Chapter 16 Criminal Profiling

Chapter 16—Criminal Profiling

Introduction—Objectives 1. List key contributors to and their work in the field of criminal profiling. 2. Explain the stages of the criminal profiling process. 3. Assess the importance of victimology in the criminal profiling process. 4. Differentiate between the roles of the investigator and the profiler. 5. Explain the value of developing a victim’s timeline. Introduction—Vocabulary  Criminal profiler—a person who infers the personality and characteristics of a suspect based on information gathered from a crime scene  Modus operandi (MO)—also referred to as the method of operation, a recognized pattern of behavior in the commission of a crime  Signature—something unusual or specific left at the crime scene by the perpetrator  Victim—person who has experienced harm, injuries, loss, or death  Victimology—the study of victims affected by crime, accidents, or natural disasters Profiling a Serial Killer  Rochester, NY—1989, multiple murders  Police ask for FBI profiler, Gregg McCrary  McCrary studied the murder’s MO, and  Concluded that the murderer probably would return to scene of the crime  Police delayed collecting the next victim  Arthur Shawcross appeared at the crime scene and was arrested for the murder of 11 women

© 2016, 2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. Page 1 of 6 Introduction  Criminal profilers study evidence collected and analyzed by crime- scene investigators to formulate a hypothesis about a perpetrator’s

• Age

• Personality

• Lifestyle

• Social environment

History (Obj 16.1, 16.2)  Cesare Lobroso, The Criminal Man, 1876  Suggested that criminals shared certain characteristics  Three general types  Science has since disproved that physical attributes can predict behavior  Hans Gross, Criminal Investigation: A Practical Textbook for Magistrates, Police Officers, and Lawyers, 1906—use science, be systematic  Gerald Fosbroke, Character Reading Through Analysis of the Features, 1914 (later disproved)  Erich Wulffen, Woman as A Sexual Criminal, 1935  John O’Connell and Harry Soderman, Modern Criminal Investigation, 1930s  Paul Kirk, Criminal Investigation, 1953 Modern Day Profiling  Forensic psychiatrist

• Interviews criminals and suspects

• Evaluates personal history

• Administers personality tests

• Presents an opinion as testimony in court  James Brussel, 1950s, viewed profiling as a diagnostic tool, bridging the gap between criminal investigators and forensic psychiatrists

© 2016, 2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. Page 2 of 6  Howard Teten—created a criminal profiling division in 1970 for the FBI  Jack Kirsh, an FBI agent, opened the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit (BSU)  BSU is now directed by the National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime (NCAVC) Stages of the Profiling Process The logic is that the way a person thinks guides his or her behavior. 1. Input 2. Decision process models 3. Crime assessment 4. Criminal profile 5. Investigation 6. Apprehension

1 – Input

 Collecting evidence (for example)

• Placement of the victim and weapon(s)

• Body position

• Blood splatter

• Condition of surroundings  History of the victim

• Employment and reputation

• Social habits

• Hobbies and interests  Autopsy report 2 – Decision Process Models  Classifying the crime  Determining motives  Risk level of the victim 3 – Crime Assessment

• Premeditated and planned?

• Impulsive and no plan?  Modus Operandi—the method of operation  Signature—repeating a habit at each crime scene 4 – Criminal Profile  A typical profile includes estimates of:

• Race

• Sex

• Physical characteristics

• Habits

• Values and beliefs  Compare the profile with the decision process models (stage 2) and reconstruction of the crime scene 5 – Investigation  Begins after profiler submits written report  Seek and evaluate suspects that match the profile

6 – Apprehension  Apprehend  Interview  Interrogate  Arrest

Victimology (Obj 16.4, 16.5, 16.6)

  A victim is a person who has experienced harm, injuries, loss, or death.  Victimology is the study victims who have been affected by crime, accidents, or natural disasters.

© 2016, 2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. Page 4 of 6 Victim Risk  Aggressive nature  Impulsive  Anxious  Passive  Thrives on attention  Self-inflicted injuries  Poor self-image  Negative  Exhibits addictive behaviors Victimology Assessment  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?  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?  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?

© 2016, 2012 Cengage Learning. All Rights Reserved. May not be scanned, copied or duplicated, or posted to a publicly accessible website, in whole or in part. Page 5 of 6 • Where does the victim live and with whom?  Create a timeline of events Chapter Summary  Criminal profilers estimate the characteristics and traits of a perpetrator to narrow the field of suspects.  Criminal profiling dates back to the 1800s when Cesare Lombroso concluded that there were three types of criminals.  In 1972, Jack Kirsh opened the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit and helped law enforcement solve cases by developing criminal profiles of unknown suspects.  The criminal profiling process has 6 stages:

• input,

• decision process models,

• crime assessment,

• criminal profile,

• investigation, and

• apprehension  A victim is a person who has experienced harm, injuries, loss, or death.  Victimology is the study victims who have been affected by crime, accidents, or natural disasters.  By assessing a victim’s lifestyle, preferences, family, relationships, and routines, investigators may gather clues about potential suspects who had access to the victim.  The investigator collects and analyzes physical evidence, and  The profiler makes inferences about the personality and characteristics of a suspect based on the evidence gathered.  A timeline of the victim’s events helps investigators determine who had access to the victim. The 24 hours leading up to the crime yields the most helpful information.