Bottom Up

• What is the bottom up approach

  Profilers work up from evidence collected from the crime scene to develop hypotheses about the likely characteristics, motivations and social backgrounds of the offender
• What did David Canter propose about offender profiling

  Profiling can and should be based on psychological theory and research
• 3 main features of investigative psychology approach

  1. Interpersonal coherence
  2. Significance of time and place
  3. Forensic Awareness
• What is interpersonal coherence

  The way that the offender behaves at the scene, including the way they “interact“ with the victim, may reflect their behaviour in day to day life

  • this may tell the police something about where they hang around etc
• What is the significance of time and place

  May indicate where the offender lives

  ”smallest space analysis“
• What is the “smallest space analysis”

  Reveals spatial consistencies in the behaviour of the killer.

  Where the data from each crime scene and characteristics of the offender is inputted and correlated so that common connections can be identified
• What is forensic awareness

  Individuals who have committed crimes before may be more mindful of ’covering their tracks’

  Davies et al found that rapists who covered their fingerprints often had previous connections to robbery
• What is Geographical Profiling

  Uses information about the location of linked crime scenes to make mapping about likely home or operational base of an offender

  Based on the principle of spatial consistency

  Assumption that serial offenders will restrict their offending to geographical areas they are familiar with
• What is the principle of spatial consistency

  That people commit crimes within a limited geographical space
• What is Canter & Larkin’s Circle theory

  Most offenders have a spatial mind set in that they commit their crimes in a kind of imagined circle including where they live
• 2 ways we can’t describe offenders

  Marauder

  Commuter
• What is a Marauder Offender

  Offender who operates in close proximity to their home base
• What is a Commuter offender

  Offender who is likely to have travelled a distance away from their home base
• Strength of Investigative Psychology

  Research by Canter and Herritage supports through the use of smallest space analysis to identify consistent behavioural patterns in crimes
• Counterpoint for strength of investigative psychology

  The reliance on case links from solved crimes limits the applicability, as the crimes may have been linked due to their straightforward nature

  Suggests investigative psychology may struggel with more complex or less obvious links
• Strength for geographical profiling

  Studies by Lundrigan and Canter show spatial consistency in offenders behaviours, supporting the use of geographical profiling to identify an offenders likely base
• Limitation of geographical profiling

  Depends of accurate data, which is often unreliable due to underreporting or misreporting of crimes. it may fail if other important factors (e.g. offender experience or type of crime) are not reported
• What might be a limitation of smallest space analysis

  It relies heavily on the accuracy and consistency of the input data.

  If the data is incomplete or biased, the analysis can yield misleading conclusions.

  Another issue is that SSA might oversimplify complex behavioral patterns, making it difficult to account for situational or contextual factors in crimes.
• What does the limitation for smallest space analysis suggest

  This suggests that while SSA can provide useful insights, it should not be used in isolation. It is most effective when combined with other methods of analysis to ensure a more comprehensive understanding of criminal behavior.
• What does evidence suggest about the circle theory's usefulness?

  It is useful in geographic profiling.
• Who conducted studies supporting the circle theory?

  Canter
• What do critics argue about the circle theory?

  It oversimplifies offender behavior.
• What factors can influence whether an offender's behavior fits the circle theory model?

  • Offender's knowledge of the area
  • Mode of transportation
  • Type of crime
• How should the circle theory be used in investigations?

  Alongside other investigative techniques.
• What is the primary benefit of the circle theory in understanding offender behavior?

  It helps narrow down search areas.