The Offender’s Taxonomies

-



Research in the area of criminal profiling has been largely preoccupied with the development of offender taxonomies and principles relevant to the profiling of violent crimes. Seemingly overlooked, however, has been any systematic and empirically based examination of the components and processes involved in the construction of a criminal profile.

Although it is commonly believed that criminal profiling involves intensive expert analysis of investigative case material, the literature in the field has failed to examine how differing forms of case material may affect this analysis and thus the construction of a criminal profile. For example, how much and what types of information are needed for the proficient (i.e., accurate) construction of a criminal profile? Additionally, systematic consideration of the cognitive functions involved in the assessment of case materials for the construction of a criminal profile has largely escaped study.

One of the fundamental purposes of a criminal profile is to present information describing the characteristics of the probable offender of a crime. Various lists prescribing the types of information commonly thought to be contained in criminal profiles have been proposed. The profiles constructed by the expert profilers generally contained more information relating to the crime behaviors and non-physical descriptive features of the probable offender than any† of the compared groups. However, no statistically significant differences were found in the amount of information concerning the offender’s physical features that the expert profilers predicted in comparison with any of the other groups. It seems reasonable to assume that a relationship probably exists between the type of case materials available and the way such materials are assessed for the purpose of constructing a criminal profile. Consequently, as a starting point for exploring the mechanisms involved in the construction of a criminal profile, examination of the influence, if any, case materials may have on the accurate construction of a profile was considered. It was this issue the second study set out to investigate.  Visual material in the context of the study refers to graphical material that generally depicts physical aspects of a human being, object, or place and thus includes, but is not limited to, such things as schematic diagrams and photographs of any autopsy or crime scene. In a similar vein, narrative material is defined as any information communicated in some type of written format and thus includes, but is again not limited to, such items as police, forensic expert, or witness statements.

A simple test of the influence these differing forms of case material might have involves the segregation of case materials by this distinction and observing any differences this segregation may have on the proficient (i.e., accurate) construction of a criminal profile. From a purely descriptive perspective, all of the groups who were provided with at least some case materials surpassed the control group, which merely guessed and/or relied on stereotypical notions of a murderer in responding to the questionnaire. However, the only group that surpassed the control condition at a statistically significant level was the group that was provided with all case materials. In addition to both the original murder and arson survey forms, a separate questionnaire was also included, which the respondent was required to answer immediately after they had completed the initial questionnaire. One important difference was that the various sections of the questionnaires were to be completed and sealed in an envelope before a participant could progress to answer the next section. Consequently, participants were instructed to complete these additional sections of the experiment without the benefit of referring back to the case materials or their previous profile.


Accordingly, it would appear that one cognitive function that does not appear to be related to proficient (i.e., accurate) profiling is the mere amount of case information an individual can recollect. Somewhat mixed findings, however, emerge with respect to profiling accuracy and the number of items nominated as relevant to profile construction. In this circumstance, a statistically significant incremental relationship was found to exist but only in the context of the arson case. The fact that a criminal profile, as constructed by an expert profiler, is likely to be larger than that generated by an individual from another skill-based group does not seem particularly enlightening. Indeed, quantity does not necessarily equate with quality in terms of the accuracy of a criminal profile. The ideal criminal profile should arguably be succinct and insightful in identifying potential suspects.


Acknowledgements:
The Police Department; 
www.politie.nl and a Chief Inspector – Mr. Erik Akerboom    ©
Bibliography:

1.    Criminal Investigations – Crime Scene Investigation.2000
2.    Forensic Science.2006
3.    Techniques of Crime Scene Investigation.2012
4.    Forensics Pathology.2001
5.    Pathology.2005 
6.    Forensic DNA Technology (Lewis Publishers,New York, 1991).
7.    The Examination and Typing of Bloodstains in the Crime Laboratory (U.S. Department of Justice, Washington, D.C., 1971).
8.    „A Short History of the Polymerase Chain Reaction". PCR Protocols. Methods in Molecular Biology.
9.    Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual (3rd ed.). Cold Spring Harbor,N.Y.: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press.2001
10.   "Antibodies as Thermolabile Switches: High Temperature Triggering for the Polymerase Chain Reaction". Bio/Technology.1994
11.   Forensic Science Handbook, vol. III (Regents/Prentice Hall, Englewood Cliffs, NJ, 1993).
12.   "Thermostable DNA Polymerases for a Wide Spectrum of Applications: Comparison of a Robust Hybrid TopoTaq to other enzymes". In Kieleczawa J. DNA Sequencing II: Optimizing Preparation and Cleanup. Jones and Bartlett. 2006
13.   Nielsen B, et al., Acute and adaptive responses in humans to exercise in a warm, humid environment, Eur J Physiol 1997
14.   Molnar GW, Survival of hypothermia by men immersed in the ocean. JAMA 1946
15.   Paton BC, Accidental hypothermia. Pharmacol Ther 1983
16.   Simpson K, Exposure to cold-starvation and neglect, in Simpson K (Ed): Modem Trends in Forensic Medicine. St Louis, MO, Mosby Co, 1953.
17.   Fitzgerald FT, Hypoglycemia and accidental hypothermia in an alcoholic population. West J Med 1980
18.   Stoner HB et al., Metabolic aspects of hypothermia in the elderly. Clin Sci 1980
19.   MacGregor DC et al., The effects of ether, ethanol, propanol and butanol on tolerance to deep hypothermia. Dis Chest 1966
20.   Cooper KE, Hunter AR, and Keatinge WR, Accidental hypothermia. Int Anesthesia Clin 1964
21.   Keatinge WR. The effects of subcutaneous fat and of previous exposure to cold on the body temperature, peripheral blood flow and metabolic rate of men in cold water. J Physiol 1960
22.   Sloan REG and Keatinge WR, Cooling rates of young people swimming in cold water. J Appl Physiol 1973
23.   Keatinge WR, Role of cold and immersion accidents. In Adam JM (Ed) Hypothermia – Ashore and Afloat. 1981, Chapter 4, Aberdeen Univ. Press, GB.
24.   Keatinge WR and Evans M, The respiratory and cardiovascular responses to immersion in cold and warm water. QJ Exp Physiol 1961
25.   Keatinge WR and Nadel JA, Immediate respiratory response to sudden cooling of the skin. J Appl Physiol 1965
26.   Golden F. St C. and Hurvey GR, The “After Drop” and death after rescue from immersion in cold water. In Adam JM (Ed). Hypothermia – Ashore and Afloat, Chapter 5, Aberdeen Univ. Press, GB 1981.
27.   Burton AC and Bazett HC, Study of average temperature of tissue, of exchange of heat and vasomotor responses in man by means of bath coloremeter. Am J Physiol 1936
28.   Adam JM, Cold Weather: Its characteristics, dangers and assessment, In Adam JM (Ed).Hypothermia – Ashore and Afloat, Aberdeen Univ. Press, GB1981.
29.   Modell JH and Davis JH, Electrolyte changes in human drowning victims.Anesthesiology 1969
30.   Bolte RG, et al., The use of extracorporeal rewarming in a child submerged for 66 minutes. JAMA 1988
31.   Ornato JP, The resuscitation of near-drowning victims. JAMA 1986
32.   Conn AW and Barker CA: Fresh water drowning and near-drowning — An update.1984;
33.   Reh H, On the early postmortem course of “washerwoman’s skin at the fingertips.” Z Rechtsmed 1984;
34.   Gonzales TA, Vance M, Helpern M, Legal Medicine and Toxicology. New York, Appleton-Century Co, 1937.
35.   Peabody AJ, Diatoms and drowning – A review, Med Sci Law 1980
36.   Foged N, Diatoms and drowning — Once more.Forens Sci Int 1983
37.   "Microscale chaotic advection enables robust convective DNA replication.". Analytical Chemistry. 2013
38.   Sourcebook in Forensic Serology, Immunology, and Biochemistry (U.S. Department of Justice, National Institute of Justice, Washington, D.C.,1983).
39.   C. A. Villee et al., Biology (Saunders College Publishing, Philadelphia, 2nd ed.,1989).
40.   Molecular Biology of the Gene (Benjamin/Cummings Publishing Company, Menlo Park, CA, 4th ed., 1987).
41.   Molecular Evolutionary Genetics (Plenum Press, New York,1985).
42.   Human Physiology. An Integrate. 2016
43.   Dumas JL and Walker N, Bilateral scapular fractures secondary to electrical shock. Arch. Orthopaed & Trauma Surg, 1992; 111(5)
44.   Stueland DT, et al., Bilateral humeral fractures from electrically induced muscular spasm. J. of Emerg. Med. 1989
45.   Shaheen MA and Sabet NA, Bilateral simultaneous fracture of the femoral neck following electrical shock. Injury. 1984
46.   Rajam KH, et al., Fracture of vertebral bodies caused by accidental electric shock. J. Indian Med Assoc. 1976
47.   Wright RK, Broisz HG, and Shuman M, The investigation of electrical injuries and deaths. Presented at the meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Science, Reno, NV, February 2000.

