Term
| What is geographical profiling? |
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Definition
| Generalising from crime scenes to deduce likely operational base (or home) and traits of offender. |
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Term
| What is the main assumption geographical profiling is based on? |
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Definition
| Offenders prefer to operate in known locations. |
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Term
| What are the two types offenders fit into? |
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Definition
- Marauders - offenders commit the crime in their own neighbourhood (think of the Marauders from Harry Potter)
- Commuters - offenders that travel to commit the crimes |
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Term
| What did Canter propose to be the reason behind an offender's choice of crime scene location? (HINT- think the cognitive approach) |
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Definition
| Offenders have a mental map of the area, which is an organised set of spacial information about a location. Personal experience determines the mental map, which influences the place of crime. |
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Term
| What is the process of geographical profiling? |
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Definition
| Information from the autopsy, crime scene, witness reports, maps and demographic details are entered into a CGT computer programme to map the details and show likely areas the offender lives at or works. |
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Term
| How does a CGT help the investigation? |
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Definition
-It contains colour and height probability codes
-It provides the investigation with an indication of where the offender may live, work or spend a lot of time. |
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Term
| What does the Routine Activity theory see crime as? |
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Definition
| It sees it as no different from everyday behaviours in the way that they tend to occur in a small range. |
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Term
| What does the circle theory suggest about the location of a base? |
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Definition
| The base will be within a circle that encompasses all the offender's crimes. |
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Term
| What evidence is there to support the circle theory? |
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Definition
Godwin and Canter - 85% of offenders were based in the circle
Koscis and Irwin - Similar results for rapes and arson in Australia - so theory not ethnocentric |
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Term
| What evidence is there to dispute the circle theory? |
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Definition
Koscis and Irwin - only 50% of offenders for burglary based in circle.
Ludrigan and Canter argue body disposal site and crime scene provide most information about base. |
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