1. What is geographic profiling? What does Dr. Rossmo say about geographic profiling solving crimes? How is geographic profiling used to assist police? Is geographic profiling superior to other types of offender profiling (racial, behavioral)? Why or why not? Be sure to fully discuss the concepts and show your deep knowledge of the readings/research in this area.
According to the textbook, a geographic profiling is a type of offender profile that focuses on the location where a series of crimes have occurred. This type of profile is based on the environmental criminology theory, which states that perpetrators often stay within a familiar area such as where they work or where they live (Schwartz, 2016). However, according to Dr. Rossmo, the …show more content…
The first type of profiling mention in the textbook is behavior profiling, which is associated with the suspect’s assumptions and inferences. Within this profile, the detective relies on the methods and psychological stereotypes to identify the suspect. However, research has shown that this type of profiling is not accurate or helpful when catching criminals (Schwartz, 2016). The second type of profiling found in the textbook is one of the most controversial profiling techniques because is often associated with the suspects’ racial and religious identity. When a detective tries to use this type of racial profiling, they tend to rely on the racial, ethnic and religious stereotypes to identify the suspect (Schwartz, 2016). However, several studies have shown that this type of profiling also does not lead to the reduction in crimes. So, when it comes to comparing the geographic profiling to racial or the behavioral profiling, the geographic profiling tends to be the least controversial and the most promising out of the three because it relies on the spatial behavior and the patterns of movement of the suspect (Schwartz, 2016).
2. Would geographic profiling have been helpful in solving the case of the Zodiac Killer? How so or why not? What does Dr. Rossmo say about identifying suspects in the Zodiac case? Be sure to fully discuss the concepts and show your deep knowledge of the readings/research in this
According to the textbook, a geographic profiling is a type of offender profile that focuses on the location where a series of crimes have occurred. This type of profile is based on the environmental criminology theory, which states that perpetrators often stay within a familiar area such as where they work or where they live (Schwartz, 2016). However, according to Dr. Rossmo, the …show more content…
The first type of profiling mention in the textbook is behavior profiling, which is associated with the suspect’s assumptions and inferences. Within this profile, the detective relies on the methods and psychological stereotypes to identify the suspect. However, research has shown that this type of profiling is not accurate or helpful when catching criminals (Schwartz, 2016). The second type of profiling found in the textbook is one of the most controversial profiling techniques because is often associated with the suspects’ racial and religious identity. When a detective tries to use this type of racial profiling, they tend to rely on the racial, ethnic and religious stereotypes to identify the suspect (Schwartz, 2016). However, several studies have shown that this type of profiling also does not lead to the reduction in crimes. So, when it comes to comparing the geographic profiling to racial or the behavioral profiling, the geographic profiling tends to be the least controversial and the most promising out of the three because it relies on the spatial behavior and the patterns of movement of the suspect (Schwartz, 2016).
2. Would geographic profiling have been helpful in solving the case of the Zodiac Killer? How so or why not? What does Dr. Rossmo say about identifying suspects in the Zodiac case? Be sure to fully discuss the concepts and show your deep knowledge of the readings/research in this