AO3

Cards (4)

  • It doesn't begin with fixed typologies unlike the US top-down approach, instead, profile is data driven and emerges as investigator engages in deeper and more rigorous scrutiny of the details of the offence therefore more grounded in psychological theory than the top-down approach
  • Support - 120 cases of murder were analysed and found small space analysis revealed spacial consistency amongst the disposal sight of bodies showing validity of use
  • Criminologists note the 'dark figure' of crime to be around 75% which undermines an approach that relies on the accuracy of the data given and suggests it might not be enough on its own
  • Copson (1995) found 83% of cases across 48 police departments found advice given by profilers 'useful' suggesting it is a good investigative tool but only 37% of those cases actually lead to the accurate identification of the offender, questioning the internal validity of offender profiling (useful for what if not accurately identifying the offender)