Offender Profiling CCJ2011 - Week 8
Modus Operandi, Signature and Linkage
Analysis questions with answers.
Modus Operandi (MO) ANS - Mode of operation, method of operating
How is the crime committed
Includes offender actions required to commit the crime
MO encompasses actions aimed to meet criminal goals:
- protection of offender identity eg. wearing a mask
- successful completion of the crime eg. gained entry/used a weapon to control the victim
- facilitation of offender escape eg. use of a stolen vehicle (Turvey, 2002)
The Latin phrase Modus Operandi means 'mode of operation' or 'method of operating'. Turvey ntoes
that an offender's MO can provide information about the offenders skill or professional area of
knowledge, theoffender's relationship with the victim, and the offender's familiarity with the crime
scene
Modus Operandi can provide information about ANS - The offender's skill
eg. hotwiring a car, pick lock, con
Professional area of knowledge
eg. security pass, drug availability
Relationship with the victim
eg. access to victim
, Familiarity with the crime scene
eg. escape routes, entry points, location of valuables
Modus Operandi - how to of a crime ANS - MO "encompasses all behaviours initiated by the offender
to procure a victim and complete the criminal acts without being identified or apprehended. The MO
can be quite simple or very complex, with the various degrees of sophistication reflecting the
experience, motivation and intelligence of the offender" (Hazelwood & Warren, 2004)
Criminal investigative analysts share a similar view of the criminal actions encompassed within an
offender's MO.
MO Behaviours (Turvey, 2008) ANS - Number of offenders
Amount of planning before a crime
Offense location selection
Pre-surveillance of a crime scene or victim
Non-fantasy involvement of victim during a crime
Use of a weapon during crime
Use of restraints to control victim during crime
Nature and extent of injuries to the victim
Method of killing the victim
Nature and extent of precautionary acts
Location and position of the victim's clothing/body
Items taken from victim or crime scene for profit or to prevent identification
Method of transportation to and from crime scene
Direction of escape/route taken from offense location
MO - Developmental/Situational ANS - MO is learned behaviour, dynamic and malleable (Douglas &
Munn, 1992)
eg. burglar breaks glass, but then has to hurry
Modus Operandi, Signature and Linkage
Analysis questions with answers.
Modus Operandi (MO) ANS - Mode of operation, method of operating
How is the crime committed
Includes offender actions required to commit the crime
MO encompasses actions aimed to meet criminal goals:
- protection of offender identity eg. wearing a mask
- successful completion of the crime eg. gained entry/used a weapon to control the victim
- facilitation of offender escape eg. use of a stolen vehicle (Turvey, 2002)
The Latin phrase Modus Operandi means 'mode of operation' or 'method of operating'. Turvey ntoes
that an offender's MO can provide information about the offenders skill or professional area of
knowledge, theoffender's relationship with the victim, and the offender's familiarity with the crime
scene
Modus Operandi can provide information about ANS - The offender's skill
eg. hotwiring a car, pick lock, con
Professional area of knowledge
eg. security pass, drug availability
Relationship with the victim
eg. access to victim
, Familiarity with the crime scene
eg. escape routes, entry points, location of valuables
Modus Operandi - how to of a crime ANS - MO "encompasses all behaviours initiated by the offender
to procure a victim and complete the criminal acts without being identified or apprehended. The MO
can be quite simple or very complex, with the various degrees of sophistication reflecting the
experience, motivation and intelligence of the offender" (Hazelwood & Warren, 2004)
Criminal investigative analysts share a similar view of the criminal actions encompassed within an
offender's MO.
MO Behaviours (Turvey, 2008) ANS - Number of offenders
Amount of planning before a crime
Offense location selection
Pre-surveillance of a crime scene or victim
Non-fantasy involvement of victim during a crime
Use of a weapon during crime
Use of restraints to control victim during crime
Nature and extent of injuries to the victim
Method of killing the victim
Nature and extent of precautionary acts
Location and position of the victim's clothing/body
Items taken from victim or crime scene for profit or to prevent identification
Method of transportation to and from crime scene
Direction of escape/route taken from offense location
MO - Developmental/Situational ANS - MO is learned behaviour, dynamic and malleable (Douglas &
Munn, 1992)
eg. burglar breaks glass, but then has to hurry
