CRIME ANALYSIS:
CORRELATING CRIME SCENE ACTIONS
TO OFFENDER CHARACTERISTICS
Dr. Aline Lobato
State University of Paraíba – Brazil
PhD Investigative Psychology
University of Liverpool - England
The Attempt to Explain Crime
Different approaches to crime analysis:
• Developmental: influences on the social and
intelectual development of an individual.
• Social: interactions between the individual and
the environment.
• Biological: genetic defects leading to criminal
behaviour.
All Searching for the Motives for Crime
The Attempt to Identify Crime Patterns
Different patterns to analyse crime:
•
•
•
•
Choice of the Victims
Place and Target Selection
Geographic Profiling
Offender Profiling
All Searching for Behavioural Patterns
Analysing Crime
Motive - Behaviour
Motive Absent
Crime Scene
Behaviour Present
Actions reflecting characteristics
Characteristics relating to actions
Analysing Crime
• Crime Scene Analysis referring to “the careful
search for behavioural clues at the crime scene”
(Ainsworth, 2001).
• More effective to give “much more
emphasis to a careful consideration of
what offenders do, their actions, and the
salient characteristics that distinguish
one criminal’s actions from another’s,
rather than an attempt to build
explanations on inferences about
putative motives” (Canter, 2000).
Studies on Robbery and Burglary
• Data
Prisons in Northeast Brasil
• Sample
168 Robbers
148 Burglars
• Instruments:
Anonymous Questionnaires
• Statistical Procedures:
SSA (Smallest Space Analysis)
Correlation Tests
Study on Robbery - SSA
Interpersonal
6.Food
23.Physical
4.ObjLow
9.CarParts
38.UnskiledFather
46.AlcoholYou
42.ViolentParents
22.Verbal
44.Abused
45.AlcPar
53.MonHo
2.£10to100
52.Change
50.Barbiturate
48.Glue
25.Humiliate
47.Gambling
28.EduElem
43.ViolenFam
27.MarriedP
39.MumDom
29.Unskilled
26.Marry
32.CrimePerson
1.£5
14.ChangeDrugs
21.Threat
24.Scare
49.Drugs
51.Psychiat
54.Wallet
55.Cheque
7.CreditCards
5.ObjHigh
30.Conv-20
37.CriminalFamily
13.PassOn
33.Young
3.£100
11.PubPlace
40.DivorcedParents
8.Money
17.Weapon
36.Brothers
41.MumBad
18.Disguise
31.Conv+3
19.SelectVictim
20.RunAway
16.Plan
35.MumDad
Instrumental
15.TakeMoney
10.Car
12.Group
34.Security
Interpersonal Behavioural Pattern - Robbery
Correlating Actions to Characteristics
Actions
Characteristics
£5
£10-100
Object Low Value
Food
Car Parts
Scares
Threat
Humiliate
Verbal Attack
Physical Attack
Elementary Education
Unskilled, Unskilled Father
Married Many Times
Drugs, Barbiturate, Glue
Alcoholic, Alcoholic Parents
Gambling, Psychiatric History
Mother Dominant
Violent Parents and Family
Physical Abuse
Crime Person
Instrumental Behavioural Pattern - Robbery
Correlating Actions to Characteristics
Actions
Characteristics
£100
Object High Value
Credit Card
Money-Cash
Car
Takes Money
Select Victim Carefully
Weapon, Disguise
Work in Group
Better Education
Skilled, Skilled Father
Divorced Parents
Criminal Family
First Conviction – 18 year
More than 3 Convictions
Maximum Security Prison
Pass on Immediately
Property Crimes
Study on Burglary - SSA
Mum/Dad
Interpersonal
Married
MarriedPlus
Verbal
Shop
Barbiturates
Physical
School
Psychiatric
Humiliate
Threat
Club
Restaurant
Brothers
PetrolStation
Factory
Security
£10,000,00
Glue
Scares
Drugs
EducElem
Garage
Office
Mum/Bad
LeaveT
Weapon
CrimPerson
House
UnskillFat
Flat
Plan
EscapeRoute
AlcoholYou
CrimeFam
Unskilled
SelectPremise
Mess
Group
Abused
DivorcedPar
AlcoholPar ViolenFam
ViolentPar
Disguise
Mum/Dom
Gambling
Young
Conv+3
Conv-20
Instrumental
Interpersonal Behavioural Pattern - Burglary
Correlating Actions to Characteristics
Actions
House
School
Restaurant, Clubs
Small Shops
Garage
Scare, Threat
Humiliate
Verbal Attack
Physical Attack
Leave Tool at Scene
Characteristics
Elementary Education
Unskilled, Unskilled Father
Married Many Times
Drugs, Barbiturate, Glue
Alcoholic, Alcoholic Parents
Gambling, Psychiatric History
Mother Dominant
Violent Parents and Family
Physical Abuse
Crime Person
Instrumental Behavioural Pattern - Burglary
Correlating Actions to Characteristics
Actions
Characteristics
Office
Flat
Factory
Petrol Station
£ 10,000,00
Escape Route
Select Premise Carefully
Weapon, Disguise
Work in Group
Better Education
Skilled, Skilled Father
Divorced Parents
Criminal Family
First Conviction – 18 year
More than 3 Convictions
Maximum Security Prison
Property Crimes
Conclusions
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•
•
•
•
Crime Analysis – Statistical Analysis
Actions rather than Motives
Actions reflecting Offender Characteristics
Themes reflecting Behavioural Patterns
Stolen items, selected premises, actions
towards the victims or property can be
related to offender characteristics.
• Crime Analysis – Actions to Characteristics