Characteristics of Criminal Offenders

Introduction John Douglas, as one of the first criminal profilers and his colleagues defined criminal profiling as an investigative technique for indentifying the major personality and behavioural characteristics of anindividual based upon an analysis of the crimes he or she has committed (Douglas, Ressler, Burgess & Hartman, 1986, p.405). In the famous American television series Criminal Minds, profiles are widely used. The show is set in Quantica, Virginia, there are some special agents of the

forces such as the FBI and the police use criminal profiling as an investigative tool aimed at helping them identify or predict characteristics of criminals who are not yet identified. Criminal profiling as an investigation tool allows investigators to compile and establish the right description of the criminal implicated. Investigators can also use geographical profiling to establish the location of the criminal. The criminal profiling procedure is used by detectives to satisfy certain needs in

inferring the personality characteristics of individuals responsible for committing criminal acts has commonly been referred to as criminal profiling. (Turvey) Criminal profiling can also be referred to as, behavioral profiling because when a profiler creates a profile they refer to the behavior of the offender. The general term criminal profiling can also be referred to as crime scene profiling, criminal personality profiling, offender profiling, psychological profiling and criminal investigative analysis

Offender profiling can be described as the process often used in extremely serious offences such as serial murder or sexual assault. The process aims to identify unique characteristics about the offender through examining the characteristics of the offence and gathering information about the victim (Farrington, 2007) as well as using information gained from previous similar offences before gradually building up an offender profile. In order for offender profiling to be considered useful, it must

Offender profiling is the identification of personality and behavioural characteristics of the criminal offender(s) by analysing the crime that has been committed. Snook, Cullen, Bennell, Taylor, & Gendreau's (2008) review explains that people's belief in criminal profiling is an illusion, as they state that there is a lack of empirical evidence. The first profile was created by James Brussel, who managed to accurately capture multiple characteristics of the 1956 New York Bomber, George Metesky.

definition despite the numerous attempts to accomplish the feat. Typically, the definition of a criminal offence is determined according to very specific criteria: the characteristics of the crime itself, with the characteristics of the offender remaining irrespective. However, many, tend

society in for criminal behaviour and investigation with television shows such as ‘Underbelly’ which were based on true Australian crime, attracting high ratings from the public. Forensic psychologists conduct Offender Profiling, a forensic procedure which examines the behavioural data provided by witnesses and the crime scene to assist the investigation by predicting the possible characteristics of criminals. This article will examine the literature on Offender profiling Offender profiling developed

Canter (2000) conveys that variables that are considered when carrying out criminal profiling are those which are identified, differentiated, and investigated. It is noted that investigators of a crime all have some base line to draw their conclusions, but there is certain information that links offenders with their offensive acts which exist. This information, which in this case are referred to as variables is said can be of a direct type which include: fingerprints, DNA samples, eye witness, and

For years criminal profilers within the FBI have assisted law enforcement agencies with solving cases. Criminal profilers identify criminal characteristics based on an examination of the crime scene, evidence, the nature of the crime, and the victim. According to Brent Turvey, in his book, Criminal Profiling: An Introduction to Behavioral Evidence Analysis, the criminal profile is a report that includes probable psychological, geographical, physical, relational, or social characteristics of the offender

upon release from prison inmates are stigmatize as criminal which reduces their ability to live a normal life. According to Ascenio and Burke (2011), “Once a deviant label is applied, it perpetuates itself by eliciting reactions from others such as law enforcement, employers, family members, friend and other acquaintances” pp. 164. Label theorist suggests once labels are attached it can overshadow other positive characteristics. Upon release offenders often view themselves as others see them (looking