the bottom up approach EVALUATION

Question 1

it has a scientific basis

Answer 1

• Canter argues the bottom-up approach is more scientific than the top-down approach
• Investigators can use geographical, biological and psychological data to quickly produce data

Question 2

isn’t reliable

Answer 2

• Its a tool for narrowing down possibilities, not one that provides exact answers
• There is a danger in sticking closely to the profile
• Evidence that the profile may lead to the wrong person being arrested
• Needs to be used with caution

Question 3

geographical information is sufficent

Answer 3

• Success of geographical profiling may be reliant on the quality of data the police can provide
• recording of crime is not always accurate = 75% of crime is not even reported to the police in the first place
• Lacks validity
• Not sufficient on its own

Question 4

evidence supports investigate psychology

Answer 4

• Canter and Heritage (1990) did a content analysis of 66 sexual assault cases using the smallest space analysis - several characteristics were commonly identified in most cases
• These characteristics will occur in different patterns in different individuals
• This can lead to an understanding of how an offender’s behaviour may change over a series of offences, or in establishing whether two or more offences were committed by the same person

Question 5

evidence supports geographical profiling

Answer 5

• Lundrigan and Canter (2001) collected information from 120 murder cases involving serial killers in the U.S.
• smallest space analysis revealed spatial consistency in the behaviour of the killers
• The location of each body disposal was plotted and a centre of gravity was identified (offender’s base in the centre of the
  pattern) = offenders start from their home base they go in different directions each time they dump a body which then creates a circle around the offender’s house
• The effect was more noticeable for ‘marauders’
• This supports Canter’s claim that spatial information can be a factor in determining the base of an offender

Question 6

wider application

Answer 6

• techniques such as smallest space analysis and the principle of spatial consistency can be used in the investigation of a range of crimes, from burglary and theft to murder and rape