Top Down Offender Profiling

Question 1

What are some characteristics of an organised criminal

Answer 1

In control
Planned
Approach in a non-threatening ways
Bring weapons
Remove evidence
Friendly
Smart
In a relationship

Question 2

Characteristics of a disorganised criminal

Answer 2

Out of control
Spontaneous
Surprise their victims
Buy weapons before attacks
Leave evidence
Aggressive
Low intelligence
Cannot maintain a stable relationship

Question 3

What are the 4 stages in constructing an offender profiler:

Answer 3

1. Data assimilation
2. Crime scene classified
3. Crime scene reconstructed
4. Profile generation

Question 4

What is data assimilation?

Answer 4

Where the profiler reviews evidence
E.g crime scene photos, pathology report

Question 5

what is crime scene classification

Answer 5

Organised or disorganised

Question 6

What is crime scene reconstruction

Answer 6

Looking at the sequence of events and the behaviour of the victim.

Question 7

What is profile generation

Answer 7

Likely offender behaviour
E.g background.

Question 8

A03: not scientific
Explain

Answer 8

Relies upon human ‘hunch’
Emotional or personal memories can sway intuition
Approach lacks credibility

Question 9

A03: can only apply to certain crimes
Explain

Answer 9

Only crime scenes that reveal facts about age, rape, killing etc.
not good when crime scene tells us little- burgulary.

Question 10

A03: lines become blurred
Explain

Answer 10

Some criminals may not fit into 1 category.
Not a very reliable method