Criminal PsychologyCriminal PsychologyChapter 4Chapter 4

Techniques of Criminal Investigation:Techniques of Criminal Investigation:Profiling, Psychological Autopsies, Profiling, Psychological Autopsies,

Hypnosis, and Lie DetectionHypnosis, and Lie DetectionTalbotTalbot

Kellogg Community CollegeKellogg Community College

ProfilingProfiling Is it an appropriate topic for Forensic Is it an appropriate topic for Forensic

Psychology?Psychology? Is Clarice Starling typical? Maybe in Britain.Is Clarice Starling typical? Maybe in Britain.

What is Criminal Profiling?What is Criminal Profiling? It is an application of psychological principles to the It is an application of psychological principles to the

legal field.legal field. How is it different from How is it different from

Psychological/Personality Profiles?Psychological/Personality Profiles? PP attempts to typically identify problems or PP attempts to typically identify problems or

characteristics of one’s personality from characteristics of one’s personality from information provided by the subject. information provided by the subject.

CP is the process by which one applies & assesses CP is the process by which one applies & assesses information from a crime in order to determine information from a crime in order to determine possible characteristics of the perpetrator.possible characteristics of the perpetrator.

Psychological/ Personality Profile

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI - 2)

High reliability and validity (LFK) Myers Briggs Personality Profile DiSC Tests Colors Personality Test House-Tree-Person California Personality Inventory

Criminal ProfileCriminal Profile No “one” agreed upon method.No “one” agreed upon method. John DouglasJohn Douglas Ohio v. LoweOhio v. Lowe

““As a whole, the record reflects that Douglas’s opinion for the As a whole, the record reflects that Douglas’s opinion for the most part is based on the behavioral science of clinical most part is based on the behavioral science of clinical psychology, an area in which he has no formal education, training psychology, an area in which he has no formal education, training or licensure… While we in no way trivialize the importance of his or licensure… While we in no way trivialize the importance of his work in the field of crime detection, we do not find sufficient work in the field of crime detection, we do not find sufficient evidence… to qualify Douglas as an expert witness.”evidence… to qualify Douglas as an expert witness.”

Science or Art?Science or Art?

Criminal ProfilingCriminal Profiling Three approachesThree approaches1.1. Prediction of Individual BehaviorsPrediction of Individual Behaviors (CIA) (CIA)

2.2. Determining Common CharacteristicsDetermining Common Characteristics – Developing a – Developing a descriptive process for crime classification (Crime descriptive process for crime classification (Crime Classification Manual).Classification Manual).

3.3. Extracting Specific Characteristics (FBI)Extracting Specific Characteristics (FBI)1.1. Modus Operandi – method/ mode of operationModus Operandi – method/ mode of operation

1.1. CHANGES in order to assist in the perpetrator’s efficiency.CHANGES in order to assist in the perpetrator’s efficiency.

2.2. Signature – a reflection of the unique, personal aspects of Signature – a reflection of the unique, personal aspects of the criminal act.the criminal act.

1.1. NEVER CHANGES – Part of why they commit the crime.NEVER CHANGES – Part of why they commit the crime.

Signature or M.O.?

A bank robber requires all bank patrons and employees to remove their clothes prior to leaving.

A bank robber requires all bank patrons and employees to remove their clothes. He then poses them and photographs them.

Criminal ProfilingCriminal Profiling Three approachesThree approaches1.1. Prediction of Individual BehaviorsPrediction of Individual Behaviors (CIA) (CIA)

2.2. Determining Common CharacteristicsDetermining Common Characteristics – Developing a – Developing a descriptive process for crime classification (Crime descriptive process for crime classification (Crime Classification Manual).Classification Manual).

3.3. Extracting Specific Characteristics (FBI)Extracting Specific Characteristics (FBI)1.1. Modus Operandi – method/ mode of operationModus Operandi – method/ mode of operation

1.1. CHANGES in order to assist in the perpetrator’s efficiency.CHANGES in order to assist in the perpetrator’s efficiency.

2.2. Signature – a reflection of the unique, personal aspects of Signature – a reflection of the unique, personal aspects of the criminal act.the criminal act.

1.1. NEVER CHANGES – Part of why they commit the crime.NEVER CHANGES – Part of why they commit the crime.

3.3. Organized v. DisorganizedOrganized v. Disorganized

Organized v. DisorganizedOrganized v. Disorganized Organized (nonsocial) Ted BundyOrganized (nonsocial) Ted Bundy

PlanPlan Use restraintsUse restraints Commit sexual acts with live victimsCommit sexual acts with live victims Emphasize control over the victimEmphasize control over the victim Use a vehicleUse a vehicle

Disorganized (asocial)Disorganized (asocial) Leave a weapon at the scene of the crimeLeave a weapon at the scene of the crime Reposition the dead bodyReposition the dead body Perform sexual acts with the dead bodyPerform sexual acts with the dead body Keep the dead bodyKeep the dead body Try to depersonalize the bodyTry to depersonalize the body Not use a vehicleNot use a vehicle

Ted BundyTed Bundy

1967 – Linda Healy1967 – Linda Healy 1969 – Parentage1969 – Parentage 1974 - Carol DeRonch1974 - Carol DeRonch 1978 - 19791978 - 1979

Criminal ProfilingCriminal Profiling Three approachesThree approaches1.1. Prediction of Individual BehaviorsPrediction of Individual Behaviors (CIA) (CIA)

2.2. Determining Common CharacteristicsDetermining Common Characteristics – Developing a – Developing a descriptive process for crime classification (Crime descriptive process for crime classification (Crime Classification Manual).Classification Manual).

