forensic psychology

?
Offender profiling
An investigative tool that is used alongside all the other ways of solving crime. There are two types of profiling: top-down and bottom-up
1 of 21
Top-down
Top-down methods are where the profiler has experience and can use the evidence at the crime scene to develop a profile of the likely criminal.
2 of 21
Bottom-up
This is when research and statistics of similar crimes are used to develop a profile of the criminal based on previous convictions.
3 of 21
Jackson and Bekerian
They found that inferences about the criminal can be made from the scene and that it is these which can enable a case to be solved
4 of 21
Factors considered in developing a profile
Assimilating data- involves collecting all the information available about the crime scene and victim. Classifying crime- identify the type of crime. Reconstructing the crime- this includes the behaviour of both the offender and victim.
5 of 21
Factors considered in developing a profile 2
creating a profile- making judgements about possible physical and lifestyle characteristics of the offender
6 of 21
Geographical profiling
This specifically covers the location and timing aspects of a crime. There are four main principles which help shape a profile using this method: locatedness, systematic crime location choice, centrality, comparative case analysis
7 of 21
Locatedness
Some crimes have several locations and they are all important from a profiler's point of view, locations include where the victim is killed and where the body is disposed of. If places are different then multiple places can add to the profile accuracy.
8 of 21
Systematic crime location choice
The locations are not in any way random. Familiarity to the offender is important with this choice and means locations is worthy of careful consideration
9 of 21
Centrality
There are two types of offenders: commuters and marauders. Commuters travel to commit the crime, while marauders commit crimes close to home. This centrality means that the crimes may cluster.
10 of 21
Comparative case analysis
Other crimes should be considered as being committed by the same offender. The reason why this connection is actively sought is that the more crimes that are committed by one particular person, the greater the accuracy and application of geographical.
11 of 21
Biases and Pitfalls in offender profiling
Profiles can only be used for a limited range of crimes such as murders or rapes, they've been used to identify murderers and rapists but aren't good with crimes motivated by material gain. Douglas et al points out that the use of offender profiling is to
12 of 21
Biases and Pitfalls in offender profiling 2
Douglas et al points out that the use of offender profiling is to narrow the field of prospects and not find the specific criminal.
13 of 21
Biases and Pitfalls in offender profiling 3
Research into offender profiling has shown that it is limited. Holmes reported that in 192 cases where offender profiling was used arrests had been made in 88 cases. However, the profile only contributed to 17% of these arrests.
14 of 21
Biases and Pitfalls in offender profiling 4
Copson found that only 14% of senior police officers felt that profiling had helped them to solve a case.
15 of 21
The Rachel Nickell case as a misuse of offender profiling
An offender profiler created a profile which was broadcast , four callers all identified the same person. The man fit the profile but there was no forensic evidence to link him to the crime.
16 of 21
The Rachel Nickell case as a misuse of offender profiling 2
An undercover female cop befriended the suspect and attempted to get him to confess to the crime. The suspect never admitted to her that he was the culprit and even denied involvement
17 of 21
The case study of John Duffy
John Duffy is known as the railway ******, he was responsible for 24 sexual assaults and three murders. Canter was asked by police to analyse the details of the crimes to generate a profile as forensic evidence suggested they were committed by one person
18 of 21
The case study of John Duffy 2
The profile made Duffy a much more likely suspect than had previously been thought narrowing the suspects from hundreds. The details of the profile Canter had created were very similar to Duffy's actual circumstances and characteristics
19 of 21
Atavistic form
A possible explanation for criminal explanation for criminal offending, centring on the idea that offenders may represent a more primitive evolutionary stage of development than their contemporaries. This may be shown in a range of facial and physical fea
20 of 21
Eysenck's theory of the criminal personality
He suggested that all personalities are made up of certain traits and the level you have of those traits determines your personality
21 of 21

Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Top-down methods are where the profiler has experience and can use the evidence at the crime scene to develop a profile of the likely criminal.

Back

Top-down

Card 3

Front

This is when research and statistics of similar crimes are used to develop a profile of the criminal based on previous convictions.

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

They found that inferences about the criminal can be made from the scene and that it is these which can enable a case to be solved

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

Assimilating data- involves collecting all the information available about the crime scene and victim. Classifying crime- identify the type of crime. Reconstructing the crime- this includes the behaviour of both the offender and victim.

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
View more cards

Comments

No comments have yet been made

Similar Psychology resources:

See all Psychology resources »See all Criminological and Forensic Psychology resources »