Forensic Science

Forensic ScienceAn Introduction to Scientific and Investigative Techniques

Stuart H. James and Jon J. Nordby

CRC Press: Forensic Science, James and Nordby, 2nd Edition

Chapter 31Criminal Personality Profiling

Chapter Authors: Michael R. Napier and Kenneth P. Baker

Presentation created by Greg Galardi, Peru, Nebraska


Criminal Personality Profiling

Purpose of offender profiling is to help investigators to narrow the field of suspects based on the characteristics of the crime scene and initial investigative information


Criminal Personality Profiling

FBI Behavioral Sciences Unit has developed an accepted investigative tool for officers tasked with solving violent crimes by understanding certain aspects of violent criminal behavior


Criminal Personality ProfilingPolicing today is performed by professionals possessing better education and trainingThese individuals use advancements in forensic science and investigations to their advantage to assist in solving crime


Criminal Personality ProfilingProfiling process provides an approach to conduct a thorough and competent behaviorally based examination of crime scenes and investigations of violent crimes that display characteristics amenable to profiling process

Behavioral evidence at crime scenes may give insight into characteristics of offender


Expert Test Experts should meet following criteria:

Has expert had opportunity to review criminological research at FBI BSU, academicians or other law enforcement researchers


Expert TestHas expert been trained extensively in theoretical and behavioral aspects of criminal behavior, crime scene reconstruction, criminalistics and other forensic fields


Expert Test Does expert have extensive investigative experience involving violent crimes, hands on processing of crime scenes, examining effects of wounding and injuries, observing autopsies, and applying criminal analysis to wide range of violent crimes


Expert Test

Does the expert approach the investigation of an unsolved violent crime from a law enforcement perspective rather than a clinical psychology one?


History of Profiling and Criminal Investigative AnalysisSherlock Holmes and Charlie Chan brought common place crime solving skills into play

Experienced investigators of violent crime develop a cumulative sense of offender traits


History of Profiling and Criminal Investigative AnalysisDuring the 1950s and 1960s, a select cadre of sworn law enforcement officers was selected to attend FBI Academy As new techniques were developed, ideas were shared which would promulgate cooperative crime solving methods


History of Profiling and Criminal Investigative AnalysisFBI developed Behavioral Science UnitDevelopment of quantitative and qualitative research was doneFace to face interviews with convicted offenders were done to better understand criminal behavior and conduct


Criminal Investigative Analysis

Processes of criminal investigative analysis are:

Crime from a behavioral perspectiveCriminal personality profilingCrime scene analysis and reconstructionSearch warrant applications


Criminal Investigative AnalysisInvestigative strategiesInterview and interrogation strategiesProsecution strategiesCase linkage of serial offensesEquivocal death analysesThreat analyses


General ConceptsNational Center for the Analysis of Behavioral Crime is operational successor of FBIs Behavioral Science Unit

CIA collection and processes have been very successful in assisting in the apprehension of criminals


Profiling Profiling is defined as the identification of certain characteristics of an unknown, unidentified offender based on the way he committed a violent act, and his interactions with the victim


Descriptive Traits of OffenderSome traits are learned from witnesses, but most valuable are from combination of:

Crime scene examinationInvestigative experience

continued


Descriptive Traits of Offender

Understanding of offender and victim behaviorsKnowledge of wound patterns Knowledge of forensic evidenceResults of research conducted by FBI/BSU


Categories of Profiling DescriptorsCategories include:SexRaceAgeCriminal History


Categories of Profiling Descriptors

Employment HistorySocial AdjustmentSexual adjustment or abnormalitiesAlcohol or drug usageEducational levelInterpersonal skills


Victimology

Victimology victims history that impacts the analysis of a crime and the behavioral study of a victim of a violent crime


Victimology Victimology examines areas including victims reputation, lifestyle, habits, associates, and pastimes to form an opinion about individuals risk of becoming a crime victim


VictimologyGoal of victimology in investigation is to answer critical questions:

Why was that person attacked instead of another person?Was the victims lifestyle a contributing factor toward victimization?


Victimology By learning the personality, attitudes, lifestyle habits and perspectives of a victim, the crime scene and offense can be better analyzed and evaluated for a better behavioral understanding of what transpired and why crime occurred.


Trophy or Souvenir- What is Taken from Victim?Difference in offenders is demonstrated by items taken from victim and categorization of those items:EvidentiaryValuablesPsychological


Trophy or Souvenir- What is Taken from Victim?

Depending on the perspective of the criminal, items taken from victims may represent trophies or souvenirs


Trophy Is the item significant to the offender as an accomplishment or a victory and is a trophy of his action


Souvenir Is the item taken a fondly remembered occurrence and retained as a souvenir for conclusion in masturbatory fantasies


Three Axioms for Offender ProfilingBehavior reflects personality:

How a person acts helps to determine their personality.


