The American Approach
The top-down approach originated in the US as a result of the work carried out by the FBI in the 1970s.
Offender profilers who use this method will match what is known about the crime and the offender to a pre-existing template that the FBI developed.
Murders and rapists are classified in one of two categories (organised or disorganised) on the basis of the evidence, and this classification informs the
subsequent police investigation.
The approach starts with the big picture then fills in the details.
In the 1970’s the FBIs behavioural Science Unit gathered data from 36 sexually motivated serial killers, including Charles Manson & Ted Bundy to
develop this approach to Offender Profiling.
Organised and disorganised types of offender (Douglas)
Organised Disorganised
Organised Disorganised
Have planned the crime No planning and body is
in advance. usually left at the scene.
Victim is targeted. Lower than average IQ.
Above-average IQ. Lives alone and close to Offender profiling: The
Usually has a family. where the offence took
Stre
High degree of control. place. top-down approach
Personalises victims. Lacks confidence. +Au
Younger of siblings. polic
usefu
Profilers start with a pre-established typology and work down in order to + The
assign offenders to one of two categories based on witness accounts and crim
evidence from the crime scene. perfo
Constructing an FBI profile
The profiler reviews the evidence.
Weaknesses
Data E.g. crime scene photographs
- Only applies to particular crimes→ best suited to crime scenes that reveal important de
assimilation the approach is based on 36 sexually motivated serial killers. Therefore, it is a limited ap
The top-down approach originated in the US as a result of the work carried out by the FBI in the 1970s.
Offender profilers who use this method will match what is known about the crime and the offender to a pre-existing template that the FBI developed.
Murders and rapists are classified in one of two categories (organised or disorganised) on the basis of the evidence, and this classification informs the
subsequent police investigation.
The approach starts with the big picture then fills in the details.
In the 1970’s the FBIs behavioural Science Unit gathered data from 36 sexually motivated serial killers, including Charles Manson & Ted Bundy to
develop this approach to Offender Profiling.
Organised and disorganised types of offender (Douglas)
Organised Disorganised
Organised Disorganised
Have planned the crime No planning and body is
in advance. usually left at the scene.
Victim is targeted. Lower than average IQ.
Above-average IQ. Lives alone and close to Offender profiling: The
Usually has a family. where the offence took
Stre
High degree of control. place. top-down approach
Personalises victims. Lacks confidence. +Au
Younger of siblings. polic
usefu
Profilers start with a pre-established typology and work down in order to + The
assign offenders to one of two categories based on witness accounts and crim
evidence from the crime scene. perfo
Constructing an FBI profile
The profiler reviews the evidence.
Weaknesses
Data E.g. crime scene photographs
- Only applies to particular crimes→ best suited to crime scenes that reveal important de
assimilation the approach is based on 36 sexually motivated serial killers. Therefore, it is a limited ap
