Criminal profiling - Research Paper Example

No: Criminal Profiling Introduction Criminal profiling can be defined as an approach in which, an expert takes the minute details of a crime and narrows down the suspect or group of suspects, hailing from a certain segment of society who may have used specific modalities. It means that the criminologist can make good use of his guess with regard to the type of person who would have committed the crime. Sometimes criminal profilers are so perfect that they can best use the crime scene details in determining the age, occupation, and even type of vehicle that is used by the perpetrator. Criminal profiling is an art of tracking down the real perpetrator rather than Science. It is based on careful observation of physical evidence of a crime detailing behavioral, social and psychological characteristics of a possible perpetrator. Offender Profiling Criminal Profiling or Offender Profiling is the method that is utilized as a tool to locate or predict the profile and characteristics of an unknown criminal offender. In different regions of the world, criminal profiling is considered by different names like, criminal personality profiling, criminological profiling, behavioral profiling or criminal investigative analysis. As far as geographical profiling is concerned, it is a different method of profiling an offender. In the year 1990, 2005 and 2011, a number of television serials and films like “Criminal Minds” and a film entitled “The Silence of the Lambs” have introduced many names, which according to FBI version, highlights the salient features of "criminal investigative analysis." Here we cite, Holmes and Holmes, which indicates three main objectives of criminal profiling. Initially it is to provide complete information about law enforcers along with a social and psychological analytical background of the offenders (other serial killers) that would be helpful for the police who needs help in the investigations (Holmes and Holmes 139). Amongst many kinds of criminal profiling, one is called linkage analysis. Gerard N. Labuschagne, a well known profiler has connected his analysis on the behavioral attitude of the offender, which plays an important role in detecting or determining the possibility of crimes that have been committed by one or more offenders. Gathering many evidences relating to offender’s crime style such as modalities of committing crimes and the signature of the offenders will be of great help to establish an essence for a linkage analysis. An offender’s modality is the tendency of killing victims. An offender’s signature, if found similar in each killing, may be helpful for the investigator to trace the actual culprit. It is worth mentioning that the linkage analysis is effectively utilized in a case or cases where the DNA test facility is not available (Labuschagne 186). Labuschagne, who can be stated as a profiler of repute is of the view that in gathering and looking at the aspects of the offender’s crime pattern, investigators must take into account five procedural assessment a) gather data from multiple channels b) review available data to pin point prominent features of each crime c) categorize the significant features d) compiling a written report that identifies the findings (Labuschagne 189). Historical background In the case of “ordinary” criminals, straight forward process, involving all relevant indications and establishing a rational objective for the crime, which most often helps lead to the actual perpetrators, is adopted. Apparently, it may be objectless crime, if it comparatively presents difficult and complex conundrum. It is true that an investigator cannot find a clue of a criminal until and unless concrete evidence is there to connect with him with the crime (Sillup 2010). Describing cited subjects is nothing but criminal profiling. Criminal profiling is an art of tracking down the real perpetrator rather than science. It is based on careful observation of physical evidence of a crime detailing behavioral and psychological characteristics of a possible culprit (Sillup 2010). It is not necessary that track record of a profiler is free from lapses. We may find him a bit imperfect too. Sometimes detective also finds it difficult to have a criminal profiling. The track records of profiler sometimes more of a hindrance than a help. Even then, criminal profiling has been amazingly proved to be accurate in many cases. It assisted in tracking some of the world’s known culprits, serial killers and rapists (Sillup 2010). The criminal profiling seems to be flawed science, which requires much improvement even in the era of such technology, despite it produced plausible results in some cases (Sillup 2010). The basic idea of criminal profiling is to analyze a criminal on the available information/material with the detective/criminal profiler to locate the real culprit taking into consideration his or her habits, marital status, mental state, and personality traits. In most of the cases offenders were not found involved in a serial killings. Profiling can be determined even on the basis of a single crime as Robert R. Hazelwood demonstrates in “The Evil That Men Do”. It is a fact that 70 to 75 percent of murders are circumstantial and not willful, developing a way to make a profile without referring to set patterns of killings. Further profiling cannot be restricted to criminal profiling only, it can be stretched to profiling of product