Module 8- profiling PDF

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INTRODUCTION TO FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY: MODULE 8 MODULE 8: PROFILING Offender profiling has been popularized by the media through shows such as Criminal Minds and movies such as Silence of the Lambs. This module will describe various forms of criminal profiling. It will begin with FBI profiling, examining evidence for its effectiveness and presenting an example of its application in a case study of the Claremont Serial Killer. Alternatives to FBI profiling are geographical and statistical profiling. Underpinning these approaches is the finding that features of the environment and behavioural characteristics of an offence are found, through the analysis of large statistical databases, to be fairly consistently linked to particular offender types and can be used to predict likely offenders. FBI-style offender profiling: how is it done and is it effective? FBI profiling was pioneered at the FBI Behavioural Science Unit at Quantico, Virginia. FBI profiling is most commonly used in cases such as serial killing and uses information from crime scene to identify likely characteristics of an offender. The method is based largely on intuition and experience rather than empirical research and it is widely used in the US. Key terms:  Crime scene profiling  Range of information about the crime scene  Psychological profiling  Gathering data about lots of offenders and their characteristics, then using this data to pin point what kind of offender would commit this offense.  Offender profiling Controversy – is it science and is it effective? - 36 cases used – is this a big enough sample? Serial killer profiling  FBI Behavioural Science Unit - majority of research conducted on 36 offenders. Profiling in this sense is not largely used in Australia with hardly any profiling jobs as there is only a serial killer around once every 10 years in aus. - FBI profiling headquarters are in Quantico Virginia. Some Australian detectives are sent here for a period of time to learn about FBI profiling and then come back. - Deb Bennet in Vic, Aus. – PHD in Forensic Psychology. Done lots of profiling with FBI. Only 36 offenders in the study, more of an art?

Serial homicide: ‘three or more separate events in three or more separate locations with an emotional cooling off period in between homicides’ (Douglas et al, 1992) Serial killing reduces tension in the serial killer, which creates a cooling off period.  Ferguson et al (2003) Three or more victims – multiple and discrete events Killing was pleasurable, stress reliving ect. – not just functional Not directed by a political or criminal organization 

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features of FBI profiling: A willingness to encompass experience and intuition Weak empirical database, but method widely used Concentrated on more bizarre crimes such as serial killings with a sexual component  Involved contact with all investigating officers. - Think back to risk prediction in sexual offenders, clinical judgement, which is what profilers use, is not as good as actuarial tools (statistical tools in predicting risk) The FBI model with is reliance on intuition, makes it a weak model, due to its lack of actuarial tools.

More key terms:  Modus Operandi – the way in which the offender commits the crime  Criminal signature – aspects of the crime which are idiosyncratic or characteristic of the offender  Example – key characteristics of Jack the ripper - Case in London (jack ripper) where offender was never caught - 11 victims (5 or 6 of them murdered by the same person) most of them sex workers - first victim stabbed and night and approached front on and left in a particular sexual position. This was a gruesome scene. The offenses after this changed, started being lured to a motel room and then stabbed and murdered. - Hypothesized that Jack the ripper changed his MO (modus Operandi), and it should be noted that serial killers can change their methods or MO from learning through personal experience and mistakes. The process: Stage 1: Data assimilation – eventually identify crime signature Stage 2: crime scene classification  Organized (planning) – when questioning these offenders, it is better off asking directly ‘did you murder this person’

Disorganised (chaotic) - when interviewing these offenders, you are meant to use empathy throughout your questions Stage 3: Crime scene reconstruction – generate hypothesis Stage 4: Profile generation (eg. Demographics, behavior, personality, psychical characterisitcs) 

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Claremont serial killer Case Study Macro Taskforce established Investigation used criminal profiling Claude Minisini, FBI trained, from Melbourne concluded: Offender was an organized killer He would have a job Drive a late model car and keep it meticulously clean Widespread media campaign, members of public asked to look for the following signs: That work colleagues may have a guilt-ridden response to the discover of the most recent body. Absence from work Inability to remain at work Sudden deterioration in work performance Inability to concentrate Experiencing headaches Sudden change in plans

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Taxi drivers were suspected In Easter 1997 DNA testing of almost all taxi drivers in Perth took place (up to 3500 drivers) but it did not progress the investigation A prime suspect (who supposedly fits the profile) was then subjected to constant overt surveillance after a decoy operation (surveillance continued for a couple of years) The Macro Taskforce also distributed questionnaires to persons of interest Polygraph tests also used for up to 50 potential suspects To date, the crimes remain unsolved (up to 3000 people have been investigated)

Is FBI profiling effective?  Little new research on FBI profiling concepts  While profiling may not necessarily be helpful or accurate, it may aid the police investigation in terms of prioritizing information (although could have opposite effect)  May serve to eliminate suspects as much as it helps to identify offender  May be generally informative but not identify offender in specific cases  Aid information gathering from crime scene.

