Criminal Profiling Outline PDF

Preview

Summary

Mylenda Neal is professor...

Description

Serial Killers Criminal Profiling “If you want to understand the artist, you have to look at the paintings.” ….John Douglas x What took place? Why did it happen the way it did? Who could have committed this crime for these reasons? x UNSUB – unknown subject Apprehending Serial Killers Difficult • Robert Keppel, former detective investigating the Ted Bundy case, once remarked that apprehending serial killers is very difficult. – Police departments not generally equipped or trained to apprehend SK • They are organized to catch burglars and robbers or intervene in family fights • Several factors set serial offenders part from typical domestic killers and other violent criminals. – SK can be highly mobile and travel many law enforcement jurisdictions while still remaining in a relatively small geographic area – Offenders generally prefer strangers as victims and are usually careful to minimize the amount of evidence left at the crime scene. – Consequently, months may go by before there is sufficient inter-agency communication to recognize a common pattern of homicides. – Coordination of information can be even more difficult when offenders cross several state lines, committing murders along the way. 4 Major Issue in Managing Major Cases  Media impact—Long-term media coverage creates immense pressure on law enforcement efforts. Police must nevertheless establish an acceptable working relationship with the press.  Management of departmental resources—Who will take charge of the investigation and maintain a coordinated flow of command?  Multiagency jurisdiction—Coordinated investigations, reporting, and expenditure of resources need to be addressed.  Unusual complexity of the case—Numerous victims, locations, and modes of death can create problems in sorting out evidence, investigative leads, and so on. Although there as been considerable criticism of law enforcement in tracking down serial killers, police have made concerted efforts in some cases to join forces and conduct multiagency investigations.  In several cases task forces have been organized:  The Atlanta Child Killings (July 1980) – Wayne B. Williams  The Green River Killings (1982) – learned from Atlanta mistakes, thought to be best task force ever organized (but still not caught until 2001)  Public anxieties demand quick apprehension of a serial offender; however, conducting investigations requires an enormous amount of resources and agency coordination.  20,000 suspect names were collected in the Green River Killer case at a cost to tax payers of over $20 million  The Unabomber case (see Profile 12.4), which spanned 18 years and three task forces, cost approximately $75 million including costs of prosecution.

Forensics  Movement today is toward integrating science and technology into an interdisciplinary approach to criminality.  Forensics is critical in cases. Forensics means belonging to or used in courts of law.  Criminologists now focusing on forensics, school programs as well, and law enforcement (crime analyst, mapping, DNA, ballistics, toxicology, hair fiber evidence, etc)  Victimology is an integral part of forensics now  Has led to Criminology and Psychology joining forces to create criminal profiling… Profiling • The term profiling refers to many areas of forensics. • Today, Profiling has become a tool used widely in criminal investigations. Profiling can be used to: • Turn up more leads where they are limited • Provide direction to a lagging investigation • Give psychological insights in conducting interviews • Offer psychological advice for witnesses or juries • Develop systematic computer tracking of unsolved serial-murder cases • Facilitate communication among jurisdictions dealing with serial offenses • Offer critique of investigative procedures, forensic evidence collection, and sampling • Provide insights for the application of theories used to explain crime and criminal behavior • Provide evidence corroboration • • •

Profiling is developing as a science, but continue to receive mixed reviews. Indeed, psychological profiling as yet to function as a “magic wand” to solve serial killings, but it is still too early in its development to be considered a failure. For profiling to fulfill its potential, law enforcement personnel must be willing to collaborate with those in the academic and medical professions.