tempering, series of bomb blasts, frequent rapes, kidnapping and arson etc (Ramsland 2006). What requires for an investigation is experimental assessment of a criminal from a crime spot or series of crime spots that involves first and foremost thorough victim logy. In other words, the profiler will gather significant facts concerning victim’s life, for example, the days, nights and hours leading to his or her death. A timeline is required to draw a map of movements so that the investigators study all sides of his/her personal communication to find out where they may have crossed the set paths with a viable suspect. This is necessary to know the state of mind, mental health when it comes to the assessment of mental health history of a suspect criminal that enables to come to the accurate conclusion. There cannot be two opinions that a prostitute is always at a higher risk rather than the girl at home (Ramsland 2006). Once the victim’s details come to surface, it is much easier for a crime profiler to find out the grey areas of the victim and the criminal to evaluate, how best he or she can be categorized. After categorizing the victims and the criminals it is easy to determine the psyche of a man or woman who is the prisoner of psychology and will definitely leave some clue for the profiler to determine whether he or she an organized predator who mastermind in arranging a crime or take the benefit of committing impulsive crime opportunity (Ramsland 2006). Profilers may also observe the state of mind of a criminal on his or her leaving the objects at the crime scene whether the object used is criminally sophisticated or appears to acquire sexual pleasure by way of sexual fantasy. They should take into account the weapon brought in or brought out of the crime scene besides wounds inflicted upon the victim, the risk taken by an offender, the method of committing crime to overpower the victim and other available evidences to come to the conclusion that the crime was committed by a person singlehandedly or a group of persons collectively (Ramsland 2006). Clues from killers On the subject matter, there are number of articles and many excellent compilations available in every nook and corner discussing the modalities of serial killers and objects that are used in the crimes to achieve ulterior motives by a criminal. A clue that gathers from a killer or Killers lead to unearth criminal’s link with a crime and to understand the motives of serial killers. The profiler looks at the crime scene and the available material gathered from the crime scene to draw a line about the criminal and the victim. The conclusions that available with the government and the public libraries provide you significant cases that had happened in the recent past and the remote past. As per the analysis of Gibson published in the year 2004 the crime scene is in effect is a communicative behavior of serial killers and associated crimes. The analysis of career profiles and the data of ten killers which took place during the years 1888 to 2002 which speaks for it. The examining of criminal profile of mentioned killers conducted by Gibson heavily dependents on the quoted messages (Gibson 84). The analysis of the contents of the message and its appearance indicates the state of mind of a killer or killers. The book is a prominent one as far as the choice of killer or killers are concerned for perusal and draw its own conclusion by the readers. With regard to common pattern of other analysis, the type of criminal activities wherein the criminals are involved based on sampling of more well known killers. However, Gibson did not rely on selected cases of killings by serial killers. In his publication, we may find some of the lesser evils as compared to others, namely Mad Butcher, John Robinson, Sr., and William Heirens. However, The Son of Sam, the DC Sniper, the Unabomber, the Zodiac, the BTK Strangler, Jack the Ripper, and the Black Dahlia Avenger cannot be ignored by the readers who are fond of reading criminal stories (Gibson 98). We quote here few cases which remains unresolved: Montague Druitt, a barrister by profession with knowledge of human anatomy, disappeared after alleged last murder, later found floating in the River Thames b) George Chapman, a barber by profession who was a resident of White chapel alleged to have murders of his three wives c) Aaron Kosminski also a resident of White chapel, fame for his affinity with the prostitutes, hospitalized in an asylum for months after committing alleged last murder. It is important to note that the writer’s excerpts of serial killer communication which is mostly relying on mail, writing on walls and other modes of communication will be of great interest for the readers and to provide an insight of personality strait of a criminal. These mentioned scripts present crime scene communication and other crime associated messages during the course of killing (after a killing and between the killings). The careful selection of the scripts by the writer aims at to provide adequate case history information to his readers in order to understand the importance of the communication exchanged between the killing processes and to analyze the situation wherein in the crime was committed (Gibson 125). The overall conclusions drawn in respect of serial killing and the psyche of serial killers proved valuable and up to date knowledge to the readers. He is of the view that consistent compulsion is the key