Three Axioms for Offender Profiling Behavior left at a crime scene can be discerned:

Evidence left at crime, such as DNA, prints, hair, blood, threads from clothing, leaves behind traces of behavior


Three Axioms for Offender Profiling

Cumulative research into human behavior by the FBI and many others has allowed behavioralists to classify offenders into typologies


Analysis of the Three AxiomsTo offer and analysis, investigators must:Base analysis on concrete dataNot venture forth and offer an opinion before a conclusive observation of all evidence is reviewedNot use flawed or inaccurate data in determination of final analysis


Results: Type of AnalysisCrime Analysis- Investigator gathers all available data about commission of criminal act, the victim and offender

Each act or behavior at a crime scene is examined by asking why and how event occurred


Results: Crime Analysis What type f person would have acted in that manner?

Crime analysis generally allows investigator to reconstruct interaction between offender ad the victim, and permits explanation of individual pieces of crime scene puzzle


Results: Crime AnalysisProcess of crime scene analysis allows for a better understanding of offenders motivation, criminal sophistication, and possible prior relationship with victim


Results: Crime AnalysisAs new evidence arrives during crime analysis, investigator may rethink his analysis, and adjust his interview and investigative strategiesLogical thinking and specific parameters should be used by investigators


Results: Crime AnalysisExamples of bodies of knowledge necessary for successful investigator:Knowledge and limitations of scientific techniquesUnderstanding of criminal thinking practically and academicallySpecial expertise of criminal investigators


Crime Scene ReconstructionCrime scene reconstruction allows crime scene investigator to understand how victim was approached and controlled, and interactions between victim and offender


Crime Scene Reconstruction Critical part of crime analysis is to be able to reconstruct and sequence criminal acts as they occurred in interaction between victim and offender


Crime Scene ReconstructionAssists investigator in getting a better feel for the crime: how and why crime occurredLevel of spontaneity or planning of crime by offender may be ascertained Allows investigator to have a broader foundation of knowledge to conduct investigation


Investigative and Prosecutorial Strategies

Strategizing over investigation of crime is part of investigators approachAvenues for exploration and psychological strengths or weaknesses of individuals may be part of investigative strategy


Investigative and Prosecutorial Strategies

Preparation of inclusive or partial media statements can assist in framing vulnerabilities of suspect and allow for insider information to be withheld


Investigative and Prosecutorial StrategiesProsecutors may use knowledge of offender behavior and motivation to:Arrange proof offered in a specific mannerStructure questions specificallyOrder questions specifically


Investigative and Prosecutorial StrategiesProsecutor strategy continued;Include trigger terminology of special significance to defendantUse inside information to tie together themes in prosecution strategy and include information in arguments


Interview and Interrogation Strategies

Case resolution often rests with results of investigators interview and interrogation skills


Interview and Interrogation StrategiesTwo prongs of offender specific interview and interrogation strategies:

Behavioral evidence from crime scene

Specific background and behavioral traits of suspect


Interview and Interrogation Strategies Prong one involves behavioral evidence retrieved from crime sceneEvidence reveals information about offenders criminal makeup- motivation, skill, victim selection process, interpersonal skills, anger control, criminal sophistication, and personal elements


Interview and Interrogation Strategies Prong two involves the specific background and behavioral traits of a suspectValuable source of information about suspect can be retrieved from police officers who had prior contact with suspect


Interview and Interrogation StrategiesProng two continued:Suspects have favorite mechanisms they use without conscious thought to protect their self conceptThese are developed and honed over yearsDeeply ingrained within their personality and have become second nature


Interview and Interrogation StrategiesProng two continued:Criminals rely on three ego-defense mechanisms called RPMs:R- RationalizationP- ProjectionM- Minimization


Interview and Interrogation Strategies Through a combination of these RPM mechanisms, a suspect changes objective reality to a personalized view, and saves face and feels better about his action(s)


Interview and Interrogation StrategiesOne of the principle goals of the investigator is to tap into suspects protective mental process Investigator gives impression he understands suspects criminal behaviorAllows criminal to believe his actions are understandable


Case Linkages for Serial OffensesMO has three general purposes for the criminal:Enable completion of criminal actPrevent offenders identificationEase escape of criminalMO may be all information investigator has available to use for investigation


Case Linkages for Serial OffensesMore reliable method for case linkage is recognition of aspects within a crime that go beyond elements of MO. These may include:

Psychological drives of criminals and particularly psychosexual drives of sex offendersRepeated behavior of suspect at scenesUnique behavior of suspect at scene


Equivocal Death AnalysesEquivocal death involves knowing cause of death but not accurate manner of deathData are placed into one of eight columns which address factors consistent or inconsistent with types of death


Equivocal Death Analyses

Crime scene indicators coupled with victimology and other data from initial investigations are used to provide clear and compelling evidence for determining the proper manner of death


Equivocal Death AnalysesEight investigative findings to be evaluated:

