Geographic Profiling
Charles L. Feer, JD, MPA
Bakersfield College
3/17/2016
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Geographic Profiling
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Identifying Spatial Patterns in Crime
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Crime Mapping
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Geographic – Crime Profiling
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Geographic Profiling
Crime Mapping
- Pin-points crime occurrences in
specific geographical areas.
- “Hot Spots” (zones) and “Hot Places”
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Geographic Profiling
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Geographic Profiling
A. Auto-Theft
3/17/2016
11/11/15. 03:00 PM.
2400 BLOCK OF
CHRISTMAS TREE LANE
BAKERSFIELD
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Geographic Profiling
Geo Crime Profiling is to identify specific
offenders
- Patterns of routine activities
- Choices they make in committing their
crimes. (Geographic locations & Spatial
movements.)
 Most applicable to series of crimes:
Burglaries, Car Thefts, Arsons, Rapes, Murders, Serial
Bombings, Bank Robberies, Child Abductions.
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Geographic Profiling
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Elements of Geographic Profiling
Distance (Relative concept and perception.
Means different things to different
people.)
Method of Transportation (Distance will be
influenced by mode of transportation:
Walking, Public Transportation, personal
vehicle.)
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Geographic Profiling
Origins, Destinations and Travel Ways:
(There are certain roads and highways we
prefer.)
 Familiarity
(We are creatures of habit. We repeat things
that are familiar and comfortable.)
Comfort offers reassurance.
“Cruising for victims. Looking for a place to
“dump the body.”
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Geographic Profiling
Number and types of geographical
barriers:
Jurisdictional boundaries (i.e. state line),
freeways, rivers, railroad tracks, buildings,
dead-end roadways.
 Alternative Routes: Most direct, most
pleasant.
 Multiple routes will offer greater chance of
escape and confuse the police.
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Geographic Profiling
Actual Distance
 Mental Maps (A cognitive image of our
spatial surroundings.)
 Our daily activities and experiences
revolve around our “comfort zones” home,
workplace, recreation sites and shopping
districts.
 We connect these with various routes,
avoiding barriers.
 We choose paths that we use in our daily
routine.
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Geographic Profiling
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The highway system in America makes it
possible for a predator to travel long
distances in search of victims and confuse
law enforcement.
An Offender can dump a body close to a
freeway and be on the road in seconds.
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Geographic Profiling
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Geo Crime Profiling involves determining
why a killer decided to search a particular
neighborhood for a victim, choose that
particular area to dump the body, pick that
particular route to travel.
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Geographic Profiling
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As a criminal becomes more adept to
committing their crimes, he gains
experience, which leads to an increase in
comfort and confidence.
This will allow him to venture further out
(away) from his initial geographical crime
site. (Makes it more difficult to predict
next crime location.)
Known as “Geo Displacement”
(i.e. Law Enforcement activities, media attention.)
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Geographic Profiling
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Investigators need to look at the locations
of the first crimes committed, when
suspecting a serial offender.
Areas of Victim Selection: Where does
offender find suitable victims?
Are there areas that reflect the offender’s
Mental Map? (Does he avoid or visit
“mental barriers”? i.e. Court houses, jails,
previous crime sites.)
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Geographic Profiling
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Types of Crime Locations (for violent
crimes):
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Encounter Sites
Attack Sites
Crime Sites
Victim Disposal Sites
Vehicle Dump Sites
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Geographic Profiling
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The greater the distance, the more
planning involved, the more “organized”
the offender.
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Geographic Profiling
Neighborhood Demographics
Characteristics of a population
 Look to behavior, travels and habits of the
victims. (Their distance of travel, means of
transportation.)
 There are a number of computer assisted
programs that can help with Geo Profiling.
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Geographic Profiling
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Questions?
(Quiz to follow.)
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Geographic Profiling
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Quiz:
1) Who would be expected to travel
further in the committing of their offenses,
Disorganized or Organized serial
offenders?
2) List the 5 locations that we would
expect to be involved in violent crimes.
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Geographic Profiling
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Quiz continued:
3) List the “Comfort Zones” that were
discussed in this lecture.
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