Notes: Criminal Profiling/ Forensic Psychology

I. Criminal Profiling An investigative technique that identifies and lists major personality and behavior characteristics of the offender Many names: offender profiling, psychological profiling, personality profiling, applied criminology, etc.

II. History ’s: first recorded use in “Jack the Ripper” case Dr. Thomas Bond concluded that several females had all been killed by same person

History Cont. 2. WWII: Dr. Walter Langer was asked to profile Hitler-explain his mindset, motives, and what he would do if caught Correctly predicted he would commit suicide if caught

History Cont ’s-Dr. James Brussel profiled “Mad Bomber” of NYC. Report was very accurate, even detailed clothes bomber (George Metesky) would wear 1964-profiled “Boston Strangler”: correctly IDed single person (not 2)

III. The FBI Profiling Method Need a detailed interpretation of the crime scene 2 Major Classifications for Criminals – Organized – Disorganized

Organized  High IQ ( )  socially adequate  lives with partner or dates frequently  stable father figure  family physical abuse, harsh  geographically/occupationally mobile  follows the news media  may be college educated  good hygiene/housekeeping skills  does not usually keep a hiding place  diurnal (daytime) habits  needs to return to crime scene to see what police have done  usually contacts police to play games  doesn’t experiment with self-help  kills at one site, disposes at another  may dismember body  attacks using seduction into restraints  keeps personal, holds a conversation  leaves a controlled crime scene  leaves little physical evidence  responds best to direct interview  drives a flashy car

Disorganized  IQ below average, range  socially inadequate  lives alone, usually does not date  absent or unstable father  family emotional abuse, inconsistent  lives and/or works near crime scene  minimal interest in news media  usually a high school dropout  poor hygiene/housekeeping skills  keeps a secret hiding place in the home  nocturnal (nighttime) habits  drives a clunky car or pickup truck  needs to return to crime scene for reliving memories  may contact victim’s family to play games  no interest in police work  experiments with self-help programs  kills at one site, considers mission over  usually leaves body intact  attacks in a “blitz” pattern  depersonalizes victim to a thing or it  leaves a chaotic crime scene  leaves physical evidence  responds best to counseling interview

A. 5 Main Steps to Generate Profile 1.Gather info-everything from C.S., victim, witnesses, autopsy, evidence. 2.Create a possible sequence of events 3.List of characteristics about offender is compiled 4.Profile is completed, list of suspects narrowed, may be reassessed 5.Compare profile with suspect apprehended and evaluate accuracy of report.

B. Developing a Profile Very difficult, hard to be accurate Different methodologies: – Motivation – Characteristics of serial killer – Frequency and timing of homicidal behavior Holmes typology: deductive approach that presumes various socio-psychological characteristics of the offender

C. Prospective Profile attempts to construct a set of characteristics common to a specific type of offender. profiles are generally templates laid over a specific population attempts to predict who within that group might have an elevated potential for committing a certain type of violence.

D. Retrospective Profile an after the fact attempt to define the personality and behavioral characteristics of the individuals responsible for a specific crime or series of crimes.

E. Geographical Profile 1. Identifies likely locations of offender 2. Offenders maintain “buffer zones” around their homes where they avoid committing crimes  Fear of being recognized 3. Uses mathematical algorithm with two basic principles – Least effort: cost-benefit in their minds – Criminal opportunity: familiarity and opportunity 4. Software program called Rigel

Homicidal Triad of Symptoms 3 behavioral characteristics that are associated with sociopathic behavior Sociopath: a person whose behavior is antisocial and who lacks a sense of moral responsibility or social conscience. Triad: 1. Animal cruelty 2. Obsession with fire setting 3. Persistent bedwetting past the age of 5 Many serial killers exhibited these behaviors during childhood

Developed from crime scene evidence and autopsy data – How did killer gain access to victim – What was killer’s attraction to victim – What did killer do to the victim – Did killer try to cover his/her tracks MO: Modus operandi-describes tools and strategies used to carry out the crime Try to find killer’s signature: something unique to that criminal

Female Profile Categories- Kehler Typology Black Widows Angels of Death Sexual Predators Revenge Profit Killers Team Killers Question of Sanity Unexplained Unsolved