Komentarze

Prześlij komentarz

Popularne posty z tego bloga

Sitting Bull

-
Obraz
It was 1871 when a baby boy was born in a tepee village on the Dakota grasslands. Hi s parents were Sioux and they named him Sitting B ull. Sitting Bull grew up to be a respected leader of   his people. He did not take pan in the fighting at the 1876 Battle of the Little Big Horn. But after the battle he defended the actions of his people: “(…)We were camped there awaiting the will of the Great Spirit. praying to the Great Spirit to save us from the hands of our enemies. Now near and coming to complete our extermination. My men destroyed them in a very short time. Now they accuse me of slaying them. Yet what did I do? Nothing. We did not go out of our country to kill them. They came to kill us and got killed themselves. The- Great Spirit so ordered it(…)" After their victory at the Li ttle Big Horn the Amerindi ans were pursued by the army. In 1877 Sitting Bull led some of his followers to safety across he b orde r in Canada, but in 1881 he returne...
Czytaj więcej

Under The Microscope: CRASH &'CRUMPLE'

-
Obraz
  Injuries and fatalities occur in all forms of transportation but numerically road traffic accidents account for the great majority worldwide. In developed countries, they are the most common cause of death below the age of 50 years, and in young men this trend is even more marked. The pattern of injury, fatal and otherwise, varies considerably depending upon whether the victim is a vehicle occupant, a motorcyclist, a pedal cyclist or a pedestrian.     A number of elementary physical facts help to explain the complex pattern of traffic injuries, especially those sus- tained by the occupants of a vehicle.    o     Tissue injury is caused by a change of rate of movement. A constant speed, however rapid, has no effect whatsoever as is evident from space travel or the rotation of the earth. It is the change of rate that is traumatic - that is, acceleration or deceleration.  o     Change of rate is conveniently measured in 'graviti...
Czytaj więcej
-
Obraz
When the muzzle is held near the skin, but not actually in contact with it, a number of helpful signs are produced. Once again the appearance is naturally modified by clothing, which must always be carefully preserved and subjected to forensic scientific examination. Where clothing is present, then it will trap most, but not necessarily all, of the soot and powder grains. It will reduce the flame effects, though if the fabric is ignited even momentarily, this can diffusely scorch the skin. Assuming that the body surface is uncovered, a close discharge - one between actual contact and about 15 cm (6 inches) - is likely to show the following features: -           Singeing of hairs around the wound, unless the skin is hairless. The fine downy hairs of the trunk and limbs may be burnt away, though this is unlikely with dense, long, head hair. Where the distance is greater, the keratin of the hair may melt with the flame and then solid on cooling,...
Czytaj więcej