Geographical profiling The focus of geographical profiling is upon examining features of the environment which are associated with crime. One aspect of this is examining associations between offenders’ daily routines and geographical patterns of crime. Geographical profiling has identified that most offenders commit crime within a familiar geographical area. Investigative psychology  Pioneered by psychologists David Canter  Focus on quantitative analysis to look at similarities in crime characteristic (including geographical locations and chronology of offending)  Geographical profiling – including crime hotspots, routine activity, theory Routine Activity theory (Cohen and Felson 1979)  Convergence in time and space of a motivated offender, suitable target, absence of guardians  Implication: offenders learn crime possibilities as part of their daily routines: visiting friends, playing sport, going to work uni ect. (where they learn crime activities) Rational choice theory  Economic model  People weigh up the risks and benefits of offending  Further an offender travels from home-base greater the risks Criminal range  Greater an offender’s resources, the more likely it is they will travel in committing offenses  But, offenders have a typical range  Resources (car), familiarity and opportunity impact upon comfort range

Marauder Model  Marauders operate from a home/base  Canter and Gregory 1994: identify the two crimes furthest apart. Join by a line and use it as the diameter of a circle. Hypothesized offender resides within the circle.

Windshield Wiper pattern  Some routes are travelled more often by people. Offenses may be more often committed along those routes of non-criminal activities  Lundrigan and Canter (2001): investigated 79 US serial killers to ascertain average angle, which was 60 degrees.

Me ntal Buffers  People have ‘mental maps’ of environment  Geographical features impact upon mental maps and therefore offending - Geographical features such as rivers, main roads, parks ect can distort mental maps and create boundaries. - Crossing boundaries may be perceived as a longer journey - Effect may be to create a mental barrier.

Statistical profiling One of the major steps in the development of offender profiling is termed actuarial or statistical profiling which involves generating a profile of a likely offender based upon behavioural characteristics derived from a crime scene. By contrast with FBI profiling which generates profiles based upon the experience and intuition of an investigator, this approach has an emphasis on research and on statistical approaches to the relationship between crime-scene evidence and offender characteristics and uses statistical techniques to identify patterns in large datasets. While statistical profiling is currently the focus of much research, it is less frequently evaluated when used in actual police work. Police appear to find this form of profiling valuable, particularly as the profiler assists and advises them in dealing with the large body of data which is collected during a case which assists other aspects of the policing process. However, a statistical profile is rarely the basis for an arrest. This topic reviews the statistical approach to profiling and provides some examples of features which have been found within empirical research to predict particular types of offenders.  -

Focus on the behavioural characteristics of the offenses Examine crime scene records to identify salient behaviours Identify distinguishing features of the offender

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Need large data sets to generate statistical profile (typically known as smallest space analysist) Idea is that some behaviours in a crime (eg, rape) are likely to occur together, whereas other behaviours might rarely occur with certain other behaviours More science than art. (opposite to FBI profiling)

Profiling Criminal Histories  Davies 1997 studied a sample of rapists – 87% had prior criminal convictions  Investigated relationship between type of behaviour during/after the rape  Using crime scene features, found that: - Previous record for burglary predicted by finger print precautions, theft from victim, forced entry to premises, alcohol at or before crime. - Previous record for violent crime predicted by use of extreme violence, comments to police, deliberately lying. - Lack of previous convictions for sexual offenses predicted by lack of fingerprint precautions and precautions in leaving crime scene, presence of alcohol at or prior to crime, forced entry or confidence approach. Summary of statistical profiling  The statistical approach taken by Canter can empirically test some of the assumptions made using the FBI profiling approach  Covers a broader range of crimes, not just rape and serial killing (eg. Arson, burglary, fraud)  Empirical investigations are ongoing and new methods are being developed, importantly this has assisted to move criminal profiling into a more scientific pursuit. Summary * There are several different approaches to offending profiling including FBI profiling, geographical profiling and statistical profiling * Although widely used, FBI profiling lacks empirical support * Criminologists have long recognized the importance of environmental features in crime. Geographical profiling has been used with some success to predict an offender or an offender’s location based on spatial characteristics of a crime * Statistical approaches to profiling look to find patterns in offending. Patterns found through the analysis of large datasets have been used to generate more empirically driven offender profiles. Tutorial Activity Police are investigating a series of murders in Hampshire. All of the victims were young women in their twenties and several of them blondes. The estimated times of their deaths varied almost throughout the 24 hours of the day. In three of the seven cases the women were found with their heads covered with black plastic bags and single knife wounds to the throat which was the cause of death rather than asphyxiation. In the other four cases the women had been strangled

with their own underwear. Most of the victims were found in their own homes. The police noted that in none of the cases were there any biological traces that could be used for DNA testing of any suspects. There were signs that most of the crime scenes had been systematically wiped over to remove fingerprints. Each of the final victims had been left in a sexually degrading posture. Your task is to generate an FBI-style profile from this case. 1. What is the modus operandi of the offender?

2. What is the signature of the offender?

3. Is this an organised or disorganised offender? What details lead you to believe this?

4. What can we say about the profile of the offender and why? E.g.: a. Demographic characteristics (e.g. age, sex, race)

b. Lifestyle (e.g. employment, relationships)

c. Personality variables (e.g. fantasies, interests)

d. Physical characteristics (e.g. left-right handed, body type)...