Profiling – a science? • There is no job specifically referred to as a “profiler.” It’s a term that everyone uses, but it’s not written on anyone’s business card or posted on someone’s office door. • Supervisory special agents (SSAs) at the National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime (NCAVC) are assigned to the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia, where they perform behavioral analysis and investigative functions. Investigative Functions – This includes examining evidence and information from preliminary police reports, crime scene photographs, witness accounts, medical examiner’s reports, victimology, etc. – All of this information is carefully reviewed and analyzed in an effort to potentially develop a criminal profile or possibly provide some other investigative technique and/or strategy. – Criminal profiles are used by investigators to help them narrow the search for violent criminals of unsolved cases and to assist both police and prosecutors in determining motive—a critical element in most prosecutions. •

Profiling can be useful, but caution must be exercised to avoid constructing hasty or poorly grounded profiles that may lead investigators in wrong directions (and potentially arresting

innocent people – example: Richard Jewel, a security guard at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta – see p. 434) MODERN CRIMINAL PROFILING Modern Day: Personality of the offender • Gregg McCrary (FBI) – the basic premise is that behavior reflects personality. In a homicide case, for example, FBI profilers try to collect a personality of the offender through questions about his or her behavior at 4 phases… • 4 Crime phases of a murder’s behavior – investigators develop offender profiles (McCrary) • Antecedent: was killer involved in fantasy about killing, simply planning to kill, or both? Was act spontaneous or planned? • Method and manner: What types of victim(s) did murderer choose and what method used to kill, such as poisoning, shooting, stabbing, beating, drowning, strangulation or something else? • Body Disposal: Did the murder(s) and body disposal occur in the same location? • Post-offense behavior: is the killer using the media to insert himself into the investigation? Does the killer make contact with investigators? Types of Profiling • The term typology has lent itself to the development of various forms of profiling that are now used in criminal investigative techniques (from white collar crimes to serial murder). – Typology: a systematic classification or study of types • They can offer tremendous assistance to investigators in making profiling more scientific and precise. • Investigative profiling today can be viewed from several perspectives: • Offender Profiling • Victim Profiling • Equivocal Death Profiling (or psychological autopsy) • DNA Profiling • Crime Scene Profiling (or criminal investigation analysis) – based on the FBI model developed by the BSU – the Organized/Disorganized method. • Psychological Profiling • Geographical Profiling • Paraphilia Profiling See Ch. 12 Victim Profiling • Profilers identify the personality and behavioral characteristics of crime victims who tend to fall prey to certain types of offenders. • Information can be gathered through personal records; interviews with witnesses, victims, family, and friends; crime scene examination; and autopsies. Crime Scene Profiling  Also referred to as criminal investigation analysis, this form of profiling is based on the FBI model developed by its Behavioral Science Unit.  Investigators focus on crime scene descriptions, photographs, offender behavior before and after the criminal act(s), traffic patterns, physical evidence, and victim information and place less credence on psychological data.

Modern Day Profiling •

• • •

• • • •

•

Criminal profiling is an investigative technique that uses crime scene characteristics to generate probable descriptive information about the behaviors and the personality of an offender, narrowing the field of suspects, and aiding in apprehension efforts. This investigative technique has risen in popularity both in practical use and media portrayals. While does not directly give you the perpetrator’s name, it is very helpful in narrowing down suspects. For example, a profile based on a crime scene provides information that may include the perpetrator’s personality, sex, age, ethnic background, and possible physical features such as disfigurements or height and weight. This information can then be used to identify possible suspects, depending on who fits the profile. Personality is one of the most important parts of a criminal profile. Personality profiles of criminals are based on the way in which a crime is committed, also known as the “method of operations” or M.O. The MO includes the identity of the victim(s), what the victims have in common, the weapons used, the degree of hostility, the existence (or lack) of any torture and/or sexual molestation, and so on. Analyzing these aspects of a crime scene, an investigator can determine the motives of the perpetrator, which leads to a description of the perpetrator’s personality, or the personality profile.

