Learning Aim C: Apply different methods to create an offender profile
Create an offender profile
Introduction
Offender profiling is an investigative tool used by police to solve crimes, with the primary goal of
narrowing the field of investigation and the list of probable suspects. There are 2 types of offender
profiles which are called the top-down approach and bottom up (which I discuss in greater detail in this
report). Professional profilers are frequently called upon to assist the police, particularly in high-profile
murder cases. An individual's profile is usually compiled based on careful examination of the crime
scene and analysis of the evidence (including witness reports) so that hypotheses can be formed about
the offender's probable characteristics (age, background, occupation, etc). I constructed my top-down
offender profile by examining the evidence collected from the crime scene from the scenario. Then I
determined whether the crime scene and the offender are organised or disorganised. Then I
reconstructed the crime based on the evidence from the scenario, making hypotheses about what
happened in terms of the order of events, the behaviour of the offender and the victim.
The following observations can be made based on evidence acquired at the crime scene of the scenario:
The victim is a 20-year-old male with a pale freckled complexion with long fair hair. He had been found
in his home's kitchen, stabbed to death with just one blow to the heart. There were more stab wounds
on his lower abdomen that formed a star pattern. He was sexually assaulted and bound with a ribbon.
The victim's necklace was never discovered. At the crime scene there were no indications of forced
entry into the property at the crime site. The front door was closed but unlocked, and the key was
nearby. The victim was carefully placed on the floor, his hands on his stomach. Other than the stab
wounds, there were no evident indicators of injuries. This crime had many similarities with other crimes.
Detectives discovered significant similarities between this crime scene and three others in three
different villages within a ten-mile radius. The time of death in all cases was between 9 and 11 a.m. An
attempt was made to remove evidence from the site. There was no evidence of fingerprints or DNA.
, Top-down Approach
Top-down offender profile
Evidence for an organised offender Evidence for disorganised offender
“He was stabbed to death with a single blow to “The pathology reports indicated the time of
the heart” death in all cases was between 9am and
Stabbing someone to death with a single blow to 11am.”
the heart shows a deliberate and intentional act This suggests that the offender may have a
of violence. The offender had a clear intent to flexible schedule or could possibly be
kill and had the capability and means to deliver a unemployed or may have been monitoring the
fatal blow with precision. It is also possible that victims' routines.
the offender had some level of familiarity with
the victim, as they may have known exactly
where to aim the knife to ensure a swift and “Detectives noticed several points of similarity
deadly outcome. It also indicates possible prior between this crime scene and three others in
experience with murdering or greater different villages within a ten-mile radius”
knowledge of the human body. This could infer that the offender is likely to live
or work within a ten-mile radius of the crime
“Stab injuries to his abdomen that formed the scenes, that living close by the location is a
pattern of a star." It could imply that the characteristic of the disorganised offender.
offender was deliberately targeting specific
areas of the victim's body, with high precision as
he was able to create a star. This reinforces the “They found a body in the kitchen" In this way,
offender's premeditation and level of planning. crime could be shown to be spontaneous. The
offender may have used whatever weapon is
“There were no other visible signs of injury” available, so you can infer the offender used a
The lack of visible additional injuries on the knife from the kitchen.
victim may indicate that the offender intended
to inflict fatal harm quickly and efficiently, rather
than causing further extensive harm. It could “The victim had been sexually assaulted”
also imply that the attack was carried out with Sexual acts before death are a characteristic of a
precision or stealth, with the criminal attempting disorganised offender as they are usually
to avoid leaving marks that could be used to sexually incompetent. It also links to the use of a
identify them ribbon to bind the hands suggesting the
offender’s desire for control over the victim.
“The victim was carefully placed on the floor
and bound with a ribbon”
This implying a high level of control and planning
with the careful placement of the victim on the
floor and the use of a ribbon to bind him. It also
suggests the crime was premeditated with an
elevated level of sophistication
“There was no fingerprint or DNA evidence. “
The lack of fingerprint or DNA evidence suggests
, that the offender is cautious and takes steps to
avoid detection. The fact that the murder
weapon was not found may indicate that the
offender is methodical and has experience as
takes care to remove all traces.
“The murder weapon was not found” This
shows how the murderer has taken steps to
remove evidence from the scene, demonstrating
forethought and careful planning.
“Detectives noticed several points of similarity
between this crime scene and three others in
different villages within a ten-mile radius”
This shows that the offender may have spent
time searching and selecting potential victims,
this suggests a high level of planning and
organisation.
“A necklace the victim was known to be
wearing was not found.”
You can infer that the offender may have taken
the necklace as a trophy or souvenir of the
crime. This is possible because the victim's
jewellery was known to be missing and was not
located at the scene. Some criminals steal
objects from their victims to relive the crime or
remember their victims. Furthermore, part of
the killer's DNA, such as fingerprints or sweat,
may have fallen onto the necklace, so by not
taking the necklace makes it easy for forensics to
identify the offender.
Based on all the evidence I think that the offender is an organised offender because the offender's
attempt to remove evidence from the scene demonstrates a level of organisation and preparation.
This behaviour indicates that the offender devised a plan to avoid being caught and took steps to
execute it highlighting that the offender is intelligent and has a high IQ. Furthermore, the fact that
there were several similarities between this crime and others in the surrounding area suggests that
the offender is mobile. This is also consistent with an organised offender, who may be able to move
around without being noticed and plan their crimes over a larger area.
Based on the evidence acquired, I may form hypotheses about what happened in terms of the sequence
of events, the behaviour of the offender, and the behaviour of the victim. For the order of events before
the victim was stabbed to death, I can infer that the victim was blindfolded and sexually assaulted by the
offender. This is reinforced by evidence that the detectives and police identified that the victim had
been sexually assaulted and blindfolded, with no obvious symptoms of harm other than the stab
wounds. The offender then laid the victim's body on the floor, hands on his stomach, and bound him
