Psychology in Contemporary Society - Offender Profiling

Offender Profiling

What does a profiler do?

Can provide advice on:

• Suspect prioritisation
• Linking crimes & crime scenes
• Geographical profiling
• How to interview the suspect
• Risk assessment of offenders in clinical settings

BUT: They have no formal checklist.

Who are profilers (behavioural investigative advisors)?

• Some academics, some crime analysts
• Often psychologists
• No profiling-specific training which makes you a profiler
• No regulatory body
• Police route or through becoming an experienced investigator

History of Offender Profiling

First Profile - The New York Bomber (1956)

Psychiatrist James Brussel provided profile:

• Male, high-school graduate
• 40-50 years old
• Living in Conneticut or Westchester
• Living with sister or maiden aunt
• Eastern European descent
• Likely to wear a double-breasted suit

George Metesky - matched all

First UK Profile - The Railway ****** (1983-1986)

Psychologist David Canter created profile:

• Lived in area of first three cases since 1983
• Arrested some time after 24th October 1983
• Lived with wife/girlfriend
• Possibly without children
• Mid to late 20s
• Loner, with not many friends

John Duffy - matched all

Case: Murder of Rachel Nickell (1992)

Psychologist Paul Britton wrote profile of killer

Broadcast on Crimewatch, four people rang in to say it was Colin Stagg & that he fitted the profile exactly

'Honeytrap' sting put in place (undercover police officer pretended to engage in conversation with suspect, trying to get him to admit - police deception) - he still didn't admit

Case thrown out of court as there was no evidence other than the profile

2008: Robert Napper pleaded guilty to Rachel Nickell's murder after being convicted of a similar crime committed 18 months after her murder

Approaches

1) Criminal Investigative

Based on the information from the interviews the FBI suggested that important information could be taken from:

• Examination of the crime scene
• Study the nature of the attacks
• Consider any forensic evidence
• Consider medical examiner's reports
• Characteristics of victim selected

Methodology:

Data gathering - pathologists' reports, photos & witness statements

Crime scene classification - organised/disorganised

Crime scene reconstruction - work out crime sequences, victim's behaviour & offender's modus operandi

Profile generation - demographic details, physical characteristics, behavioural habits, suitable interview techniques & linked crimes

Issues:

• Lack of scientific methodological rigour
• Lack of theoretical underpinning
• Difficult to falsify typologies
• Based on only 36 convicted serial murderers
• Over simplification - not all crimes can be split into two categories - supported by Canter, Alison & Alison & Wentink
• Cognitive biases
• Faulty decision-making

2) Clinical Practitioner

Expertise & knowledge of individual profiler

Particularly used in bizarre/senseless cases where mental illness may be relevant

Profiles based on:

• Practical experience
• Knowledge
• Intuition
• Case details

Issues:

• Cognitive biases
• Faulty decision-making
• Lack of scientific methodological rigour
• Lack of theoretical underpinning
• Difficult to falsify typologies
• May not be generalisable to other cases
• Methodologies vary & they are often secretive about them

3) Scientific Statistical

Analysis of behavioural & other information at crime scene to infer characteristics & psychological processes

Explicit, psychological framework to provide directly useful characteristics of offender

AKA - Investigative Psychology Approach - David Canter

A-C Equations…