The Bottom Up Approach^ Flashcards
Canter
look for consistencies in offender’s beh during crime
no initial assumptions made about offender
relies on computer databases
look for patterns in current crimes to link to same offender
- database from other current unsolved crimes
Investigative Psychology
based on psy theory
patterns across crime scenes are used to generate data about offender
Smallest Space Analysis
uses computer databases and Venn diagrams
look for similarities and diff in patterns between offenders and offences
Interpersonal Coherance
the way offender behaves at the scene
how they interact with V may indication RL beh
Dwyer: rapist humiliate V and get control while others are apologetic
Significance of Time & Place
indicate of offender’s home if crimes happen within same forensic centre of gravity
Forensic Awareness
focuses on those who have been the focus of police before
beh may indicate how mindful they are to cover their tracks
Geographical Profiling (Rossmo)
Rossmo
- crime mapping: offender’s base of possible crimes is revealed by location of prev crimes
- based on spatial consistency
Geographical Profiling (Canter & Larkin)
based on their circle theory
people offend within limited spatial mind set that create imagined boundaries
marauder: offend close to home
commuter: travel away
Mixed Results
Copson
- surveyed 49 police forces
- advice from profiler was useful in 83% of cases
- but only in 3% it lead to accurate identification
BU helps narrow down suspects, but other methods are needed to convict the right offender
VS Mixed Results
Kocsis
- chemistry students gave more accurate offender profile than experienced detective
OP has little practical value in solving cases and identifying offender other than focusing investigation
Research Support for IP
Canter & Heritage
content analysis of 66 sexual assault cases
data examined with smallest space analysis
several char identified as common in some cases (impersonal lang)
- char occur in diff patterns in diff ind
help establish case linkage (link crimes to same person)
Supports BU as people are consistent in beh
VS Research Support for IP
case linkage relies on past data of solved crimes
case solved straightforward due to lot of evidence and trends
BU not helpful with complex cases that aren’t linked despite done by same offender
Research Support For GP
Lundriagn & Canter
collated info from 120 murders from serial killers
smallest space analysis revealed spatial consistency in killer’s beh
bodies’ locations were all diff = centre of gravity
effect more noticeable for marauder
Support that GP can identify an offender = increase validity of BU
GP Is Not Sufficient
GP not S on its own
- relies on the quality of data from police
but data may not be accurate and 75% of crimes are not reported
Ainsworth
- even if info is correct, other factors can be more imp to narrow suspects
GP alone may not be S in capturing the offender
