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Understanding Serial Killers: Profiling and Investigative Approaches

Explore the complexities of studying serial murderers across cultures, discussing profiles, apprehension techniques, and both reactive and proactive investigative tools. Investigate the challenges in identifying and apprehending serial killers.

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Understanding Serial Killers: Profiling and Investigative Approaches

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  1. CJ 266: Unit 9 Seminar Serial Murderers – Concluding Issues Clifford Marsh Deviance and Violence (CJ 266)

  2. Deviance & Violence • Deviance: actions or behaviors that violate cultural norms including formally-enacted rules (e.g., crime) as well as informal violations of social norms • Violence: is the use of physical force to apply a state to others contrary to their wishes; The word violence covers a broad spectrum. It can vary from a physical altercation between two beings to war and genocide where millions may die as a result.

  3. Interviewing Serial Killers • One of the biggest problems in studying serial killers is access to meaningful data. • Issues to consider • Low base rate behavior so can’t study in aggregate • Information (and researcher perception) influenced by media and pop culture • View of serial killer researchers as if they were similar to “groupies” • Offender “gaming” • Difficulty in determining the personal meaning of behavior for offender

  4. Hickey’s Suggestions for Interviewing/Studying Serial Killers • Maintain Objectivity • Acknowledge other perspectives • Recognize more important to ask the right questions than to acquire quick answers

  5. Serial Murder Across Cultures Studying serial murder across cultures is difficult due to a number of factors: • Different definitions across cultures • Cultural differences influence manifestation of behavior, methods, motives • Profiles from the United States often differ from serial killer profiles elsewhere

  6. Serial Murder Across Cultures • What we know about serial murder across culture: • Serial murderer is a global phenomenon • Serial killers, regardless of where they are from, tend to report abusive backgrounds • Serial murders in other cultures (Germany, Japan) tend be more “place-specific” and US serial killers more mobile • In US and around world most serial killers target stranger victims • Many countries identify “super killers” but difficult to verify actual numbers • Other countries have identified a greater number of female serial killers than the US however as in the case in the US, most are not identified as sexual homicide offenders • Team killers more common in US • Non US serial killers rarely use firearms • Although psychopathy (and antisocial personality disorder) is a cross-cultural phenomenon, its definition, diagnosis, and manifestation differs across culture • In studying serial murder across cultures, it is important to keep in mind unique features of culture that can influence understanding and identification of serial murder (e.g., Multi murder in South Africa)

  7. Profiling, Apprehension, and Disposition of Serial Killers • Profiling is not yet a science and is so broad in terms of the different methods and approaches • Profiling has potential to generate false leads and false conviction • Investigating serial murder is fraught with problems: • Media • Management of resources • Jurisdictional Issues • Complexity of Cases • False Confessions • Copycat crime • Politics

  8. Final Paper: • 3-4 pages minimum • Must have Part I and Part II • All facts must be cited; meaning, all factually-based sentences must have an in-text citation • All in-text citations are then correlated with an entry on the alphabetized Reference page • APA audio tutorial: http://flash1r.apa.org/apastyle/basics/

  9. Final Paper: Part I • There are many theories regarding the social construction of serial killers. Discuss the difference in social structure, social class, social process, neutralization, social control and labeling theories as they relate to serial killers. In your own words, provide some examples of each. (1000 words)

  10. Final Paper: Part I Excellent Resources • http://www.deviantcrimes.com/serialmurder_sociallearning.htm • http://pediaview.com/openpedia/Social_control_theory • http://forensicpsych.umwblogs.org/psychological-theories/psychological-theories-2/the-labeling-theory/

  11. So, with Part I… • Take one or two theories and differentiate the differences between the two theories and how they explain serial killer. You will need to research the theory and then I want you to explain the two theories and the similarities/differences between the two theories in how YOU WOULD EXPLAIN this phenomenon of serial killers.

  12. Final Paper: Part II • Serial murder requires both a reactive and proactive investigative approach. Discuss both the reactive and proactive approaches in depth. Identify sources of information (such as databases) and how these are important in each approach from an investigative point of view. Support your position with facts gathered from outside sources.

  13. Proactive & Reactive Investigative Tools Criminal investigations can be either reactive or proactive: • Reactive: where the police respond to a crime that has already occurred • Proactive: where the investigation may go on before and during the commission of the offense.

  14. Part II: Excellent Resources • http://www.aic.gov.au/publications/previous%20series/proceedings/1-27/~/media/publications/proceedings/17/halloran_et_al.pdf • http://www.leeds.ac.uk/law/hamlyn/police.htm • http://us.cj-worldnews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=100:investigation-into-serial-murder-proactive-and-reactive-approaches&catid=1:criminology&Itemid=3

  15. So, with Part II… • Now that you know the difference between reactive and proactive investigative tools, I want you to explain your understanding of these two investigative tools and how they would be applicable towards solving serial murderers. Like Part I, you are stating your hypothesis based upon research. I want to know what YOU THINK.

  16. Again, all final papers must… • Be 3-4 pages minimum, double-spaced, using a font of 12 in Times New Roman • Must have in-text citations to support all factually-based sentences. • Must have a Reference page to support all in-text citations. • You must have in-text citations and a Reference page—no ifs, ands, buts…

  17. To Catch A Serial Killer • Click on this link or copy/paste the following link into a new browser (Appx. 40 minutes): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Es1vZOe5s64

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