3.3. Extracting Specific Characteristics (FBI)Extracting Specific Characteristics (FBI)1.1. Modus Operandi – method/ mode of operationModus Operandi – method/ mode of operation

1.1. CHANGES in order to assist in the perpetrator’s efficiency.CHANGES in order to assist in the perpetrator’s efficiency.

2.2. Signature – a reflection of the unique, personal aspects of Signature – a reflection of the unique, personal aspects of the criminal act.the criminal act.

1.1. NEVER CHANGES – Part of why they commit the crime.NEVER CHANGES – Part of why they commit the crime.

3.3. Organized v. DisorganizedOrganized v. Disorganized

4.4. Serial v. Spree v. MassSerial v. Spree v. Mass

VICAPVICAP

Serial – Spree - MassSerial – Spree - Mass

Serial – Three or more separate Serial – Three or more separate events with a cooling-off period. events with a cooling-off period. Joseph KallingerJoseph Kallinger

Spree – Killings at two or more Spree – Killings at two or more locations with no emotional cooling-locations with no emotional cooling-off period.off period.

Mass – More than three victims in Mass – More than three victims in one location and within one event. one location and within one event. Charles WhitmanCharles Whitman

Psychological AutopsiesPsychological Autopsies

An investigative method used by An investigative method used by psychologists or other social scientists to psychologists or other social scientists to help determine the mode of death in help determine the mode of death in equivocal cases.equivocal cases.

e⋅quiv⋅o⋅cale⋅quiv⋅o⋅cal       /ɪˈkwɪvəkəl/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [i-kwiv-uh-kuhl] /ɪˈkwɪvəkəl/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [i-kwiv-uh-kuhl]

Show IPA Pronunciation Show IPA Pronunciation –adjective 1. allowing the possibility of several different –adjective 1. allowing the possibility of several different meanings, as a word or phrase, esp. with intent to deceive meanings, as a word or phrase, esp. with intent to deceive or misguide; susceptible of double interpretation; or misguide; susceptible of double interpretation; deliberately ambiguous: an equivocal answer. 2. of doubtful deliberately ambiguous: an equivocal answer. 2. of doubtful nature or character; questionable; dubious; suspicious: nature or character; questionable; dubious; suspicious: aliens of equivocal loyalty. 3. of uncertain significance; not aliens of equivocal loyalty. 3. of uncertain significance; not determined: an equivocal attitude. determined: an equivocal attitude.

Psychological AutopsiesPsychological Autopsies

An investigative method used by An investigative method used by psychologists or other social scientists to psychologists or other social scientists to help determine the mode of death in help determine the mode of death in equivocal cases (i.e. determine the mode equivocal cases (i.e. determine the mode of death in questionable cases).of death in questionable cases).

NASH classificationsNASH classifications NaturalNatural AccidentalAccidental SuicidalSuicidal HomicidalHomicidal

Psychological Autopsy

Victim 36 year old female Mother of 2 children (ages 4 and 7) Married to husband for 8 years

Circumstances Fire department called by husband. Husband claimed wife had been depressed for

approximately 2 years and had been recently making suicidal comments.

Wife’s body was found on a couch, face down. No note left.

Problems? The results can be equivocal as well.

HypnosisHypnosis Definition: An altered state of Definition: An altered state of

consciousness characterized by narrowed consciousness characterized by narrowed attention and increased suggestibility.attention and increased suggestibility.

Hillside Strangler 1977 - 1978Hillside Strangler 1977 - 1978 The case of Kenneth BianchiThe case of Kenneth Bianchi

10 women murdered, raped, tortured and strangled 10 women murdered, raped, tortured and strangled to death.to death.

Bodies found on hillsides northeast of Los Angeles.Bodies found on hillsides northeast of Los Angeles. Under hypnosis displayed DID traits including an alter Under hypnosis displayed DID traits including an alter

ego - Steveego - Steve Forensic expert in hypnosis cast doubt on this Forensic expert in hypnosis cast doubt on this

due to slight inconsistencies in his actions.due to slight inconsistencies in his actions. Problems?Problems?

Hypnotic susceptibility?Hypnotic susceptibility?

PolygraphsPolygraphs Lie Detector?Lie Detector? Measures Sympathetic Nervous System Measures Sympathetic Nervous System

activation as an indicator of truth.activation as an indicator of truth. GSRGSR Blood PressureBlood Pressure Heart RateHeart Rate RespirationsRespirations

Control Question TechniqueControl Question Technique Problems?Problems?

False Positive (Classification of truth tellers as liars)False Positive (Classification of truth tellers as liars) False Negatives (Classification of liars as truth False Negatives (Classification of liars as truth

tellers).tellers). Admissibility Admissibility