Criminal Profiling Analysis Essay Example
Criminal Profiling Analysis Essay Example

Criminal Profiling Analysis Essay Example

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  • Pages: 4 (1048 words)
  • Published: March 27, 2017
  • Type: Essay
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Offender profiling, also called criminal profiling, is an instrumental tool in helping detectives track down anonymous criminals. It also aids in crafting a psychological portrait of the suspect. This technique serves as both a behavioral and investigative method used to understand a suspect's traits and habits, particularly concerning the crime scene. There are various terminologies used in profiling a person in question. Criminals can be categorized into three groups: organized, disorganized, and mixed. An organized criminal is one who pays meticulous attention and carefulness in their actions.

Organised criminals carefully select their target in advance and possess the necessary equipment for committing the crime. These offenders are often highly intelligent, typically the firstborn, and live seemingly regular lives. Their criminal behavior is triggered by a series of stressful events such as the loss of a loved one or continuous wo

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rk-related stressors. On the other hand, disorganised criminals carry out acts spontaneously, fueled by adrenaline, usually without any detailed planning. When they commit the crime, these offenders demonstrate little or no emotional response; there is minimal to non-existent interaction between them and their victim.

A crime scene can often appear chaotic and incoherent, leading to multiple possible inferences from the same scene. Typically, the perpetrators are found to have below-average intelligence and are commonly the youngest sibling. Often characterized by social immaturity, they usually reside or are employed close to the crime scene. There is another category of offenders known as mixed offenders, who exhibit characteristics of both organized and disorganized criminals. Profiling them poses a challenge due to the difficulty in identifying their traits and habits. Nonetheless, an offender profile can be created, although it may lac

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precision due to the mixed nature of their actions.

For instance, they could possess the necessary means to carry out the offense but may randomly select their target rather than pre-selecting a specific victim. The investigative strategy that forensic experts should follow involves skeptical assessment of each aspect and adopting an unbiased outlook while probing the matter. This approach requires them to meticulously examine the case "facts," critically scrutinize them, and avoid forming any premature conclusions about the perpetrator.

It's imperative for the investigators to maintain emotional detachment from the crime, as it could potentially interfere with their judgements. Combining all of these is a complex task requiring a highly skilled and seasoned investigator. Profiling has numerous styles but the two primary methods include Psychological Profiling and Predictive Profiling. Psychological profiling delves into the offender's behavior, motives, and background to propel the investigation. Studies indicate that habitual killers or rapists are often motivated by intense apprehension of media exposure, that could ultimately result in their capture.

Evaluating the characteristics and patterns of a criminal enables detectives to identify parallels with past offenses. Revealing aspects of their daily routine to the public can result in recognition by acquaintances, neighbors, or co-workers, potentially leading to their capture. Predictive Profiling is a method to determine who might potentially commit an as-yet-undone crime. The investigator surveys crucial locations and responds to unusual behaviors in a specific zone. This procedure may appear unpredictable and lacking in structure.

Although it may not always result in capturing criminals, it is a potent method to identify the maximum number of suspects due to the significant populace involved in searching for the culprit. Factors that might raise authority

alertness include the individual's looks, conduct, and possessions. One instance where predictive profiling proved useful was during the September 11 catastrophe, where an airlines officer noticed unusual actions from the terrorist like continuous murmuring, late arrival for check-in, and a one-way ticket. The technique of criminal profiling is globally utilized to apprehend criminals.

Originally employed by Scotland Yard during the 19th century, criminal profiling is still utilized by the organization today. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the Behavioral Analysis Unit, both based in America, also implement this technique in their crime-solving efforts. In Australia, the majority of profilers are embedded within the police force due to the absence of a dedicated profiling unit. The Backpacker Murder cases saw Ivan Milat receiving seven consecutive life sentences for the homicides of seven backpackers in the 1990's, which took place within the Belanglo State Forest.

The capture was likely due to the application of criminal profiling, which provided investigators with a lucid conception of their subject. Forensic psychiatrist, Dr. Rod Milton, spearheaded the investigation, chosen for his history of providing the police with a particularly precise profile in a past case that led to the arrest of the notorious "North Side Killer" guilty of assaulting and violating elderly women in 1989. Dr. Milton initially asked to tour the campsite in order to get an understanding of the crime scene, immediately surmising that the killer resided close to the area.

Furthermore, he discerned that these wicked acts were well-planned killings, attributing to him the character of a systematic perpetrator. Ivan Milat also displayed unique habits, which involved stabbing his victims once post their death and retaining their underwear as he

considered them his "prizes". Based on his observations, Dr. Milton suggested traits of the serial killer to include: - residing on the fringes of a city in a semi-rural location - working in a partially skilled outdoor job - experiencing an unstable or unsatisfactory relationship with a woman - demonstrating aggressive tendencies towards authorities - being aged in his mid to late thirties. The advancement in the investigation arrived when Paul Onions, a British traveler, approached the police with a profile resonating with Ivan Milat's traits. He successfully recognized Milat from police photographs and was able to identify the utilized vehicle. Investigators examined criminal histories and discovered that Milat was responsible for numerous crimes and had served time in jail.

In addition, he resided on the fringes of Sydney and was in his early forties at the time of the offenses. These characteristics were definitively identified in the profile carried out by Dr. Milton. Personally, I believe that without the formation of this criminal profile, the search for Ivan Milat would have been much more extensive and time-consuming. However, with this profile, it facilitated the identification of Ivan Milat by Paul Onions, leading to his ultimate apprehension. Without this profile, the possibility of Milat remaining unidentified and potentially still active in society today would be likely.

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