FORENSIC
PSYCHOLOGY
Revision booklet
, FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY
OFFENDER PROFILING
KEY WORDS-
DISORGANISED TYPE OF OFFENDER- the crime scene is left with many
clues such as fingerprints, little evidence of engagement with the
victim, offender has lower intelligence and competence.
OFFENDER PROFILING- method of working out the characteristics of an
offender by examining the characteristics of the crime and crime scene
ORGANISED TYPE OF OFFENDER- this type of offender commits a
planned crime and may engage in violent fantasies with the victim,
usually high intelligence and competence.
TOP-DOWN APPROACH- also called crime scene analysis, an analysis of
previous crimes creates a profile of a likely offender. A profiler uses this
knowledge to narrow the field of possible subjects. Unlike the bottom-
up approach, the top-down approach relies on the intuition and beliefs
of the profiler.
OFFENDER PROFILING- THE TOP-DOWN APPROACH:
1- Profiling inputs
Data collected at this stage includes description of the crime scene
including photographs and sketches, background information about
the victim and details of the crime itself (i.e. autopsy report,
weapons). All information should be include. Possible suspects
should not be considered as it may result in biased information
collecting.
2- Decision process models
PSYCHOLOGY
Revision booklet
, FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY
OFFENDER PROFILING
KEY WORDS-
DISORGANISED TYPE OF OFFENDER- the crime scene is left with many
clues such as fingerprints, little evidence of engagement with the
victim, offender has lower intelligence and competence.
OFFENDER PROFILING- method of working out the characteristics of an
offender by examining the characteristics of the crime and crime scene
ORGANISED TYPE OF OFFENDER- this type of offender commits a
planned crime and may engage in violent fantasies with the victim,
usually high intelligence and competence.
TOP-DOWN APPROACH- also called crime scene analysis, an analysis of
previous crimes creates a profile of a likely offender. A profiler uses this
knowledge to narrow the field of possible subjects. Unlike the bottom-
up approach, the top-down approach relies on the intuition and beliefs
of the profiler.
OFFENDER PROFILING- THE TOP-DOWN APPROACH:
1- Profiling inputs
Data collected at this stage includes description of the crime scene
including photographs and sketches, background information about
the victim and details of the crime itself (i.e. autopsy report,
weapons). All information should be include. Possible suspects
should not be considered as it may result in biased information
collecting.
2- Decision process models
