CJ 266 Deviance and Violence

Seminar 8

SEMINAR OVERVIEW

Welcome Final Essay Guidelines Managing Serial Murder Cases Forensics Profiling—Benefits and Problems Signatures & Methods of Operation Solving Serial Murder Cases

Final Essay Guidelines

There are 2 essays to complete—you must complete BOTH.

Topics: Social Explanations of Serial Killers; Reactive and Proactive investigative approaches

Each essay should be 3-4 pages in length. Use at least 3 references and APA style. The final essays are worth 110 points. Essays are due at the end of Unit 9

Final Essays Grading Criteria

You’ll be graded on the following criteriaOrganization/Format 15

Content 60

Writing style/Mechanics 10

Research/Sources 25

Total Points 110

Issues in Managing Major Cases

Media ImpactManagement of Departmental

ResourcesMultiagency JurisdictionUnusual Complexity of the Case

Why are Serial Killer Cases Hard to Solve?

High mobility across many law enforcement jurisdictions Offenders generally prefer strangers Minimal amount of evidence left at crime scenes Insufficient interagency communication to recognize a

common pattern of homicides Insufficient coordination between jurisdictions in several

states. Additional complexities

What is Forensics?

Forensics—belonging to or used in courts of law.

Forensic medicine Forensic psychology Criminal profiling Criminalistics Victimology

Types of Profiling

Offender Victim Equivocal Death DNA Crime Scene Psychological Geographical

Purpose of Profiling

Investigative tool Direction Psychological Insights/Advice Developing systematic computer tracking Facilitating communication Evidence corroboration

Problems with Profiling

Wrong Direction—strain on resources Errors in information Rush to conclusion Misunderstood offender profiles Place specific murders cannot be

geographically profiled

Signatures of Serial Murderers

How does a signature differ from a MO (method of operation)?

Why is this information important in a serial murder case?

Violent Criminal Apprehension Program (VICAP)

VICAP—serves as a national clearinghouse for reports involving solved or unsolved homicides, attempted homicides, abductions, missing persons where violence is suspected, and unidentified dead bodies involving homicides.

What were the problems associated with its initial use?

Is this something that we need?

Solvability Factors

Quality of police interviews with eyewitnesses Circumstances that led to the initial stop of the

murderer Circumstances that established probable cause to

search and seize physical evidence Quality of the investigations at the crime scene(s) Quality of the scientific analysis of the physical

evidence

Law Enforcement Performance

Do you think law enforcement agencies should be criticized for their performance in solving serial murder cases? Are they successful?

WRAP UP

Any Questions/Concerns?

Next Week’s Topic: Sentencing Serial Killers