Profiling Flashcards
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
- book related to identifying witches and how to get rid of them
- reconstruct crime scenes to get insight on killer via wound patterns could provide info on behaviour and personality.
- 30 small bombs via George Metesky, mid age, paranoia, path self centred, virgin, catholic, 1957 arrested right down to the predicted clothes
- first trained profilers! sent them around jails to interview offenders cases, no structure, not systematic
What three parts in the world have profile data bases?
- Canada, UK, USA..
Criminal Profiling? Description(4)
- 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
what can profiles be used for (types of crime)(5)
aka most commonly
rape, serial homicide, sadistic torture, ritualistic behaviour are most common,
Characteristics typically predicted by a profiler?(12)
about offender
- age
- sex
- race
- lvl of IQ
- educational history
- hobbies
- family background
- residential location
- criminal history
- employment status
- psychosexual development
- post offence behaviour
Usually profilers are trained in what first?
Psychology or Law enforcement?
law enforcement…
Seen in RCMP…
Forms of profiling? (3)
deductive criminal profiling, inductive criminal profiling, and geographical profiling
Deductive criminal profiling?
- prediction of offenders behaviour based on evidence at crime (logically driven interpretations)
L> not 100%
Inductive Criminal Profiling?
disadvantage?
- 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
Geographical Profiling?
- crime scene location to predict where the offender resides…need serial offences for this to be used! …most serial offenders do not travel far!
In Vancouver Rossmo developed what which helped in the Robert Pickten case…
- program that estimates where the killer may reside…narrows it down…. also seen with Yorkshire ripper
Crime scene characteristics can be divided into what two things?
most use is what based?
organized and disorganized
- induction
Organized Crime Scene Characteristics? GO(11)
- 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
Disorganized Crime Scene Characteristics ?(11)
- 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
Which of the two crime scene characteristic is most common?
an in-between of the two!
A profile of an Organized Serial Killer? (12)
- 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
A profile of a Disorganized serial killer? (12)
(suffer from a lot of psychopathologies
- 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
Disorganized crimes are crimes of _____?
opportunity…
GO through the process of constructing a profile?
Pinizzotto and Finkel 1990
what + Why= who
- What= material that profilers collect at start of investigation ( photos, autopsy reports, and descriptions of victims)
- Why= motivation for the crime and each crime scene behaviour
- Who= the actual profile is eventually established
- too vague to be useful
Steps in Criminal Profiling ?
list the 6
- profile inputs
- decision process
- crime assessment
- criminal profile
- investigation
- apprehension
1.Profile Inputs?
collect info about crime, physical evidence, photos, autopsy , background etc
2.Decision process?
- type of homicide, primary motive? sexual, financial or personal?
3.Crime Assessment?(6)
- 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
4.Criminal Profile? (2)
likely suspects:
- race, sex, age, marital status, employment, history, past criminal record
- feedback loop: does profile fit original information?
5.Investigation? (2)
- written report
- new evidence may be examined
6.Apprehension?(2)
- evaluation of profile
- interview of suspect, Background and psychological variables
ViCLAS ( Violent Crime Linkage Analysis System) - Canada
- database can be used to link similar cases
- can help future profiling
Includes: homicides, sexual offences, unidentified bodies,abductions and missing persons
US:profiling aid system?
VICAP ( Violent Criminal Apprehension Program
Validity of Profiling?
Profilers claim?
high success rates
Profiling is often criticized because of what three things?
- based on theoretical models of personality that lack strong empirical support ( Snook et al., 2008)
- Information in the profile is vague and ambiguous could fit many suspects
- Professional profilers may be no better than untrained individuals at constructing accurate criminal profiles ( Kocsis et al, 200)
