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Geographic ProfilingGeographic Profiling     

Charles L. Feer, JD, MPACharles L. Feer, JD, MPA

Bakersfield CollegeBakersfield College

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Geographic ProfilingGeographic Profiling

Identifying Spatial Patterns in CrimeIdentifying Spatial Patterns in Crime

Crime MappingCrime Mapping

Geographic – Crime ProfilingGeographic – Crime Profiling

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Geographic ProfilingGeographic Profiling

Crime Mapping Crime Mapping

- Pin-points crime occurrences in - Pin-points crime occurrences in specific geographical areas.specific geographical areas.

- “Hot Spots” (zones) and “Hot - “Hot Spots” (zones) and “Hot Places” Places”

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Geographic ProfilingGeographic Profiling

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Geographic ProfilingGeographic Profiling

A. Auto-Theft 11/11/15. 03:00 PM.2400 BLOCK OF CHRISTMAS TREE LANE BAKERSFIELD

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Geographic ProfilingGeographic ProfilingGeo Crime Profiling is to identify Geo Crime Profiling is to identify specific offenders specific offenders -   Patterns of routine activities-   Patterns of routine activities-   Choices they make in committing -   Choices they make in committing their crimes. (Geographic locations & their crimes. (Geographic locations & Spatial movements.) Spatial movements.) Most applicable to series of crimes: Most applicable to series of crimes: Burglaries, Car Thefts, Arsons, Rapes, Murders, Burglaries, Car Thefts, Arsons, Rapes, Murders, Serial Bombings, Bank Robberies, Child Abductions. Serial Bombings, Bank Robberies, Child Abductions.

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Geographic ProfilingGeographic Profiling Elements of Geographic ProfilingElements of Geographic Profiling Distance (Relative concept and Distance (Relative concept and

perception. Means different things to perception. Means different things to different people.) different people.)

Method of Transportation (Distance Method of Transportation (Distance will be influenced by mode of will be influenced by mode of transportation: Walking, Public transportation: Walking, Public Transportation, personal vehicle.) Transportation, personal vehicle.)

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Geographic ProfilingGeographic Profiling Origins, Destinations and Travel Ways:Origins, Destinations and Travel Ways:

(There are certain roads and highways we (There are certain roads and highways we prefer.)prefer.)

Familiarity Familiarity

(We are creatures of habit. We repeat (We are creatures of habit. We repeat things that are familiar and comfortable.) things that are familiar and comfortable.)

Comfort offers reassurance. Comfort offers reassurance.

““Cruising for victims. Looking for a place to Cruising for victims. Looking for a place to “dump the body.” “dump the body.”

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Geographic ProfilingGeographic Profiling Number and types of geographical Number and types of geographical

barriers: barriers:

Jurisdictional boundaries (i.e. state Jurisdictional boundaries (i.e. state line), freeways, rivers, railroad line), freeways, rivers, railroad tracks, buildings, dead-end roadways. tracks, buildings, dead-end roadways.

Alternative Routes: Most direct, most Alternative Routes: Most direct, most pleasant. pleasant.

Multiple routes will offer greater Multiple routes will offer greater chance of escape and confuse the chance of escape and confuse the police. police.

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Geographic ProfilingGeographic Profiling Actual Distance Actual Distance Mental Maps (A cognitive image of Mental Maps (A cognitive image of

our spatial surroundings.) our spatial surroundings.) Our daily activities and experiences Our daily activities and experiences

revolve around our “comfort zones” revolve around our “comfort zones” home, workplace, recreation sites home, workplace, recreation sites and shopping districts. and shopping districts.

We connect these with various We connect these with various routes, avoiding barriers. routes, avoiding barriers.

We choose paths that we use in our We choose paths that we use in our daily routine.daily routine.

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Geographic ProfilingGeographic Profiling The highway system in America The highway system in America

makes it possible for a predator to makes it possible for a predator to travel long distances in search of travel long distances in search of victims and confuse law victims and confuse law enforcement. enforcement.

An Offender can dump a body close An Offender can dump a body close to a freeway and be on the road in to a freeway and be on the road in seconds. seconds.

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Geographic ProfilingGeographic Profiling

Geo Crime Profiling Geo Crime Profiling involves involves determining why a killer decided to determining why a killer decided to search a particular neighborhood for search a particular neighborhood for a victim, choose that particular area a victim, choose that particular area to dump the body, pick that to dump the body, pick that particular route to travel. particular route to travel.

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Geographic ProfilingGeographic Profiling As a criminal becomes more adept to As a criminal becomes more adept to

committing their crimes, he gains committing their crimes, he gains experience, which leads to an increase experience, which leads to an increase in comfort and confidence.in comfort and confidence.

This will allow him to venture further This will allow him to venture further out (away) from his initial geographical out (away) from his initial geographical crime site. (Makes it more difficult to crime site. (Makes it more difficult to predict next crime location.) predict next crime location.)

Known as “Geo Displacement” Known as “Geo Displacement” (i.e. Law Enforcement activities, media attention.) (i.e. Law Enforcement activities, media attention.)

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Geographic ProfilingGeographic Profiling Investigators need to look at the Investigators need to look at the

locations of the first crimes committed, locations of the first crimes committed, when suspecting a serial offender.when suspecting a serial offender.

Areas of Victim Selection: Where does Areas of Victim Selection: Where does offender find suitable victims? offender find suitable victims?

Are there areas that reflect the Are there areas that reflect the offender’s Mental Map? (Does he avoid offender’s Mental Map? (Does he avoid or visit “mental barriers”? i.e. Court or visit “mental barriers”? i.e. Court houses, jails, previous crime sites.) houses, jails, previous crime sites.)

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Geographic ProfilingGeographic Profiling

Types of Crime Locations (for violent Types of Crime Locations (for violent crimes):crimes): Encounter SitesEncounter Sites Attack Sites Attack Sites Crime Sites Crime Sites Victim Disposal Sites Victim Disposal Sites Vehicle Dump Sites Vehicle Dump Sites

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Geographic ProfilingGeographic Profiling

The greater the distance, the more The greater the distance, the more planning involved, the more planning involved, the more “organized” the offender. “organized” the offender.

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Geographic ProfilingGeographic Profiling

Neighborhood DemographicsNeighborhood Demographics

Characteristics of a population Characteristics of a population Look to behavior, travels and habits of Look to behavior, travels and habits of

the victims. (Their distance of travel, the victims. (Their distance of travel, means of transportation.) means of transportation.)

There are a number of computer There are a number of computer assisted programs that can help with assisted programs that can help with Geo Profiling. Geo Profiling.

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Geographic ProfilingGeographic Profiling

Questions?Questions?

(Quiz to follow.)(Quiz to follow.)

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Geographic ProfilingGeographic Profiling

Quiz: Quiz: 1) Who would be expected to travel 1) Who would be expected to travel

further in the committing of their further in the committing of their offenses, Disorganized or Organized offenses, Disorganized or Organized serial offenders?serial offenders?

2) List the 5 locations that we would 2) List the 5 locations that we would expect to be involved in violent expect to be involved in violent crimes. crimes.

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Geographic ProfilingGeographic Profiling

Quiz continued:Quiz continued: 3) List the “Comfort Zones” that 3) List the “Comfort Zones” that

were discussed in this lecture. were discussed in this lecture.