Geographical Profiling - Essay Example

Geographical Profiling Introduction: Geographical profiling is an investigative method used by sleuths, police and detectives to trace the path of the crime happening in a closed environment of a town or a society. Let us understand further through the definition given below: “Geographic profiling is a criminal investigation methodology that analyses the locations of a connected series of crimes to determine the most probable area of where the offender would live. This method helps investigators prioritize geographical information in large-scale major crime investigations that often involve hundreds or even thousands of suspects and tips.” It is a process where the detectives try to trace the path of the criminal using specialised tools. They cover an entire area where the crime has been taking place and put it on radar, tracing the possible movements of the criminal through previous precedents. It involves the mental psychology of the criminal as well as once the criminal has committed a crime and moved on to another area, the detectives then try tracing the path from one place to another, understanding the movement of the criminal in order to catch him. Originally it was applied in cases of serial murder, rape and bombings, it is now frequently being used in robbery, burglary, arson and fraud cases as well. This methodology evaluates the location of connected serial crimes in order to figure out the most probable area for the criminal activity. The idea was propounded by Kim Rossmo, who in 1995 wrote a doctoral dissertation on this aspect. This methodology was then taken into practice by the Vancouver Police Department. Rossmo was Vancouver based detective who pioneered this methodology. He then developed a computer programme known as Criminal Geographic Targeting which is used as a tool to trace criminals. Geographical profiling helps to analyse the abundance information via geographical links in order to apprehend the movement of the criminal. It involves having a large pool of information as the first step to gain an understanding on the whereabouts of the criminal. Once the information arrives at the hands of the investigators, geographical profiling helps the detectives to marrow down the area within which the crime has been taking place for better accuracy. “Geographic-profiling consists of both quantitative (objective) scientific geographic techniques and qualitative (subjective) components e.g. a reconstruction and interpretation of the offender’s mental map.’ The primary geographic technique is a computerized system known as Criminal Geographic Targeting (CGT). Put simply, spatial data i.e. data relating to time, distance and movement to and from the crime scenes is analysed to produce a three-dimensional model known as a jeopardy surface.” Let us now look at the construction of a geographical profile methodology with the way it is carried out: Understanding of the Case File Examination of the crime scene Interview with witnesses Study of the area of maps Analysis of the neighbourhood demographic Geographical profile helps immensely in dealing with criminals and tracing their path of crime. The software developed by Rossmo performs this task beautifully and helps the investigators in reaching the truth. Once all the information has been put into the software by the investigation department, the software then makes a topographic map based on the scenes of similar crimes taking place in the particular location. Once this is done, then the system attempts to trace the location of the offender by highlighting a point where the maximum number of crimes took place belonging to a similar nature. It is then put down on a street map where the crimes are pinpointed. To achieve better accuracy, the more the crimes the better it is to trace the criminal. The next question which comes into mind is that how does the system do such calculations? The answer to this lies in understanding the basic movements of the criminal and reading into the psychological aspect. The system takes into accounts movement patters, hunting zones and comfort zones. Some of the important psychological aspects are that right handed criminals flee to the left after dropping weapons; while women go uphill men go downhill. These are some of the criteria which are embedded in the core philosophy of Geographical profiling. It is not only limited to a geographical limit of the criminal, but also caters to the psychology to get a better realisation of the criminal. Let us now study the components of geographical profile to know how the methodology is influenced in investigating the crime. Following are the components of Geographical Profile: Distance Mental Maps Mobility Locality Demographic We shall analyse each and every concept in detail to understand the working of the system. Looking at the factor of distance, there is a difference between the perceived distance and the actual distance. The perceived distance is the distance which the offender perceives to be, though might not be correct all the times, and is the distance which the criminal tries to calculate in his mind depending on the kind of transport he has. However, that might not always coincide with the actual distance, and the system tries to decipher the difference between these two notions to get a clearer understanding of the distance lost or gained by the criminal. Next up is mental maps, which figures out the mapping of the criminal in his mind and how he treats a particular are with respect to its detailed outline. Mobility involves the movement of the criminal, with the assumption that once the maps have been figured out with respect to the comfort zone of the criminal, then the this step involves his movement in those areas where the criminal usually hides. Locality demographic is the information which pertains to the local residence of stay for the criminal, and the proximity of his area of stay to the crime committed. Investigators use this approach to connect the dots from the area of residence to the area of crime, which in most cases is very close to each other. Crime and the Place: This section of the paper deals with how geographical profiling helps in solving the crime mysteries. There is a strong relation between the search base of the criminal and the location of their crime sites. The process of Geographical profiling thrives on this fact and uses it to further the search for the criminal. For any crime to occur there has to be an intersection between the criminal and the victim as well as the time and place. Geographical profiling takes note of these things in the process of figuring out the criminal by focussing and relying on the time and place data, along with the movements of the criminal with respect to his nearest base. Crime is therefore the product of the criminal, the victim and the physical environment. These are the three main factors which are the part of any criminal investigation. Geographical profiling takes into account all these factors independently and tries to put the right pieces in the puzzle of criminal investigation by having a strong database which covers all these aspects and then link them. People as well as criminals have their routine activities, which includes commuting, working, shopping as well as meeting friends. Even though a criminal is a very clever man, or assumed to be very clever, he still has a limited rationality behind committing a crime in an area where he resides or travels the most. These locations make up the comfort zone of the criminal, and crime usually takes place in such comfort zones of the criminal. Since the criminal would have a limited understanding of staying close to the area of the crime, he usually commits the crime where is has the best proximity of putting up, and that is from where the concept of geographical profiling takes its basis of investigation. Looking at the pragmatic approach of this methodology, it is not used to solve crimes, but is a tool to investigate crimes, which is in the path of solving crimes. Even though it is not used directly as a means to solve crimes, there is no doubt that it is a very smooth approach with respect to investigation. Assumption of Geographical Profiling: Let us now look at certain assumption on which geographical profiling relies and its success depends upon the success of those assumptions. One of the main assumptions which are in place is that the investigators need to make sure that the linkage analysis for the crime series is accurate and complete. If this turns out to be wrong then there could be catastrophic consequences with regard to the investigation of the crime. Another factor which is included is to assume that the criminal is a local hunter and not someone who came from a foreign district, committed the crime and went back. Geographical profiling is key to assuming these things in the right perspective. The offender should not change his search base as the system relies on his base to trace him, along with the fact that if there is one more offender then he ought to be with the same guy who has been accused of committing the crime. Conclusion: Geographical profiling contains a very strict measure of investigation which has to be precise and detailed in order to have a positive impact on the search for criminals. It is important to have the right connection along with the assumptions to get a detailed understanding of the scene of crime. It is a very unique way of getting the investigation done and should be used more often by investigators for finding out the scene of the crime. It is an example of 21st century technology used with intelligence and clever ideas in order to poach the criminals. Work Cited Crime Mapping Case Studies: Practice and Research, Spencer Chainey Read More