element to characterize these serial killers. It is incumbent upon the society as a whole and the law enforcers specifically to examine all such cases to identify the real culprit behind the crime scene. The communication is important in the sense that the communication of killers left behind a number of clues which in itself carries the element of taunting and insulting remarks to law enforcement agencies, their loved ones, threatened to do the same thing again and again, made demands and offered justified explanations in their own view for their behavior. Comparative study of each killer indicates different mode and motives of killing. In fact, they themselves thought that what they did was compelling and close to reality (Gibson 143). In spite of that reviewers are of the opinion that the analytical approach that narrated in the said book left space for further improvement since the material available is quite sufficient to read the minds of criminals or serial killers. In their view, the communication is presented and quoted by the author is limited in terms of comparison with other cases. Yes, of course, cross examine of the cases narrated in the book, if done by the author, definitely helps the reader to draw a broader view on the communication and the methodologies of crimes of identified killers and others have any similarity. Gibson (2004) no doubt makes a very impressive case relating to the importance of communication methods, form of communication, and the communicative contents of the apprehension of serial killers. The author rightly advocating further research in this specialized arena to have complete view of a serial killer or other hardened criminal associated with the crimes. Further research on the subject matter would be a valuable addition with the existing material. Therefore, the Students and the researchers both have to put in concerted efforts to gather afresh data and study of criminal’s behavior for the benefit of all stakeholders. Ressler and Schactman-Authors of books on Criminal Profiling The well known author of many books Robert K. Ressler was born on 15th February 1937 in Chicago USA is a former FBI agent. His significant role in the psychological profiling of the violent criminal offenders in the 70s cannot be ignored. Further, Coining of English term “Serial killer” is another feather to his achievements (Ramsland 2011). He worked on a number of cases that relates to serial homicide out of which Jeffrey Dahmer and Richard Chase are worth mentioning. His passion is lecturing to students and the law enforcers on the topic of criminology are widely admired. In the year 1993, he had the opportunity to assist London law enforcing agencies in investigating the murder committed by Colin Ireland (Ramsland 2011). His famous books are: a) Sexual Homicide: Patterns and Motives (1988) b) Whoever Fights Monsters (1992) c) Justice Is Served (Co author Tom Shachtman-1994) d) I Have Lived In the Monster (1998) “I Have Lived in the Monster” written by Robert K. Ressler & Tom Shachtman in the year 1998 comprised of 400 Pages. The major part of this book gives its readers to go through the reported cases wherein he was actively involved till his retirement from the FBI, a period in which he had been closely associated with the police departments and the psychologists around the globe for consultation to trace out the hardened criminals involved in a number of difficult but mysterious murders cases (Ramsland 2011). Conclusion A thorough study of the mentioned cases make us believe that profiling is one of the most important techniques employed by the criminal profiler in tracking down the offenders on the basis of the evidences collected from the crime scene. If we go by the Homant and Kennedy notes, they reveal that from suicide to homicide, homicide to hostage and bank robbery, indicates commonality of methods. In the considered opinion of experts, profiling "works" at its best provided there is a repetition of the same pattern of a criminal or criminals. Researchers have to do a lot of work in this respect in order to provide sufficient knowledge on the subject matter. The profiler gets into the minds of criminal to figure out why the criminals commit crimes; certain type of person commits crime, and behavior of typical criminals and possible prediction of their next move. These conclusions can help police in narrowing down the suspect criminal. The profiles of suspect are based upon age, gender, and race and sometimes carry specific details like background, education and physical features. In view the above, we may not ignore the importance of criminal profiling of suspect criminals. Works Cited Gibson, Dirk C. Clues from Killers: Serial Murder and Crime Scene Messages. Westport, CT: Praeger, 2004. Holmes, R. M., & Holmes, S. T. Profiling Violent Crimes: An Investigative Tool. (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications, Inc., 2008. Labuschagne, G.N. "The use of linkage analysis as evidence in the conviction of the Newcastle serial murder, South Africa", Journal of Investigative Psychology & Offender Profiling, 3(3) (2006): 183-191. Ramsland, K. Criminal Profiling: Part 1, History and Method. Crime Library, 2006. Accessed 9 June 2012. Ramsland, K. Robert K. Ressler: Taking On the Monsters. Crime Library, 2011. Accessed 9 June 2012. Sillup, A. A Brief History of Criminal Profiling. Law, Crime and Justice, 2010. 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