Overview
This lecture explores criminal profiling, the development of sexual offense units, behavioral analysis in violent crime, and the impact of stalking, including challenges in prevention, intervention, and law reform.
Criminal Profiling and Early Influences
- Interest in understanding criminal behavior began with childhood curiosity and exposure to detective stories.
- Early career opportunity at New Scotland Yard arose from persistence and a chance to help establish a sexual offenses intelligence section.
- The UK sexual offenses unit was modeled after the FBI's Behavioral Science Unit.
Patterns in Violent Offenders
- Profiling involved studying rape, murder, and abduction to prevent repeat offenses.
- Review of domestic violence offenders revealed that 1 in 8 also committed rapes outside the home.
- Offenders often had extensive histories, but police missed connections due to cultural minimization of domestic violence.
Key Cases and Prevention
- Notable cases like John Duffy and David Mulcahy highlighted the overlap between domestic and stranger violence.
- Behavioral red flags included weapon use, strangulation, language, and repeated intelligence logs.
- Integrating intelligence analysts, academics, and detectives improved homicide prevention effectiveness.
- Better profiling and intervention led to a 58% reduction in domestic violence murders over 13 years.
Stalking and Coercive Control
- Stalking and coercive control described as "murder in slow motion" due to escalation and missed interventions.
- The Clare Bernell case exposed police failures and lack of stalking training, prompting advocacy and law change.
- The national stalking advocacy service was created to support high-risk victims.
Psychopathy and Rehabilitation
- Psychopaths are manipulative, lack empathy, and cannot currently be rehabilitated.
- Parole decisions often fail to account for the risk posed by psychopathic offenders.
Behavioral Analysis and Red Flags
- Pre- and post-offense behaviors, such as distancing from victims and questionable explanations, are key indicators.
- Examples include a father leaving his dying child in the ER and searching incriminating topics online.
Personal Impact and Motivation
- Work in the field is emotionally taxing, requiring strategies for self-care.
- Motivation comes from helping victims, survivors, and families, and striving to prevent future crimes through societal change.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Profiling — The analysis of criminal behavior patterns to prevent or solve crimes.
- Behavioral Science Unit (BSU) — FBI division specializing in criminal profiling.
- Coercive Control — A pattern of behavior to dominate or intimidate a victim.
- Psychopathy — A personality disorder marked by lack of empathy, manipulativeness, and antisocial behavior.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review domestic violence, stalking, and behavioral profiling materials.
- Read about the Clare Bernell case and legal reforms on stalking.
- Reflect on red flags and signs of escalating violence for case studies or exams.