Introduction to Forensic Psychology

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Introduction toForensic Psychology

• Profiling and Psychology

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Investigative Psychology

• DEFINITION The application of psychology to
  criminal investigation.
• Profilingone of the tasks often associated with
  investigative psychologyrequires sketching the
  significant psychological and demographic
  features of a person or persons.
• Broadly defined, investigative psychology
  includes research and practice involving
• -Profiling -Risk Assessment
• -Police Line-ups -Interrogation
• -Polygraph -Other?
• - Hypnosis

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CRIMINAL PROFILING Background
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What is Criminal Profiling?

• Criminal profiling is the process of identifying
  personality traits, behavioral tendencies,
  geographical location, and demographic or
  biographical descriptors of an offender (or
  offenders) based on crime scene characteristics.

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Goals of Profiling

• The primary goal of profiling is to narrow the
  field of possible suspects.
• Profiling is also a form of prediction -- the
  profiler tries to predict who the offender or
  offenders might be and where and how the next
  crime may occur.

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Why Use Criminal Profiles in Law Enforcement?

• Traditional investigative techniques often fall
  short in extreme cases.
• A subset of offenses/offenders are considered
  most suitable for profiling -- What subset of
  offenders and why more suitable for profiling??

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Brief History of Criminal Profiling

• 1940s - First recorded use by psychiatrist Walter
  Langer during WWII commissioned to construct a
  psychodynamic profile of Hitler.
• 1957 - psychiatrist James Brussels worked with
  NYPD to construct a profile of the Mad Bomber.
• 1970s-1980s - FBI (Howard Teten, John Douglas,
  Robert Ressler, Roy Hazelwood, and others) became
  involved in psychological profiling and
  popularized the technique.
• 1990s 2003 - attempt (by David Canter, Maurice
  Godwin, Ron Holmes, Robert Keppel, Brent Turvey,
  Kim Rossmo and others) to scientize profiling and
  move the practice beyond the purview of the FBI.

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The FBI Profilers

• Small/prominent group of FBI profilers helped to
  popularize the term in 1970s in the Behavioral
  Science Unit -- called the National Center for
  the Analysis of Violent Crime (NCAVC) since 1984.
• Responsible for establishing the Violent Criminal
  Apprehension Program (VICAP). Published Crime
  Classification Manual, Sexual Homicide Patterns
  and Motives and true crime novels.
• Are known for the ORGANIZED/DISORGANIZED typology
  and focus on M.O. and SIGNATURE.
• Criticized for relying too much on
  intuition/faulty use of the scientific method.

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Is Profiling a Science or Profession?

• Profiling has not yet achieved the status of a
  profession. Factors hindering professionalization
  
• Lack of consensus (on terms, approaches,
  training, appropriate experience/educational
  background, etc.).
• Practical issues (sensitivity and confidentiality
  of cases).
• Ego/territorial issues.
• Absence of uniform standards, practices, peer
  review, and ethics.
• Small number (if any) of profiling positions
  where profiling is the primary job description.
• The notion (and acknowledgement among many
  profilers) that profiling is more art than
  science.

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Assumptions Made in the Profiling ProcessSee
Holmes Holmes (2001). Profiling Violent Crimes.
Sage.

• Crime scene reflects the personality of the
  offender.
• M.O. remains similar.
• Signature will remain the same.
• Offenders personality will not change.

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The Organized-Disorganized Typology

• Whether or not the crime scene is left ORGANIZED
  or DISORGANIZED is said to provide information
  about the offenders criminal sophistication and
  personality.
• Organized crime scene reflects offender who
  commits crime out of a need for power. Motivation
  associated with PSYCHOPATHY.
• Disorganized crime scene reflects offender who
  commits crime out of passion, compulsion,
  frustration, or anxiety. Motivation associated
  with PSYCHOSIS.

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The Organized Crime Scene See Ressler, Burgess,
Douglas (1992) Sexual Homicide Patterns and
Motives. Free Press.

• Offense planned
• Victim a targeted stranger
• Victim personalized
• Controlled conversation
• Crime scene reflects overall control
• Demands submissive victim

• Restraints used
• Aggressive acts prior to death
• Body hidden
• Weapon/evidence absent
• victim or body transported from scene
• Associated with psychopathy

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The Disorganized Crime Scene See Ressler,
Burgess, Douglas (1992) Sexual Homicide
Patterns and Motives.

• Spontaneous offense
• Victim or location known
• Depersonalizes victim
• Minimal conversation
• Crime scene random and sloppy
• Sudden violence to victim

• Minimal use of restraints
• Sexual acts after death
• Body left in view
• Evidence/weapon often present
• Body left at death scene
• Associated with Psychosis

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Interview/Interrogation StrategiesSee Holmes
Holmes (1996) Profiling Violent Crimes. Sage.

• ORGANIZED
• Direct confrontation
• Respects competency
• One-person interview
• Dont expect free information
• No use of false evidence (are too sharp for
  this)
• Conduct when suspect has no time to gather
  thoughts

• DISORGANIZED
• Relationship motivated
• Empathy
• Constant stream of conversation
• Use positive personal relationship
• Conduct at night