| Thanks to films like silence of the lambs, many | | | | offender's most likely place of residence, place of |
| people associate criminal profiling with the methods | | | | work, social venues and travel routes etc. |
| and techniques developed by the FBI at the | | | | Geographic profiling consists of both quantitative |
| Behavioral Science Unit at Quantico. | | | | (objective) scientific geographic techniques and |
| There are, however, a number of other approaches | | | | qualitative (subjective) components e.g. a |
| that can be used in the course of a criminal | | | | reconstruction and interpretation of the offender's |
| investigation. The role of one of these other | | | | mental map.' |
| approaches, geographic profiling, will be outlined in the | | | | The primary geographic technique is a computerised |
| course of this article. | | | | system known as Criminal Geographic Targeting |
| Geographic profiling is an information management | | | | (CGT). Put simply, spatial data i.e. data relating to |
| system and investigative methodology that evaluates | | | | time, distance and movement to and from the crime |
| the locations of connected serial crimes to determine | | | | scenes is analysed to produce a three-dimensional |
| the most probable area of offender residence. | | | | model known as a jeopardy surface. |
| It can be applied in cases of serial murder, rape, | | | | The jeopardy surface contains height and colour |
| arson, robbery and bombings. | | | | probability codes which when superimposed onto a |
| Background and History | | | | map of the area in which the serial crimes have been |
| The name most closely associated with geographical | | | | committed give an indication of the likelihood of |
| profiling is Kim Rossmo. Rossmo began studying | | | | offender residence or place of work. |
| geographical profiling as part of his PhD studies at | | | | Although the science underpinning geographic profiling |
| Simon Fraser University (British Columbia, Canada). | | | | can be difficult to comprehend, it's easy to see how |
| He studied under professors Paul and Patricia | | | | this approach can offer practical assistance in the |
| Brentingham, who had developed a theoretical crime | | | | course of a criminal investigation. As Rossmo points |
| model which examined where crimes were most | | | | out: |
| likely to happen, based on offender residence, | | | | 'By establishing the probability of the offender |
| workplace and leisure activity. | | | | residing in various areas and displaying those results |
| Put simply, the Brentingham model maintains that we | | | | on a map, police efforts to apprehend criminals can |
| all have an 'activity space' related to the areas in | | | | be assisted. This information allows police |
| which we live, work and play and that this activity | | | | departments to focus their investigative efforts, |
| space produces a discernible pattern of movement | | | | geographically prioritise suspects, and concentrate |
| around the city. | | | | patrol efforts in those zones where the criminal |
| In relation to criminal activity, therefore, it follows | | | | predator is likely to be active'. |
| that an offender has to know about a particular | | | | Geographical Profiling Process |
| geographical area before he or she begins selecting | | | | A geographic profile would typically fit into a criminal |
| crimes to commit; and where the offenders | | | | investigation as follows: |
| movement patterns intersect within this geographical | | | | A series of crimes is committed. |
| area, will to a large extent determine where the | | | | The crimes are investigated via traditional means. |
| crime takes place. | | | | Linking analysis conducted to ascertain which crimes |
| Kim Rossmo noted that the Brentingham model was | | | | are connected. |
| examined primarily in relation to crime prevention and | | | | Psychological profile of the unknown subject |
| was interested in approaching the topic from the | | | | conducted. |
| opposite perspective i.e. asking the question, what | | | | Geographical profile constructed. |
| does the location of a crime say about where the | | | | New investigative strategies developed and pursued. |
| offender might live? | | | | Geographical Profiling Methodology |
| Acknowledging the potential investigative use of this | | | | In preparing a geographic profile, a number of |
| research the Vancouver Police Department | | | | operational procedures will be followed. These include: |
| established the worlds first Geographic Profiling | | | | Examination of the case file: Witness statements, |
| Section in 1995. Since it's launch, Scotland Yard, The | | | | autopsy reports & psychological profile (if available). |
| FBI, The New York Police Department and The Royal | | | | Inspection of the crime scene. |
| Canadian Mounted Police have all called upon the | | | | Meetings and discussions with lead investigators. |
| services of the geographic profiling section. | | | | Visits to the crime sites when practical. |
| How Does Geographical Profiling Work? | | | | Analysis of local crime statistics and demographic |
| Geographic profiling works on the premise that the | | | | data. |
| location of a crime site can provide the police with | | | | Study of street, zoning and rapid transit maps. |
| vital information. It assesses and predicts the | | | | Overall analysis and report submission. |