Geographic ProfilingGeographic Profiling

A Component of Criminal A Component of Criminal ProfilingProfiling

CRIM B55 CRIM B55

Geographic Profiling: Case TypesGeographic Profiling: Case Types

Serial MurderSerial Murder Serial RapeSerial Rape ArsonArson Bank RobberyBank Robbery BurglaryBurglary KidnappingKidnapping BombingsBombings

Geo Profiling ElementsGeo Profiling Elements

Complete familiarity w/case fileComplete familiarity w/case file Examination of C/SsExamination of C/Ss Interviews w/ investigators and WsInterviews w/ investigators and Ws Study of area mapsStudy of area maps Analysis of neighborhood Analysis of neighborhood

demographics: ---abduction site and demographics: ---abduction site and body dump sitebody dump site

Computerized analysisComputerized analysis

Geo Profiling ElementsGeo Profiling Elements

Distance Perceptions (subjective)+ Distance Perceptions (subjective)+ ActualActual

Mobility and Alternative routes (Plan B)Mobility and Alternative routes (Plan B) Familiarity with “route” + and – aspectsFamiliarity with “route” + and – aspects Number and Types of barriers: natural, Number and Types of barriers: natural,

structural, jurisdictional, psychologicalstructural, jurisdictional, psychological Mental Maps (S “image” of the city)Mental Maps (S “image” of the city) Locality demographics: Age, Race, SES,Locality demographics: Age, Race, SES, Land Use: Zoning, topography, etc.Land Use: Zoning, topography, etc.

Geo Pro: Underlying PrinciplesGeo Pro: Underlying Principles

Valid linkageValid linkage analysis to determine analysis to determine that a set of crime sites belong to that a set of crime sites belong to the same series (S,V, C/S inputs)the same series (S,V, C/S inputs)

Valid geographic modelingValid geographic modeling of the of the travel distance to crime sites for a travel distance to crime sites for a particular type of crime, criminal, particular type of crime, criminal, and geographic area (Computer and geographic area (Computer programs)programs)

Computer Models in Geo ProComputer Models in Geo Pro

Rigel—Professor K. Rossmo (Texas Rigel—Professor K. Rossmo (Texas State U at San Marcos) + ECRIState U at San Marcos) + ECRI

VICLAS--RCMPVICLAS--RCMP VICAP--FBIVICAP--FBI Predator—Professor Maurice GodwinPredator—Professor Maurice Godwin HALT—NYSP HALT—NYSP HITS- Washington State AGHITS- Washington State AG

Investigative Questions to Consider Investigative Questions to Consider

LocationsLocations What are the location types What are the location types

connected to this crime or crime connected to this crime or crime series? series?

Where are these locations? Map Where are these locations? Map them!them!

What are the distances and travel What are the distances and travel times between them? times between them?

Investigative Questions to ConsiderInvestigative Questions to Consider

TimeTime When did the crimes occur (date, When did the crimes occur (date,

time, weekday)? time, weekday)? What was the weather?What was the weather? How much time was there between How much time was there between

crimes?  crimes? 

Investigative Questions to ConsiderInvestigative Questions to Consider

Site SelectionSite Selection How are the crime locations How are the crime locations

accessed? accessed? What else is in the general area? What else is in the general area? How might the offender have known How might the offender have known

of these locations? of these locations? What purpose did the crime locations What purpose did the crime locations

serve? serve?

Investigative Questions to ConsiderInvestigative Questions to Consider

Target BackclothTarget Backcloth Where is the target group (and Where is the target group (and

where is it not)? where is it not)? How much control did the offender How much control did the offender

have over the choice of crime have over the choice of crime locations? locations?

Has displacement (in space or time) Has displacement (in space or time) occurred?  occurred? 

Investigative Questions to ConsiderInvestigative Questions to Consider

HuntingHunting What hunting method did the What hunting method did the

offender use? offender use? Why these sites and not others? Why these sites and not others? What was the offender's likely What was the offender's likely

transportation? transportation?

Investigative Strategies and Geo Pro Investigative Strategies and Geo Pro ApplicationsApplications

Prioritizing S listPrioritizing S list Prioritizing Tips listPrioritizing Tips list Address searches: databases (zip codes)Address searches: databases (zip codes) Patrol saturation (selective enforcement)Patrol saturation (selective enforcement) SurveillancesSurveillances Canvasses and searchesCanvasses and searches DNA searchesDNA searches

Investigation- Stranger Cases

Find Offender Prove Guilt

 Collect Suspects

 Prioritiz

e

 Evaluate Direct

/Indire

ct Evidence

PublicTips

Witnesses

Informants

Friends

FamilyNeighb

ors

Databases

Criminal Records

PoliceFilesDMVOther

Agencies

 Physical

Descriptio

n

OpportunityMotiveMeans

Modus OperandiComposite Sketch

VideoAlibi

Suspect InterviewInterviews of Family, Friends,

and Neighbors

 Witness

BehaviorGeneralSpecific

 Confession

Geography

GeneralSpecific

 Physical

Evidence

CGT Considerations (Rossmo)CGT Considerations (Rossmo)

