offender profiling

• 🚨 offender profiling

  method used by law enforcement to identify characteristics of an offender based on nature and details of crime
• aim of offender profiling

  narrow the field of suspects and predict future offences
• basis of offender profiling

  relies on behavioural and psychological evidence found at the crime scene
• offender profiling is used for:

  serious crimes like murder, rape and arson
• 🔝 top down approach

  • developed by the FBI using in-depth interviews with 36 convicted serial killers
  • based on idea that offenders fit into organised or disorganised categories
  • profilers match evidence to pre-established typologies
• 🧹 organised offenders

  • crime is planned and controlled
  • victim is targeted
  • little evidence left
  • higher IQ and socially competent
• 🔪 disorganised offenders

  • crime is spontaneous and impulsive
  • victim is random
  • evidence is left
  • lower IQ and live alone
• ⬇️ bottom-up approach

  • developed in the UK by David Canter
  • relies on statistical analysis and psychological theory
  • emphasises data-driven methods and empirical evidence
• 🔍 investigate psychology

  • uses statistical techniques to identify patterns in crime
  • compares new crimes with databases to identify likely traits
  • considers interpersonal coherence and forensic awareness
• 🗺️ geographical profiling

  • idea of spatial consistency
  • uses tools like criminal geographic targeting
  • identifies marauders vs commuters
• ✅ strength of top-down - application

  practical use

  • successfully used in the case of the "Green River Killer"
  • categorising offenders helps develop a profile which informs questioning and investigation
  • value in real-life settings
• ❌ limitation of top-down - evidence

  lacks scientific rigour

  • developed from interviews with 36 murderers which is unrepresentative
  • based on flawed assumptions
  • undermines generalisability
• ❌ limitation of top-down - simple

  rigid binary classification

  • Canter et al - found little evidence to support distinct categories
  • display a mix of characteristics suggesting more complex spectrum
  • questions validity
• ✅ strength of bottom-up - objective

  scientific basis

  • investigative psychology uses statistical analysis
  • removes subjective bias
  • more reliable and evidence-based
• ✅ strength of bottom-up - application

  effective in real investigations

  • geographical profiling was instrumental in the case of the "Railway Rapist"
  • data-led profiling provides accurate predictions
  • practical value
• ❌ limitation of bottom-up - resources

  requires access to databases and crime scenes

  • dependent on being able to compare patterns which isn't always feasible
  • not enough data or assumptions of behavioural consistency aren't strong
  • usefulness is limited