Psychological Profiling Paper
01-Holmes(PVC)-45761:Holmes Sample
8/4/2008
7:28 PM
Page 1
1
Psychological Profiling
An Introduction
O O O
Inductive Versus Deductive Profiling Inductive Criminal Investigative Assessments Deductive Criminal Investigative Assessments Goals in Profiling Goal 1: To Provide the Criminal Justice System With a Social and Psychological Assessment of the Offender Goal 2: To Provide the Criminal Justice System With a Psychological Evaluation of Belongings Found in the Possession of the Offender Goal 3: To Provide Interviewing Suggestions and Strategies Profiling: An Art, Not a Science Conclusion
1
01-Holmes(PVC)-45761:Holmes Sample
8/4/2008
7:28 PM
Page 2
2
PROFILING VIOLENT CRIMES
H
istorically, crime …show more content…
How accurate are the profiles? This will obviously depend on the expertise of the persons involved in such an assessment. Kocsis, Orwin, & Hayes (2000) reported that profilers appear to have higher skills when compared to other groups. They claim the most accurate groups are, in order of accuracy: professional profilers, psychologists, students, police officers, and self-declared psychics. That psychologists ranked second in the study suggests that psychologists are better at this endeavor than police officers, perhaps because of their understanding of human behavior. The researchers also reported that psychics are the least reliable of the groups. They apparently depend more on the stereotypes of murderers than of a true understanding of the mind and mentality of a killer. The research also suggests that police probably would do better at profiling if they were educated in the principles of the process (Peterson, 1997). Thus profiling, or criminal investigation assessment, is an educated attempt to provide investigative agencies with specific information as to the type of individual who committed a certain crime (Geberth, 1981). Of course, profiles are not suitable in all cases, even in some murder cases (Holmes & Holmes, 1992, 2000). They are usually more efficacious in cases where the unknown perpetrator has displayed indications of …show more content…
It should provide basic and sound information concerning the social and psychological core variables of the offender’s personality. This assessment should include race, age range, employment, religion, marital status, education, and so on. This psychological packet will focus the investigation. Instead of dealing with a wide range of possible perpetrators, the profile will reduce the scope of the investigation. This will have a direct effect on the number of days and weeks spent on the case by positioning the police toward a successful resolution. A profile contains information that alerts the law enforcement professional to the possible psychological traits present in a crime scene. It can predict future possible attacks as well as probable sites of attacks. Case Study Recently a profile was completed for a police department in a southern city where in the course of 4 months four young women were murdered, throats cut. None of the four women was sexually molested, but there were several commonalities. The profile offered information as to the age, education, residence, and a predicted period of time when the perpetrator would strike again. The profile was accurate even to the day that the next
8/4/2008
7:28 PM
Page 1
1
Psychological Profiling
An Introduction
O O O
Inductive Versus Deductive Profiling Inductive Criminal Investigative Assessments Deductive Criminal Investigative Assessments Goals in Profiling Goal 1: To Provide the Criminal Justice System With a Social and Psychological Assessment of the Offender Goal 2: To Provide the Criminal Justice System With a Psychological Evaluation of Belongings Found in the Possession of the Offender Goal 3: To Provide Interviewing Suggestions and Strategies Profiling: An Art, Not a Science Conclusion
1
01-Holmes(PVC)-45761:Holmes Sample
8/4/2008
7:28 PM
Page 2
2
PROFILING VIOLENT CRIMES
H
istorically, crime …show more content…
How accurate are the profiles? This will obviously depend on the expertise of the persons involved in such an assessment. Kocsis, Orwin, & Hayes (2000) reported that profilers appear to have higher skills when compared to other groups. They claim the most accurate groups are, in order of accuracy: professional profilers, psychologists, students, police officers, and self-declared psychics. That psychologists ranked second in the study suggests that psychologists are better at this endeavor than police officers, perhaps because of their understanding of human behavior. The researchers also reported that psychics are the least reliable of the groups. They apparently depend more on the stereotypes of murderers than of a true understanding of the mind and mentality of a killer. The research also suggests that police probably would do better at profiling if they were educated in the principles of the process (Peterson, 1997). Thus profiling, or criminal investigation assessment, is an educated attempt to provide investigative agencies with specific information as to the type of individual who committed a certain crime (Geberth, 1981). Of course, profiles are not suitable in all cases, even in some murder cases (Holmes & Holmes, 1992, 2000). They are usually more efficacious in cases where the unknown perpetrator has displayed indications of …show more content…
It should provide basic and sound information concerning the social and psychological core variables of the offender’s personality. This assessment should include race, age range, employment, religion, marital status, education, and so on. This psychological packet will focus the investigation. Instead of dealing with a wide range of possible perpetrators, the profile will reduce the scope of the investigation. This will have a direct effect on the number of days and weeks spent on the case by positioning the police toward a successful resolution. A profile contains information that alerts the law enforcement professional to the possible psychological traits present in a crime scene. It can predict future possible attacks as well as probable sites of attacks. Case Study Recently a profile was completed for a police department in a southern city where in the course of 4 months four young women were murdered, throats cut. None of the four women was sexually molested, but there were several commonalities. The profile offered information as to the age, education, residence, and a predicted period of time when the perpetrator would strike again. The profile was accurate even to the day that the next