7-1 One Discussion: Open Forum

An analysis of the evidence related to the offender of a crime may provide insight into the general nature of the crime (type of crime, motivations, etc.), the offender’s knowledge of the location of the crime, the risk level for the offender, victim selection, and the relationship between the victim and offender.

In this Open Forum Discussion, you continue your conversation about the case, focusing on concepts related to the offender.

• Review the evidence of the criminal report from the offender’s perspective.
• What are your initial thoughts of the offender that impact your analysis of the offense?
• What other things would you like to know about the offender?
• As you reviewed the evidence concerning the offender, what other issues are surfacing/presenting?

7-2 Second 2 Assignment: Investigating a Crime: Phase II – Concepts Related to the Offender

The final part of Phase II is the analysis of the offender. As with victimology, criminal investigative analysis of the offender is evaluated in three stages:

• Pre-Offense – All information providing insight on such things as:
  • Planning
  • Knowledge of victim
  • Knowledge of crime scene location
• Offense – All information providing insight on such things as:
  • Offender risk level
  • Offender actions during offense
  • Nature of the offense (motive, aggression, etc.)
    • Behaviors related to M.O.
    • Behaviors suggesting psychological needs
  • Relationship to victim
• Post-Offense – In homicides, actions by offender can sometimes provide insight into:
  • Motivations
  • Offender/victim relationship
  • Consciousness of guilt

To prepare for this assignment:

• Review the criminal report from the perspective of the offender.

In a 2- to 3-page analysis of the offender:

• Pre-offense behavior
• Offense behavior
• Post-offense behavior
• Risk level
• Motive
• Intent
• Premeditation
• Aggression
• Victim selection

Support your conclusion with references to specific evidence.

Here is some Required Readings

Turvey, B. E. (2012). Criminal profiling: An introduction to behavioral evidence analysis (4th ed.). San Diego, CA: Academic Press.

• Chapter 13, “Interpreting Motive” (pp. 311–330)
• Chapter 14, “Case Linkage: Offender Modus Operandi and Signature” (pp. 331–360)
• Chapter 17, “Inferring Offender Characteristics” (pp. 403–446)
• Chapter 19, “Sex Crimes” (pp. 481–506)
• Chapter 20, “Domestic Homicide” (pp. 507–520)

Miller, L. (2014). Serial killers: Development, dynamics, and forensics. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 19(1), 12–22. doi:10.1016/j.avb.2013.11.003

Pakkanen, T., Zappalà, A., Bosco, D., Berti, A., & Santtila, P. (2015). Can hard-to-solve one-off homicides be distinguished from serial homicides? Differences in offense behaviors and victim characteristics. Journal of Criminal Psychology, 5(3), 216–232.

Trojan, C., & Salfati, G. (2016). Criminal history of homicide offenders: A multi-dimensional analysis of criminal specialization. Journal of Criminal Psychology, 6(1), 28–41.