AO3

• 1. Limitation One: Geographical information = insufficient

  • the results are only as reliable as the quality of data given by the police
  • An estimated 75% crimes = unreported (dark figure of crime)
  • Even if the info is correct, critics claim that other factors are just as important in creating a profile, such as the timing, and the age and experience of the offender (Ainsworth)
  • Suggesting geographical data alone may not always lead to the successful capture of the offender
• 2. Strength One: Evidence for geographical profiling

  • Lundrigan and Canter (2001): collated info of 120 murder cases involving serial killers from the US.
  • Smallest space analysis revealed the spatial consistency in the behaviour of the killers
  • Location of each body disposal site created a 'centre of gravity' around the home base
  • The offenders base was located in the centre of the pattern, and was more noticeable when the offender travelled small distances between offences (marauders)
  • Supports the idea that geographical info can be used to identify an offender
• 3. Strength Two: Investigative Psychology

  • Canter and Heritage (1990): analysed 66 sexual assault cases, using smallest space analysis
  • Several behaviors = common in different samples of behaviour - impersonal language, and lack of reaction to the victim
  • Each offender displayed a characteristic pattern which can help establish whether two or more offences are linked ('case linkage')
  • Supports the basics of investigative psychology, that people are consistent in behaviour
• 4. Strength Two: Counterpoint

  • Case linkage depends on the database which will only consist of historical crimes, that have been solved
  • The fact they have been solved suggests that it was relatively straight forward to link the cases together - creating a circular argument
  • Suggesting that investigative psychology may tell us little about crimes that have few links between them, and therefore remain unsolved
• 5. Mixed Results

  S-

  • Copson: 48 police departments = useful in 83% of cases

  W-

  • However in the same study only in 3% of cases did it lead to accurate identification of the offender
  • Kocsis: chemistry students produced more accurate offender profilers on a solved murder case than experienced senior detectives