crimes profiling

Introduction to Crime Scene Analysis

Crime scene analysis is everything that happens once the crime has been reported. It starts right when the first member of law enforcement walks on to the scene and starts taking notes or observations about what occurred.

What happens when law enforcement arrives at the scene? What are they looking for? Keep these thoughts at the forefront of your thoughts for the rest of this lecture, and for the class!

It is really the process of interpreting the specific features of a crime and related crime scenes. It involves an integrated assessment of forensic evidence, forensic victimology, and crime scene characteristics (Week 4’s Topic). The purpose of this analysis is to deduce the offenders’ modus operandi, signature behavior, whether or not staging was done, motivations and other offender characteristics.

Forensic Assessment and Equivocal Forensic Analysis

Forensic assessment is basically the examination of the evidence surrounding the case. This includes physical evidence, statement & testimonial evidence, documentary evidence, and behavioral evidence.

In order for that to understand equivocal forensic analysis, it is important to know that equivocal refers to anything that can be interpreted in more than one way or any interpretation that is questionable. Thus, equivocal forensic analysis refers to a review of the entire body of physical evidence in the given case but more than just that, it involves questioning all of the assumptions and conclusions of the case to determine which is accurate.

Why do you think it is important to consider all possibilities? Is there usually more than meets the eye with crimes? Or in life in general?

It is kind of like the phrase: don’t judge a book by its cover. Sometimes the evidence looks like it points to one type of offender, which would lead us in a specific direction; however, if we question what we see, we may find that the offender lies in a different direction all together.

Now that you know that these two concepts/processes exist, why do we have them? What is their purpose? Well, I’ll tell you! Many of us have biases that can impair our judgment or without realizing it point us towards a particular type of suspect. In criminal profiling, we call this priori investigative bias, which is when profilers or investigators come up with a theory as to who committed the crime uninformed by the facts at hand. Utilizing one of the two processes (or both) allows profiler’s to remain objective and protects them from making a premature decision.

The forensic assessment or equivocal forensic analysis provides information about the strengths and weaknesses of the physical evidence.

Types of Forensic Information Useful for Assessment and Analysis

Prior to developing our criminal profile, we need to gather information that we will “input” in to a comprehensive profile. These “inputs” are basic items of forensic information that we need to review before rendering the profile. The inputs include crime scene video, crime scene photos, investigators’ reports, crime scene sketches, and crime scene evidence logs & submission forms, results of forensic analysis, medical examiner & coroner reports, autopsy photos, sexual assault protocol, and written/taped statements from victims and witnesses.

Results of The Inputs and Assessment/Analysis

Behavior relationships can be established with competently recognized, documented, collected, analyzed, and reconstructed physical evidence:

· Corpus Delicti – The body of crime, which refers to the essential facts that show the crime did in fact take place

· Modus Operandi – the offenders’ habits, techniques, and peculiarities of behavior

· Signature Behavior – Behaviors committed to satisfy the psychological and emotional needs of the offender (not necessarily needed to commit the crime itself)

· Linkage of the Suspect to the Victim

· Linkage of the Suspect to the Crime

· Support or Disproof of the Witness’s Testimony

· Identification of a Suspect

· Providing of Investigative Leads

Threshold Assessment

The threshold assessment is a “to-do like” document that ties all of the crime scene characteristics and physical evidence together to provide immediate investigative direction. Basically, it is a compass guiding the investigator towards the development of a full offender profile. It does NOT include firm conclusions or opinions, but rather provides initial observations, priorities, and concerns. Not all

investigations utilize a threshold assessment because it is timely and not always particularly useful but in instances of major crimes, it can be helpful. For instance, it is useful for gathering information in one place that will offer leads, theories and opinions about where to look. Threshold assessments are also ideal for public safety – if there is imminent danger, it would be a good idea to general some insight that can be shared with the community so they are aware of what to look for. Have you ever watched the news surrounding a criminal on the loose? What types of information do they usually give you? The car s/he is driving...the height and weight of the individual...whether or not s/he is armed...any others? These are the pieces used to compile a threshold assessment. Not quite a full profile, but certainly the steps towards completing the profile.

Of course, crime scene analysis is just the first step towards criminal profiling. It is the stepping stone towards developing the complete profile!