KRM 310(B) - UNIT 5
UNIT 5: MULTIPLE MURDER (PROFILING)
1) INVESTIGATIVE PSYCHOLOGY
Refers to the application of psychological research & principles to the investigation of criminal behaviour
Used to answer 3 questions crucial to criminal investigations:
What are behavioural features of the crime to identify & successfully prosecute the offender
What inferences can be made about the characteristics of the offender to identify him/her
Are there any other crimes that might have been committed by the same individual
2) FORMS OF PROFILING
Profiling entails gathering various kinds of info about a person to analyse individual, crime scene/incident
Profiling categories rely on either:
CLINICAL APPROACH (case focused): try to infer offender’s characteristics from analysis of evidence gathered
Identification of single offender based on material gathered on an individual case
ACTUARIAL APPROACH : concentrates on database gathered from groups of offenders who have committed
similar crimes
Accumulated data from groups of behavioural patterns are called base rates
3) CATEGORIES OF PROFILING
PSYCHOLOGICAL Psychological description in general
PROFILING (Gener al) Prediction of behaviour in known persons through risk assessment methods
Identifying psychological & behavioural features of persons who may commit a particular
SUSPECT-BASED crime = is actuarial (use statistical methods)
PROFILING Built on personality traits, cognitive straits, behavioural patterns & demographic
(Prospective profiling) features of criminals who previously committed similar crimes
Racial profiling: police focus more on race/ethnicity than behaviour
Identify probable residence of offender/area of the next crime
GEOGRAPHICAL
Use computer software programmes to identify location of residence or the next
PROFILING
operation (ex. Rigel; Crimestat & Dragnet)
Process of identifying personality traits, behavioural patterns, geographical habits,
cognitive tendencies & demographic features of unknown offender based on
characteristics of the crime
3 important features of offender behaviour:
MODUS OP ERAN DI (MO) : acts/procedures offender engages in to commit successful crime
Criminal changes MO continuously = MO not used as ultimate tool
CRIME SCE NE PERS ONATI ON ( SIGNA TURE): anything that goes beyond what’s necessary to commit the
PROFILING ( Criminal
crime = establish the theme of the crime
profiling)
May show repetitive, almost ritualistic behaviour from crime to crime (trademark)
STAGING : intentional alteration of crime scene before police arrive (to redirect
investigation from suspect/to protect victim/victim’s family)
Ex. autoeroticism = self-strangulation/-hanging
UNDOI NG: offender tries to psychologically undo crime (may dehumanise victim - bash face)
When offender becomes distraught about victim’s death
UNIT 5: MULTIPLE MURDER (PROFILING)
1) INVESTIGATIVE PSYCHOLOGY
Refers to the application of psychological research & principles to the investigation of criminal behaviour
Used to answer 3 questions crucial to criminal investigations:
What are behavioural features of the crime to identify & successfully prosecute the offender
What inferences can be made about the characteristics of the offender to identify him/her
Are there any other crimes that might have been committed by the same individual
2) FORMS OF PROFILING
Profiling entails gathering various kinds of info about a person to analyse individual, crime scene/incident
Profiling categories rely on either:
CLINICAL APPROACH (case focused): try to infer offender’s characteristics from analysis of evidence gathered
Identification of single offender based on material gathered on an individual case
ACTUARIAL APPROACH : concentrates on database gathered from groups of offenders who have committed
similar crimes
Accumulated data from groups of behavioural patterns are called base rates
3) CATEGORIES OF PROFILING
PSYCHOLOGICAL Psychological description in general
PROFILING (Gener al) Prediction of behaviour in known persons through risk assessment methods
Identifying psychological & behavioural features of persons who may commit a particular
SUSPECT-BASED crime = is actuarial (use statistical methods)
PROFILING Built on personality traits, cognitive straits, behavioural patterns & demographic
(Prospective profiling) features of criminals who previously committed similar crimes
Racial profiling: police focus more on race/ethnicity than behaviour
Identify probable residence of offender/area of the next crime
GEOGRAPHICAL
Use computer software programmes to identify location of residence or the next
PROFILING
operation (ex. Rigel; Crimestat & Dragnet)
Process of identifying personality traits, behavioural patterns, geographical habits,
cognitive tendencies & demographic features of unknown offender based on
characteristics of the crime
3 important features of offender behaviour:
MODUS OP ERAN DI (MO) : acts/procedures offender engages in to commit successful crime
Criminal changes MO continuously = MO not used as ultimate tool
CRIME SCE NE PERS ONATI ON ( SIGNA TURE): anything that goes beyond what’s necessary to commit the
PROFILING ( Criminal
crime = establish the theme of the crime
profiling)
May show repetitive, almost ritualistic behaviour from crime to crime (trademark)
STAGING : intentional alteration of crime scene before police arrive (to redirect
investigation from suspect/to protect victim/victim’s family)
Ex. autoeroticism = self-strangulation/-hanging
UNDOI NG: offender tries to psychologically undo crime (may dehumanise victim - bash face)
When offender becomes distraught about victim’s death
