Forensics Flashcards
(85 cards)
What is the top down approach?
A way of narrowing down potential suspects by creating a profile of the most likely offender
How does the top down appraise narrow down potential subjects?
Using data, background info on the victim, and looking at patterns, behaviour, and motivations.
What are the two types of offender that a murderer can be classified into?
Organised
Disorganised
What are the possible characteristics of an organised offender?
Intelligent
Skilled occupational
Socially competent
Angry/depressed
What are the possible crime features of a organised offender?
Planned crimes
Targeted victims - a usually strangers and of a usual type
Self control
Covers tracks
Who is an example of a organised killer?
Ted bundy
What are the possible crime features of a disorganised offender?
Unplanned crimes
Leaves clues
Haphazard
What are the possible characteristics of a disorganised offender?
Poor social skills Poor personal hygiene Low intelligence Psychotic maybe Unable to maintain stable romantic/sexual relationships
Why are disorganised offenders not usually serial killers?
Tend to murder during fits of anger and will be more likely to know the victim and murder them due to a trigger.
Who is an example of a disorganised offender?
Richard Trenton Chase
What are the four steps of making a profile?
- data assimilation
- Crime seven classification
- Crime reconstruction
- Profile generation
What is data assimilation?
Looks at evidence from the crime scene, e.g. photos
What is crime scene classification?
Either organised or disorganised offender
What is crime reconstruction?
What happened? Who did what? How did they behave?
What is profile generation?
Using the above to create the profile of the likely offender
What is the bottom up approach?
More scientific than top down approach - treats every case as if unique - it starts with the bare basics and adds more to their profile as the evidence grows
Who developed geographical profiling?
Rossmo (1997)
What did rossmo believe?
We could use info from locations of linked crime scenes to make inferences about the offender
Who came up with the circle theory?
Canter and Larkin
What is the circle theory?
People operate within a limited spatial mind set that creates imaged boundaries in which crimes are likely to be committed.
Who developed crime mapping?
Rossmo
What is crime mapping?
Looking at locations of linked crimes that help us make inferences about the likely home or operational base of the offender.
What is the assumption used to help crime mapping?
That criminals operate in areas they are facial removal with.
What are the two types of offender?
Marauder
Commuter