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Criminal Profiling: The Case Of Jack The Ripper

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Criminal Profiling Although criminal profiling is not the flawless and magical process that entertainment television portrays it to be, it is a valuable investigative tool that aids in the analysis of crimes and the manner in which they are committed. This behavioral and investigative method is useful in helping investigators to accurately predict and profile the characteristics of unknown criminal subjects or offenders. Criminal profiling is based on the belief that it is possible to predict certain characteristics of an offender by examining the specific details of their offenses. By combining the knowledge of social and forensic sciences, profilers can make useful predictions about individual traits or behaviors an offender likely possesses. …show more content…

In the 1880’s, two physicians, George Phillips and Thomas Bond, utilized clues from crime scenes to make predictions about the British serial murderer Jack the Ripper's personality (Winerman, 2004). The case of Jack the Ripper involved brutal slayings of prostitutes in London, England. The perpetrator called himself Jack the Ripper in letters he wrote taking credit for the crimes. Authorities believed the Ripper was physician due to the extensive cutting of the victim’s bodies. Phillips and Bond used autopsy results and evidence from the crime scene to make basic but informed predictions about Jack the Ripper's personality, behavioral characteristics and lifestyle (Bonn, 2014). After examining the forensic evidence, Dr. Bond was able to determine, “…all five murders no doubt were committed by the same hand… the women must have been lying down when murdered and in every case the throat was cut first” (Bonn, 2014). Bond also opposed law enforcement’s belief that the Ripper had medical training. He stated that, “…the gaping wounds inflicted by the Ripper were not consistent with the training of a medical expert…” and that the murderer was likely, “…a man of solitary habits, subject to periodic attacks of homicidal and erotic mania, and the character of the mutilations possibly indicating "satyriasis” or uncontrollable sexual desire. (Bonn, …show more content…

During this time, several FBI agents, including John Douglas and Robert Ressler interviewed and studied 36 serial murderers in order to develop theories and categories of different types of offenders. Douglas and Ressler are credited with the development of the "organized/disorganized dichotomy". This theory suggests organized crimes are premeditated, carefully planned and that perpetrators of organized crimes leave little evidence to be found at the scene. According to the classification scheme, organized criminals are antisocial but know right from wrong. They are not insane and show no remorse. In contrast, disorganized crimes are not planned and criminals leave evidence such as fingerprints and blood at the crime scenes. Disorganized criminals are often young, under the influence of alcohol or drugs, or mentally ill. During the past couple of decades, the FBI’s profiling process has been advanced and further developed into a more reliable science. The organized/disorganized dichotomy has been refined into a continuum and other classification schemes have been developed. According to FBI, Greg McCrary, “The basic premise is that behavior reflects personality” (Winerman, 2014). In homicide cases, FBI agents gather insight into the perpetrator’s personality through questioning behavior at four crime phases: antecedent, method and manner, body disposal, and post-offense

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