Criminal Profiling - River Dell Regional School District€¦ · 3 Introduction o Criminal...
Transcript of Criminal Profiling - River Dell Regional School District€¦ · 3 Introduction o Criminal...
Criminal Profiling
© 2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved
Criminal Profiling
Caleb Carr’s The Alienist
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Introduction
o Criminal profilers study evidence collected and analyzed by crime-scene investigators to formulate a hypothesis about a perpetrator’s• Age
• Personality
• Lifestyle
• Social environment
o The overall aim is to help the police narrow the field of investigation
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Stages of the Profiling Process
1. Input2. Decision process models3. Crime assessment4. Criminal profile5. Investigation6. Apprehension
The logic is that the way a person thinks guides his or her behavior.
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1 – Input
o Collecting information about crime scene• Body position• Weapons • Blood spatter• Condition of surroundings
o History of the victim • Employment and reputation• Social habits• Hobbies and interests
o Autopsy report
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2 – Decision Process Models
o Classifying the crime
o Determining motives
o Risk level of the victim (more later)
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3 – Crime Assessment
o Modus Operandi (MO)—the method of operation (all the actions and behaviors that were needed to commit the crime)• Organized vs. disorganized (more on next slide)
o Signature—repeating a habit at each crime scene
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3 – Crime Assessment
Organized Disorganized
• High intelligence
• Methodological
• Lures victims; targets them
• Maintains control over the
crime scene and is able to
cover their tracks and hide the
body
• Socially adept: “a really nice
guy,” “wouldn’t hurt a fly”
• May be antisocial, but knows
right from wrong, and shows
no remorse
• Low intelligence
• Impulsive
• Murders when the opportunity
arises in ‘blitz’ attacks;
chooses victims at random
• Rarely disposes of the body,
often leaving it where it is
• Socially inept: “a little creepy”
• May be young, under the
influence of alcohol or drugs,
or mentally ill
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4 – Criminal Profile
o A typical profile includes estimates of:• Race
• Sex
• Physical characteristics
• Habits
• Values and beliefs
o Compare the profile with the decision process models (stage 2) and reconstruction of the crime scene (stage 3)
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5 – Investigation
o Begins after profiler submits written report
o Seek and evaluate suspects that match the profile
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6 – Apprehension
o Apprehend
o Interview
o Interrogate
o Arrest
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Victimology
o A victim is a person who has experienced harm, injuries, loss, or death.
o Victimology is the study victims who have been affected by crime, accidents, or natural disasters.
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Victim Risk
o Assessment is very subjective
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Victim Risk
o Aggressive nature
o Impulsive
o Anxious
o Passive
o Thrives on attention
o Self-inflicted injuries
o Poor self-image
o Negative
o Exhibits addictive behaviors
The stronger the personality characteristic, the stronger the risk.
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Victimology Assessment
o At the crime scene• Did the victim know the perpetrator?
• Does the victim suspect anyone in particular and why?
• Has the victim reported similar or other crimes in which he or she was the victim?
• Is the victim carrying a weapon? Does the victim own a weapon?
• Has the victim been in any other police reports in the past?
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Victimology Assessment
o Forensics and profiling working together:• What are some of the victim’s general physical
characteristics, including eye color, hair color, weight, and ethnicity?
• Where does the victim work and what is his or her work schedule?
• Does the victim have a criminal history? If so, investigators will ask the victim to explain.
• What is the victim’s daily routine?
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Victimology Assessment
o Working together (cont’d):• What is the contact information of the victim’s
family members, friends, and coworkers?
• What is the victim’s medical history, including mental health records?
• What medications is the victim taking?
• What is the victim’s education level?
• Where does the victim live and with whom?
o Create a timeline of events leading up to the crime