Known movement patternsKnown movement patterns Comfort zonesComfort zones Hunting patternsHunting patterns R handed S flee left; discard W rightR handed S flee left; discard W right Lost Male S go downhillLost Male S go downhill Lost Female S go uphillLost Female S go uphill Need at least 5 crimes or C/Ss to Need at least 5 crimes or C/Ss to

make it work—must be clearly linkedmake it work—must be clearly linked

Encounter Sites: Godwin ModelEncounter Sites: Godwin Model

Urban subcultures (bars, night clubs, Urban subcultures (bars, night clubs, and red light areas)and red light areas)

Isolated landscapes (parking lots, Isolated landscapes (parking lots, jogging paths, and rest areas)jogging paths, and rest areas)

Areas with a high concentration of Areas with a high concentration of elderly and poor individualselderly and poor individuals

Derelict areas of a cityDerelict areas of a city University campusesUniversity campuses

Crime Locations** for Geo ProCrime Locations** for Geo Pro

Encounter SiteEncounter Site Attack SiteAttack Site Crime SiteCrime Site Victim Disposal SiteVictim Disposal Site Vehicle Dump SiteVehicle Dump Site

**Importance of Displacement**Importance of Displacement** Analysis used in murder and rape ** Analysis used in murder and rape

casescases

Offender Styles: Target SelectionOffender Styles: Target Selection

Hunter (searches for a specific victim Hunter (searches for a specific victim in home territory)in home territory)

Poacher (travels away from home for Poacher (travels away from home for hunting)hunting)

Troller (opportunistic encounters Troller (opportunistic encounters while occupied in other activities)while occupied in other activities)

Trapper (creates a situation to draw Trapper (creates a situation to draw a victim to him)a victim to him)

CGT Method (ECRI + Rigel)CGT Method (ECRI + Rigel)

Spatial characteristics of crime Spatial characteristics of crime assessedassessed

Topographical map produced (similar Topographical map produced (similar crimes)crimes)

Graphing of jeopardy surfaceGraphing of jeopardy surface Superimposition on street mapSuperimposition on street map Crimes pinpointed (old pin maps!)Crimes pinpointed (old pin maps!) ““Fingerprints” of S cognitive mapFingerprints” of S cognitive map > # of C/Ss > # of C/Ss > predictive value > predictive value

Hit Score CalculationHit Score Calculation

Hit Score: Hit Score: The value (z-score) associated The value (z-score) associated with the location of an offender’s with the location of an offender’s residence or anchor point.residence or anchor point.

Hit Score Percentage:Hit Score Percentage: An indicator of  An indicator of search efficiency used in geographic search efficiency used in geographic profiling, measured by determining the profiling, measured by determining the proportion of the total hunting area proportion of the total hunting area covered before the offender’s residence is covered before the offender’s residence is encountered. The smaller the number, the encountered. The smaller the number, the better the focus of the geographic profile. better the focus of the geographic profile.

Hit Score PercentagesHit Score Percentages

Describes Optimal Search ProcessDescribes Optimal Search Process Starts at most probable area Starts at most probable area outward outward Measures proportion of hunting area Measures proportion of hunting area

covered before locating S residencecovered before locating S residence Search area=locations coveredSearch area=locations covered Smaller number=better geo profile focusSmaller number=better geo profile focus Ex: 70 cases (See: Inv. Trainor’s cases)Ex: 70 cases (See: Inv. Trainor’s cases)

Inputs in the GP ModelInputs in the GP Model

Relationship to Criminal ProfilingRelationship to Criminal Profiling

Psychological MotivationPsychological Motivation Organized/Disorganized BehaviorOrganized/Disorganized Behavior Offender Lifestyle demographicsOffender Lifestyle demographics Target Selection and Victim RiskTarget Selection and Victim Risk

Integration w/ CGT (Criminal Integration w/ CGT (Criminal Geographic Targeting)Geographic Targeting)

Rafael Resendez-Ramirez CaseRafael Resendez-Ramirez Case

Richard Kuklinski CaseRichard Kuklinski Case

Dennis Rader--BTKDennis Rader--BTK

Richard Trenton Chase CaseRichard Trenton Chase Case

Wayne Williams CaseWayne Williams Case

Andrei Chikatilo--UkraineAndrei Chikatilo--Ukraine

Henry Lee Lucas CaseHenry Lee Lucas Case

Aileen Wournos (never profiled)Aileen Wournos (never profiled)

Just Some Fun!Just Some Fun!