Factors consistent with homicideFactors inconsistent with homicideFactors consistent with suicideFactors inconsistent with suicide


Equivocal Death AnalysesEight investigative findings to be evaluated, continued:

Factors consistent with accidental deathFactors inconsistent with accidental deathFactors consistent with natural causesFactors inconsistent with natural causes


Equivocal Death AnalysesGoal is to arrive at a preponderance of the factors listed under one heading

A systematic and thorough review of all evidence should lead to an investigative conclusion as to the manner of death


Search Warrant ApplicationCIA may be used in search warrant applicationsDescription of what occurred during commission of crime and what behavior reveals about suspect can be correlated to suspectAdditional information such as criminal acts, or past criminal activities can be tied to current activities of suspect


Concepts and Applications in Sexual Assault Investigations

Victim risk includes subjectively classifying victims according to their vulnerability to violent crime based on their everyday lifestyles


Concepts and Applications in Sexual Assault Investigations Victim risk classifications are:

High riskModerate riskLow risk


Offender Risk AssessmentFactors to consider for offender risk assessment are:Risk assessment of victimConcern or lack of concern of offender being caught due to factors such as time of day, witness potential, identity concealment, presence of alarms or security cameras


Victim SelectionPsychological process of selecting victims range from simple to complexVictim selection may be based on:Associational level with offenderIdealized typing of victim by offenderAvailability of victimEstablished rules for victims by suspectAbility of suspect to control victim


Offender TypologiesRoy Hazelwood was one of premier designers of CIA processDesigned typologies for six categories of rapistsCategories included manipulation of power, expression of anger, with subdivisions within each category


Offender TypologiesAdditional categories included rapists who raped incidental to another crime, and lonely heart rapists looking for sexual arousalHazelwood also offered typologies in relationships between victim and offender, offenders residency in relationship to victim, prior criminal offending, offenders age and race, etc


False Allegations

False allegation is defined as an unfounded claim of having been sexually assaulted , or having received threatening or obscene notes or telephone calls


False AllegationsImpact of false allegation is twofold:

Investigative resources are spread thin by investigation of false allegations

Legitimate victims may receive less resources due to investment of time and money in false allegations


Applications in Homicide InvestigationsTwo distinct patterns in homicidal offenders:

Organized Offender

Disorganized Offender


Patterns of Homicidal OffendersOrganized offender may have:

Planned and rehearsed crime in detail

Allowed for variances

Conceived crime and locations


Patterns of Homicidal OffendersOrganized offender may have

Determined what tools are needed to efficiently deal with victimsDetermined what is necessary to prevent identification and apprehensionLeft little to chance and selected victim who can not be linked to him


Patterns of Homicidal OffendersDisorganized Offender is characterized:

By impulsiveness and thoughtlessness of crimeBy crime scenes which are messy and chaoticBy relying on tools at scene to commit crime


Patterns of Homicidal OffendersDisorganized Offender is characterized by :Lack of planning leaves abundant clues at sceneOffenders ability to approach, obtain, and maintain control of the victim throughout crime being present


Sexual Homicide CharacteristicsSexual homicides can be characterized by criminal acts performed on the bodyExposure of sexual anatomy, insertion of foreign objects, redressing of victims may be presentStaging may be used to misdirect investigation


Sexual Homicide CharacteristicsMeticulous examination of victims lifestyle and examination of offenders past behavior or comments concerning the victim may lead to clues of the identity of the offender


Lust MurderLust murder is defined as criminal acts involving an assault of sexual parts of a body

Mutilation of victims body parts occurs

Mutilation must have been intentionally inflicted postmortem


Body Disposal ChoicesBody location and methodology are clues to revealing a prior victim-offender relationship, offender sophistication level, degree of planning by offender, victim representation of a class of people, and offender knowledge of disposal site


Body Disposal ChoicesAbandoning or dumping a body where it fell may be a sign of lack of planning or forethoughtMay exhibit a pattern of disorderOffender who conceals body and evidence suggests he has thought about commission of crime, and may reflect an organized offender


Body Disposal ChoicesPosing of a body by offender may suggest:Is leaving body in way that offends discovering party or society, overallOffender may be expressing his inner thoughts or anger and hatred toward victim or other represented by victim- prostitutes, drug dealers, etc


Body Disposal Choices Each time an offender moves a body, new crime scenes are established, and the possibility of evidence linking offender to victim increases


Body Disposal Choices Moving may infer another step in offender process, concealing of body, or movement to a specific area noted for an activity lovers lane, waste dump, etc.


Crime Scene StagingCrime scene staging involves acts that are committed to send the investigation off course and away from the offender

Spouses may stage a robbery or burglary to hide murder

Innocent people may move body due to being personally disturbed by scene


Crime Scene StagingInvestigator who thoroughly examines crime scene may find details which are inconsistent with logical progression or evidence presented by crime scene

Emotional or unemotional displays or inconsistencies in stories of witnesses should alert investigator to staging


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