Usually profilers are trained in what first?

Psychology or Law enforcement?

Answer 6

law enforcement…

Seen in RCMP…

Question 7

Forms of profiling? (3)

Answer 7

deductive criminal profiling, inductive criminal profiling, and geographical profiling

Question 8

Deductive criminal profiling?

Answer 8

• prediction of offenders behaviour based on evidence at crime (logically driven interpretations)
  L> not 100%

Question 9

Inductive Criminal Profiling?

disadvantage?

Answer 9

• predictions of offenders background characteristics based on known criminals, certain crimes are committed by similar ppl
• impossible to have a rep population , don’t have all the info..not everyone is caught

Question 10

Geographical Profiling?

Answer 10

• crime scene location to predict where the offender resides…need serial offences for this to be used! …most serial offenders do not travel far!

Question 11

In Vancouver Rossmo developed what which helped in the Robert Pickten case…

Answer 11

• program that estimates where the killer may reside…narrows it down…. also seen with Yorkshire ripper

Question 12

Crime scene characteristics can be divided into what two things?
most use is what based?

Answer 12

organized and disorganized

- induction

Question 13

Organized Crime Scene Characteristics? GO(11)

Answer 13

• offence planned
• victim : targeted stranger
• personalizes victim
• controlled conversation
• scene reflects control
• demands submission
• uses restraints
• sexual acts before death
• no post death mutilation
• corpse is not taken
• weapon/evidence is absent from scene

Question 14

Disorganized Crime Scene Characteristics ?(11)

Answer 14

• offense is spontaneous
• victim: known
• depersonalizes victims
• minimal conversation
• crime scene is sloppy
• sudden violence to victim
• minimal use of restraints
• sexual acts after death
• post mortem mutilation
• corpse or body parts are taken
• evidence / weapon is present at scene

Question 15

Which of the two crime scene characteristic is most common?

Answer 15

an in-between of the two!

Question 16

A profile of an Organized Serial Killer? (12)

Answer 16

• high/avg IQ
• socially competent
• skilled worker
• sexually adequate
• inconsistent childhood discipline
• controlled mood during crime
• precipitating situational stress
• lives with partner
• geographically mobile
• lives and works far away from crimes
• maintains residence and vehicle
• follows crime media

Question 17

A profile of a Disorganized serial killer? (12)

(suffer from a lot of psychopathologies

Answer 17

• low IQ
• socially immature
• poor work history / unskilled job
• sexually inadequate
• harsh childhood discipline
• anxious during crime
• minimal use of alcohol
• minimal situational stress
• lives alone
• geographically stable
• lives/works near crime scene
• does not maintain residence or vehicle
• minimal interest in media

Question 18

Disorganized crimes are crimes of _____?

Answer 18

opportunity…

Question 19

GO through the process of constructing a profile?

Pinizzotto and Finkel 1990

Answer 19

what + Why= who

1. What= material that profilers collect at start of investigation ( photos, autopsy reports, and descriptions of victims)
2. Why= motivation for the crime and each crime scene behaviour
3. Who= the actual profile is eventually established
   - too vague to be useful

Question 20

Steps in Criminal Profiling ?

list the 6

Answer 20

1. profile inputs
2. decision process
3. crime assessment
4. criminal profile
5. investigation
6. apprehension

Question 21

1.Profile Inputs?

Answer 21

collect info about crime, physical evidence, photos, autopsy , background etc

Question 22

2.Decision process?

Answer 22

• type of homicide, primary motive? sexual, financial or personal?

Question 23

3.Crime Assessment?(6)

Answer 23

• organized/not
  -crime staged?
  -details:
  L> facial injuries indicate familiarity of murderer and victim
  L> if death weapon found at scene murderer lives nearby likely
  L> early morning indicates no alcohol or drugs

Question 24

4.Criminal Profile? (2)

Answer 24

likely suspects:

• race, sex, age, marital status, employment, history, past criminal record
• feedback loop: does profile fit original information?

Question 25

5.Investigation? (2)

Answer 25

• written report

- new evidence may be examined

Question 26

6.Apprehension?(2)

Answer 26

• evaluation of profile

- interview of suspect, Background and psychological variables

Question 27

ViCLAS ( Violent Crime Linkage Analysis System) - Canada

Answer 27

• database can be used to link similar cases
• can help future profiling
  Includes: homicides, sexual offences, unidentified bodies,abductions and missing persons

Question 28

US:profiling aid system?

Answer 28

VICAP ( Violent Criminal Apprehension Program

Question 29

Validity of Profiling?

Profilers claim?

Answer 29

high success rates

Question 30

Profiling is often criticized because of what three things?

Answer 30

1. based on theoretical models of personality that lack strong empirical support ( Snook et al., 2008)
2. Information in the profile is vague and ambiguous could fit many suspects
3. Professional profilers may be no better than untrained individuals at constructing accurate criminal profiles ( Kocsis et al, 200)