Scribd
Upload
57 views3 pages

Unit 4

There are two main approaches to offender profiling: the top-down approach used by the FBI and the bottom-up approach used in Britain. The top-down approach classifies criminals into types and works from general to specific, examining behaviors and following four stages: data assimilation, crime scene classification, crime scene reconstruction, and profile generation. The bottom-up approach uses investigative psychology and geographic profiling to identify possible offenders by examining crime scene details and matching them to offender characteristics and locations. The FBI profiling process seeks to identify an offender's psychological signature by analyzing crime scene factors and reconstructing the sequence of events to develop hypotheses about an offender's profile.

Uploaded by

Shivani
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
57 views3 pages

Unit 4

There are two main approaches to offender profiling: the top-down approach used by the FBI and the bottom-up approach used in Britain. The top-down approach classifies criminals into types and works from general to specific, examining behaviors and following four stages: data assimilation, crime scene classification, crime scene reconstruction, and profile generation. The bottom-up approach uses investigative psychology and geographic profiling to identify possible offenders by examining crime scene details and matching them to offender characteristics and locations. The FBI profiling process seeks to identify an offender's psychological signature by analyzing crime scene factors and reconstructing the sequence of events to develop hypotheses about an offender's profile.

Uploaded by

Shivani
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 3

UNIT 4 Profile Analysis

Nature of Profiling Work


There are two main forms of offender profiling: the top-down and the bottom-up approaches.
The top-down approach is used by America, whereas the British use the bottom-up approach.

Developed by the FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigation), the top-down approach classifies
criminals into different types, working from the top down. The top-down approach assumes
that criminals show particular behaviors (often known as their modus-operandi or ‘MO’).

The FBI follow four steps when creating profiles (Douglas et al., 1986):

1. Data Assimilation Stage


2. Crime Scene Classification
3. Crime Scene Reconstruction
4. Profile Generation

Developed by David Canter, the bottom-up approach uses investigative psychology and
geographical profiling to identify possible offenders. Investigative psychology includes details
from the crime scene that are matched with psychology theories and analysis of offenders to
find the most likely match. Geographic profiling examines crime scenes to determine the
offender’s base and possible future crimes.

Investigators examine crime scenes, analyze evidence, and talk to witnesses to hypothesize
about the likely characteristics of the perpetrator, such as:

1. Personal characteristics.
2. Criminal history.
3. Location.
4. Social characteristics.
5. Career and educational history/level.
FBI Profiling (Data Assimilation Stage, Crime Scene
Classification, Crime Scene Reconstruction, Profile Generation)

Stage 1: Data assimilation


The earliest stage of FBI profiling involves collecting a variety of information. The time of death,
for example, may reflect the psychology of the offender. Basically, the profiling process seeks to
identify the psychological signature of the offender. This psychological signature is different
from the modus operandi. Modus operandi refers to a mode or method of operation or pattern
of criminal behavior so distinctive that separate crimes or wrongful conduct are recognized as
the work of the same person.

Stage 2: Crime scene classification


Profilers developed a dichotomy to describe three characteristic crime scenes – the organized,
the disorganized, and the mixed crime scenes.

➔ organized = evidence of planning


➔ disorganized = chaotic
➔ mixed = elements of both
The factors associated with a planned crime include the choice of weapon and the manner in
which death was inflicted; the location and time at which the crime occurred; and other aspects
intended to hide the identity of the culprit. Disordered socialization factors (e.g. inconsistent
upbringing methods and running away from home) were associated with the organized crime
scene. Organized crime scene offenders had frequent changes of sexual partners, were low on
alcoholism and showed evidence of psychopathy. They also tended to have higher regard for
their personal appearance.

Stage 3: Crime scene reconstruction


The crime scene is not a simple fixed event. Instead, it is the result of a complex set of
circumstances. Consequently, there are aspects of the crime scene that cannot be understood
unless attempts are made to understand the events as a dynamic process involving a minimum
of two people – offender and victim. There may be witnesses, actual or potential, to consider.
The information collected in Stage 1 is essential to the reconstruction. Inference and deduction
are involved. The purpose of the reconstruction may be to clarify the offender’s modus
operandi. Knowing this may help tie the crime to other crimes. The sequence of events (for
example, where there are signs that the victim was stalked) would be considered.

Stage 4: Profile generation


Hypotheses about the profile of the offender are drawn together. These hypotheses are not
necessarily psychological in nature and may include, for example, demographic features (social
class, type of work, employment/unemployment); lifestyle (such as living alone, being in a
relationship); behavioral habits (e.g. poor at mixing socially, solitary hobbies); and personality
dynamics (e.g. offending linked to depression). In FBI offender profiling, the profile may serve a
number of possible functions. Obviously, helping police improve the efficiency of information
processing by suggesting features of the offender which would narrow the search is a major
one. Another function of profiling is to help answer questions of links between a series of
crimes and the possible number of different offenders involved. Linking crimes to offenders in
this way means that information and resources can be pooled by different police teams
investigating seemingly unconnected crimes.

You might also like