5.1. Top Down Profiling

Question 1

What is the aim of top down profiling?

Answer 1

To narrow down a list of suspects to find the perpetrator

Question 2

What is the top down approach?

Answer 2

• American approach to profiling
• Uses a classification system, then a behavioural analysis is conducted based on the crime scenes and interviews with the witness/ victim
  
  • It’s a best fit model
  • Based on the idea we will have signature ways of working

Question 3

Who was the top down approach created by?

Answer 3

the FBI

Question 4

What is the top down approach also known as?

Answer 4

Typology

Question 5

What are the 4 stages of the top down approach?

Answer 5

• Assimilation
• Crime scene categories
• Crime reconstruction
• Profile created

Question 6

What is assimilation?

Answer 6

Data from crime scene reviewed (pathology report, all evidence, weapon interviews)

Question 7

What are crime scene categories?

Answer 7

Developed from interviews from 36 sexually motivated murders and their crime scene data

• Organised: C.S. Evidence of planning, use of restraint, victim is a stranger, body hidden
  Personality: socially and sexually competent, skilled employed, increased IQ, live with partner

  - Disorganised: C.S. No evidence of planning, blood/ semen/ weapon left, no restraint, body in view
    Personality: decreased IQ, sexually and socially incompetent, lives alone

Question 8

What is crime reconstruction?

Answer 8

Hypothesis about behaviour and events of crime created

Question 9

What is profile created?

Answer 9

Background + physical characteristics of perpetrator written up and given to police

Question 10

Strength: 36 sexually motivated offenders interviewed

Answer 10

• This was considered, along with characteristics from the crime scene to develop the classification system
• High ecological validity
• But only based on 36 (small sample)
• Sexually motivated (not all crimes are sexually motivated -> can’t generalise
• Caught offenders -> self report -> can lie to protect police as revenge, or hold back info so don’t get further prosecutions
  
  • Interviews were standardised qs = reduces reliability

Question 11

Strength: Canter

Answer 11

• 100 serial killers were analysed using smallest space analysis to analyse 39 occurrences of serial killings
• Found it matched the FBI’s typology = valid

Question 12

Strength: Meketa

Answer 12

• Method can now be applied to burglary
• This led to a 857 increase in solved crimes
• More useful than originally devised to be used for
• Burglary in a greater % if crime stats

Question 13

Weakness: Goodwin

Answer 13

• Serial killers have contrasting characteristics
• They don’t just fit one categorisation -> a continuum would be better

Question 14

Weakness: consistency:

Answer 14

• Based on behaviour being consistent, but we are driven by the situation
• This could lead to incorrect identification
• Caution from profiling must be taken