FP - Offender Profiling Flashcards
(22 cards)
What is offender profiling?
Offender profiling is a method of inferring likely characteristics of an offender by analysing evidence from the crime scene. It assumes crime is not random and offenders operate with a consistent modus operandi or criminal signature.
What is the top-down approach?
The top-down approach, developed by the FBI, uses pre-existing typologies of offenders — mainly organised and disorganised. Profilers rely on experience and intuition to fit offenders into one of these types based on crime scene evidence.
What are the characteristics of organised vs disorganised offenders?
Organised offenders plan crimes, use restraints, hide the body, and have above-average intelligence. Disorganised offenders act impulsively, leave chaotic crime scenes, and often have low IQ.
What are the four stages of the top-down approach?
- Data assimilation: gather info (autopsy, crime scene, witness statements) 2. Crime scene classification: match to organised/disorganised type 3. Crime reconstruction: hypothesise sequence of events 4. Profile generation: build offender profile (age, gender, job, etc.)
What is the bottom-up approach?
The bottom-up approach, developed in the UK, uses statistical techniques to generate a profile from actual data — not pre-set categories. It is evidence-driven and known as Investigative Psychology.
What is geographical profiling?
Geographical profiling is a form of bottom-up profiling that analyses crime location data to infer the likely base of an offender. It distinguishes marauders (who operate close to home) and commuters (who travel).
What research supports the top-down typology?
There is some research support for the organised/disorganised classification.
Ressler et al. (1986) interviewed 36 serial killers and classified 24 as organised, 12 as disorganised.
What’s a limitation of the FBI’s typology sample?
The top-down approach has methodological flaws in its development.
It was based on interviews with 36 US serial sex offenders, a small and biased sample.
What evidence contradicts the top-down approach?
The typology of ‘organised’ and ‘disorganised’ is overly simplistic.
Canter et al. (2004) analysed 100 serial killer cases and found no distinct types.
Why is bottom-up profiling more scientific?
Bottom-up profiling is based on objective data, not intuition.
Canter’s investigative psychology uses statistical methods to detect behavioural patterns.
What are the general criticisms of profiling accuracy?
Offender profiles can be too vague to be useful.
Alison (2003) showed detectives often interpreted ambiguous profiles as accurate, supporting the Barnum effect.
What is offender profiling?
Offender profiling is a method of inferring likely characteristics of an offender by analysing evidence from the crime scene. It assumes crime is not random and offenders operate with a consistent modus operandi or criminal signature.
What is the top-down approach?
The top-down approach, developed by the FBI, uses pre-existing typologies of offenders — mainly organised and disorganised. Profilers rely on experience and intuition to fit offenders into one of these types based on crime scene evidence.
What are the characteristics of organised vs disorganised offenders?
Organised offenders plan crimes, use restraints, hide the body, and have above-average intelligence. Disorganised offenders act impulsively, leave chaotic crime scenes, and often have low IQ.
What are the four stages of the top-down approach?
- Data assimilation: gather info (autopsy, crime scene, witness statements) 2. Crime scene classification: match to organised/disorganised type 3. Crime reconstruction: hypothesise sequence of events 4. Profile generation: build offender profile (age, gender, job, etc.)
What is the bottom-up approach?
The bottom-up approach, developed in the UK, uses statistical techniques to generate a profile from actual data — not pre-set categories. It is evidence-driven and known as Investigative Psychology.
What is geographical profiling?
Geographical profiling is a form of bottom-up profiling that analyses crime location data to infer the likely base of an offender. It distinguishes marauders (who operate close to home) and commuters (who travel).
What research supports the top-down typology?
There is some research support for the organised/disorganised classification.
Ressler et al. (1986) interviewed 36 serial killers and classified 24 as organised, 12 as disorganised.
What’s a limitation of the FBI’s typology sample?
The top-down approach has methodological flaws in its development.
It was based on interviews with 36 US serial sex offenders, a small and biased sample.
What evidence contradicts the top-down approach?
The typology of ‘organised’ and ‘disorganised’ is overly simplistic.
Canter et al. (2004) analysed 100 serial killer cases and found no distinct types.
Why is bottom-up profiling more scientific?
Bottom-up profiling is based on objective data, not intuition.
Canter’s investigative psychology uses statistical methods to detect behavioural patterns.
What are the general criticisms of profiling accuracy?
Offender profiles can be too vague to be useful.
Alison (2003) showed detectives often interpreted ambiguous profiles as accurate, supporting the Barnum effect.