Professional Development of Profiling • Depending on literature one reads, the professional development of profiling over past several decades will most likely be attributed to the work of the Behavioral Sciences Unit (BSU) at the FBI Academy, Quantico, Virginia. • (today called the National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime (NCAVC) – agents are called Supervisory Special Agents (SSAs) • More specifically, a few key agents will be known by name and reputation: John Douglas, Robert Ressler and Roy Hazelwood. The National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime -- NCAVC • Robert Ressler was also responsible for the founding of the National Center for Analysis of Violent Crime (NCAVC) • People often use the terms BSU interchangeably with NCAVC • There is no such thing as a “criminal profiler” with the FBI – • A profiler for the FBI is called a…. • Supervisory Special Agent (SSA) at the National Center for Analysis of Violent Crime (NCAVC) • The BSU is still in existence – they are responsible for training and teaching the tenets of behavioral science around the world. • Criminal profiling exists in large part due to the work of the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit. FBI 1960s – Before Douglas and Ressler • The origins of the FBI’s profiling unit can be traced back to the work of two men: Howard Teten and Pat Mullany

Tetan initiated his profiling program in 1970. He was later teamed up with Mullany. Tetan taught the first course at the FBI National Academy, entitled Applied Criminology, a course that’s been taught every year since. BSU – Crime Scene Analysis • Not until some years later that the now widely known names of John Douglas and Robert Ressler came to the Behavioral Sciences Unit (BSU). • In 1978, after Howard Teten left the BSU, Douglas and Ressler changed the profiling process to the organized/disorganized method, which is still in use today. • •

6 Steps that collectively make up their profiling process: 1. Profiling Inputs - Collection and assessment of materials 2. Decision Process Models – arranging all information 3. Crime Assessment – reconstruction of sequence of events 4. The Criminal Profile – list of characteristics of perpetrator 5. The Investigation – actual profile provided to agency 6. The Apprehension – cross check profile with characteristics of offender once apprehended. Organized/Disorganized/Mixed Method • Primary Foundation of FBI’s system lies within the organized/disorganized /mixed offender dichotomy. • John Douglas – never felt qualified to speak in psychological terms or to throw diagnoses around – so he came up with functional terms when describing criminals…. They are clear, not ambiguous, and they reflect directly on the offender: – Organized, Disorganized or Mixed. Organized • Generally means it was premeditated. • Little evidence found at scene. • Subject carefully planned the crime to minimize risk and apprehension. • Generally, the organized criminal is the anti-social personality. Someone who knows right from wrong. Someone who is not insane, who will show no remorse over his criminal acts. • • • • • • • • • • • • •

Avg to above avg intelligence Socially competent Sexually competent High birth order status Father’s work stable Inconsistent childhood discipline Controlled mood during crime Use of alcohol with crime Precipitating situational stress Living with partner Mobility w/ car in good condition Follows crime in news media May change jobs or leave town

Disorganized • In contrast, Douglas is referring to a crime or crime scene that shows little, if any, pre-planning on part of un-sub. • Has a high risk of being identified and apprehended. • Evidentiary items such as fingerprints, blood and semen are often found at the scene. • Cases of rape and homicide, Unsub often utilizes “blitz” style attack that renders victim unconscious or dead. • Disorganization of the crime may indicate any or all of the following conditions: a youthful offender, the influence of alcohol and/or drugs, difficulty controlling the victims or mental illness. Below avg intelligence Unskilled work Sexually incompetent Low birth order status Father’s work unstable Harsh discipline as a child Anxious mood during crime Minimal use of alcohol Minimal situational stress Living alone Lives/works near the crime scene Minimal interest in news media Significant behavior change (e.g., drug or alcohol use) Mixed • When Douglas says Mixed classification, he means a case such as that of OJ Simpson, where the crime scene appear to be very premeditated. The subject brings to the scene a weapon, gloves and hat – premeditated. • Yet the crime scene appear disorganized. The subject had a well-planned idea but did not expect to be confronted, as the subject was, in case of Ron Goldman. • So he (OJ) basically lost control over the situation so the crime’s ultimate appearance shifted from organized to disorganized. • When you look at some cases in the mixed category, you may be able to pick up more than one offender at the scene. • For example, one part of the scene may appear to be very sophisticated and very organized, while other parts are in total disarray. • This may indicated that two people participated in the acts, operating in concert with one another. • •

FBI’s method remains one of the most widely taught methods in the world today. It is common for agents from various police forces around the world to travel overseas and take part in in the Bureau’s Fellowship Program, where they are taught this profiling method, amongst other training in areas such as criminal investigation.

