AO3

• A strength of the top-down approach is that research provides some support for the distinction between organised and disorganised offenders. For example, Canter et al. (2004) conducted a content analysis of 100 US serial killer cases and found that the characteristics of organised offenders (e.g., planning, intelligence) were more common than those of disorganised offenders. This suggests that the classification has some validity. However, Canter et al. found no clear evidence for the disorganised type, suggesting the classification system may be too simplistic and lack reliability.
• A key issue with the top-down approach is that it is based on a small and unrepresentative sample. The original FBI classification was developed using 36 serial killers, including high-profile murderers like Ted Bundy and Charles Manson. Such individuals are not typical of all offenders, meaning the approach may not apply to less extreme crimes. Additionally, the method was developed in the USA, so it may not be valid for offenders in other cultures with different motivations and behaviours. This limits the overall generalisability of the approach.
• Another limitation is that the approach assumes all offenders fit into two distinct categories, but real-life cases often show a mix of organised and disorganised characteristics. For example, some criminals plan their crimes carefully but act impulsively during the offence. Godwin (2002) questioned how an offender like this would be classified and argued that the classification may be too simplistic and ignores factors like mental illness, making it difficult to apply in practice. The bottom-up approach, which uses data-driven methods, may be a more scientifically valid alternative.
• A further criticism is that the top-down approach only applies to certain types of crimes, such as rape, murder, and sadistic crimes. It is not useful for more common offences like burglary or financial fraud, as these crimes do not involve crime scene evidence that can be used for profiling. This reduces the practical usefulness of the approach in modern policing. In contrast, the bottom-up approach, which focuses on patterns of behaviour rather than categories of criminals, can be applied to a wider range of crimes.