Crime Scene Profiling 2

Crime Scene Profiling

While linkage analysis can be used to determine whether multiple crimes have been committed by the same perpetrator(s), taking it a step further profilers can use the evidence found at a crime scene to make deductions and assumptions about the characteristics of the suspect(s).

Alongside Ault & Reese's article, Hazelwood & Douglas' (1980) The Lust Murderer is considered a seminal article in the founding years of criminal profiling. The article described a typology of offender - the lust murderer - who could be distinguished from other sexual offenders or sadistic murderers by their focus on mutilation of the genitals.

Crucially, Hazelwood & Douglas also introduced the organized non-social offender and the disorganized asocial offender, along with an accompanying crime scene dichotomy, the organized versus disorganized (O/D) crime scene.

Activity

A

C

E

G

Last week we looked at different pieces of art and tried to make deductions about the mindset of the artist. In a similar way, look at the following images and think about the characteristics of the individual(s) who live there / use the space.

Think about the 'type' of person who would live / use this space, are they Organised or disorganised? Meticulous or messy? In control or frantic? Motivated or lazy?

B

D

F

After answering the above questions, if you were to split these images into two groups, you might well put A, C, D, E & F into one category (messy) while images B and G would probably be a separate - tidy - category.

KEY POINT:

By looking at dozens of crime scenes over decades alongside the characteristics of the individuals who committed the crimes, Hazelwood & Douglas (1980) suggested two distinct patterns (organised and disorganised) and a list of characteristics to go with each type.

Director of Criminal Justice and Associate Professor of Lamar University, Dr Robert Worley discussing the organised and disorganised offender types

While these aren't set in stone (e.g., offender might change over time like Ted Bundy) the classification of a crime scene as organised or disorganised can give investigators a general (and in some cases, uncannily accurate) idea about their suspect(s)

Organised vs Disorganised Crime Scenes

Organised vs Disorganised Offenders

Criminal Profiling.pdf

ACTIVITY

SQA SPEC

Read the following article: Organised vs Disorganised Serial Predators

Complete the assignment "Profiling 2" on Teams

Once you've finished this activity, I strongly advise you to go and have a look at the SQA specification for this unit (button to the left) as we're very close to assessment for 'Crime Scenes'. Read the requirements for each outcome and make sure you understand them. In particular, read the 'Evidence Requirements' section and ask yourself - 'can I do this?' If there's anything you're uncertain about, let me know.

Page updated

Report abuse