Sharpest Possible Portrait • Use of such straight forward descriptions suits the work well. Criminal profiling, after all, is essentially a research function conducted from a law enforcement perspective. • The best terminology is that which helps paint the sharpest possible portrait of the Unsub.

See Supplemental Handouts 1. Jim Clemente - Interview of former FBI Profiler 2. Wayne D. Porter - Retired FDLE Agent, Forensic Consultant SO YOU WANT TO BE A PROFILER? • Know that the FBI doesn't actually have employees with the job title "profiler". Supervisory Special Agents at the National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime (NCAVC) at Quantico, Virginia do, however, construct profiles of unknown offenders. They also provide case management advice, threat assessments and interviewing strategies to law enforcement agencies both home and abroad. • Pay your dues. You cannot simply apply to the FBI and immediately become a NCAVC agent. A basic requirement is three years service as a FBI special agent. However, such is the competition for places, successful candidates tend to have up to 10 years of service behind them along with experience investigating violent and sexual crimes and abductions. You will need experience with these types of crimes before you will be accepted into this field. •

Get your education. An advanced degree in a Behavioral or Forensic Science is often listed as preferred qualification. Bachelors degree required.

•

Find alternate paths. It is possible to work at the NCAVC without being a special agent. These professional support positions include Intelligence Research Specialists, Violent Crime Resource Specialists, and Crime Analysts. These are essentially research positions so an in-depth knowledge of research methodology, data collection and analysis is required.

•

· 5 Prepare adequately. Whether you are applying to become a NCAVC agent or a research specialist you can expect to have to complete a range of written and psychometric tests.

Serial Killers – Criminal Profiling

Interview of former FBI Profiler: Jim Clemente x

x

x

x

People have a misconception about what profiling is (think it is “voo doo” or something). It is actually criminal behavior analysis. o This means profilers at the FBI have extensive criminal investigative experience before they become profilers (Jim was a chemistry major, philosophy minor, then law school, then prosecutor – worked violent and sex crimes), then FBI agent – worked more violent and sex crimes, undercover work. o After that – it is a 2 year apprenticeship program – 560 hour course – bring in experts from around the world (Dr. Hare to teach psychopathy, Dr. Park Dietz to teach abnormal psychology, etc). Then intern with all the different units. In the BSU – sit in on case consultations and analysis – then get certified and begin to work cases themselves. One of most important parts: They have multiple profilers looking at different cases (not just one). o Have access to ENTIRE file, all documents, records Profiling works in the opposite direction of a normal investigator – it is REVERSE ENGINEERING o Investigator – has a suspect in mind – then they gather evidence to see if it fits the suspect they have in mind (often have confirmation bias) o Profiler – doesn’t want to know anything about the suspect (operate without confirmation bias) – very skilled. o the crime, crime scene, type of behavior exhibited during, before and after crime, victimiology – you reverse engineer all that to go back to the TYPE of person that committed this crime. You only do this when it is an unkown subject (unsub). Cases where profilers called in is in cases where there is not a lot of evidence (no eye-witness testimony, no forensic evidence, no DNA . o Profiler gets called in because they focus on BEHAVIOR and not necessarily on all those forensic details that are missing in all those cases.

x

So, as a profiler, Jim doesn’t want to to know anything about the offenders – potential suspects. All he wants to know is VICTIMOLOGY – everything you can or possibly know about the victim. o Victims habits, thoughts, desires, education level, behaviors, hobbies, interests, relationships, jobs, plans, travel, etc. Those details inform them about that victim. o And then he would want to know all the facts he can about the crime and crime scene – what happened, where, was there a primary scene and a secondary scene? All these things mean something (whether the person was killed and left right there – just discarded – or was the body transported to a secondary location? What was done to the body? Was there body concealment? – all this tells the profiler about a particular type of behavior.

x

Why study victimology? – the offender picks a particular victim, at a particular time, at a particular place, in a particular manner, for a particular purpose – all those choices reflect back on the offender. o Victimology is like holding...