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  2. Offender Profiling [CRI3107]

Faculty of Business and Law

School: Law and Justice

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Offender Profiling

  • Unit Code

    CRI3107

  • Year

    2015

  • Enrolment Period

    1

  • Version

    1

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online

Description

This unit introduces students to the concept, theory and practice of offender profiling. Students will be introduced to offender profiling procedures and their capacity to inform criminal investigations. As part of this, the unit will explore the history and development of this investigative technique as well as the theories that underpin the practice of offender profilers. The various techniques employed by offender profilers will be examined and students will develop the skills necessary to construct a profile of an offender.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Analyse the history and development of offender profiling.
  2. Construct an offender profile.
  3. Critically evaluate offender profiling and identify its relative strengths and weaknesses.
  4. Describe how offender profiling is used in relation to various offence and offender types.
  5. Discuss the techniques involved in creating an offender profile.
  6. Examine the role of offender profiling as an analytical tool within criminal investigations.
  7. Explain the evaluate offender profiling methods.
  8. Explain the theoretical perspectives that inform offender profiling procedures.

Unit Content

  1. Analysing crime scenes and physical evidence.
  2. Identifying and understanding the role of the offender signature.
  3. Principles of offender profiling.
  4. Profiling and serial arson.
  5. Profiling and serial homicide.
  6. Profiling and serial sex offending.
  7. Profiling and white collar crime.
  8. Psychological autopsies.
  9. The history and development of offender profiling.
  10. The role of offender profiling as an investigative technique.
  11. Theories relevant to criminal behaviour and offender profiling.
  12. Types of offender profiling.
  13. Understanding modus operandi.
  14. Victimology.

Additional Learning Experience Information

This unit is conducted in both the on-campus and off-campus modes. On-campus students are required to attend a three-hour seminar each week. The seminars are designed to introduce students to the concepts, theories and issues relevant to the use of offender profiling as an investigative technique. Problem-based seminar activities are used to allow students to apply their learning and improve their critical thinking skills and communication skills. Assessment methods provide students the opportunity to demonstrate and develop their content knowledge, critical thinking and written communication skills by requiring them to review the academic literature and prepare a criminal profile of a fictional offender. Off-campus students are provided with an electronic recorded seminar each week. All information is delivered to off-campus students via Blackboard. The seminars are designed to introduce students to the concepts, theories and issues relevant to the use of offender profiling as an investigative technique. Problem-based online activities are used to allow students to apply their learning and improve their critical thinking skills and communication skills. Assessment methods provide students the opportunity to demonstrate and develop their content knowledge, critical thinking and written communication skills by requiring them to review the academic literature and prepare a criminal profile of a fictional offender. Regular online access is essential.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
AssignmentLiterature Review30%
Case StudyOffender Profile Report40%
ExaminationFinal examination30%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
AssignmentLiterature Review30%
Case StudyOffender Profile Report40%
ExaminationFinal examination30%

Text References

  • ^ Turvey, B.E. (2012). Criminal profiling: An introduction to behavioural evidence analysis (4th ed.). Burlington, MA: Elsevier.
  • Pinnizzotto, A. J., & Finkel, N. J. (1990). Criminal personality profiling: An outcome and process study. Law and Human Behavior, 14(3), 215-233
  • Baeza, J., Chisum, W. J., Chamberlin, T. M., McGrath, M., & Turvey, B. (2000). Academy of behavioural profiling: Criminal profiling guidelines. Journal of Behavioral Profiling, 1(1).
  • Canter, D. (1994). Criminal shadows: Inside the mind of the serial killer. London: Academic Press.
  • Casey, E. (2001). Handbook of computer crime investigation: Forensic tools and technology. London: Academic Press.
  • Fox, J. A., & Levin, J. (1998). Multiple homicide: Patterns of serial and mass murder. Crime and Justice, 23, 407.
  • Hazelwood, R., Reboussin, R., Warren, J., & Wright, J. (1991). Prediction of rapist type and violence from verbal, physical and sexual scales. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 6(1), 55-67.
  • Holmes, R. (1991). Sex crimes. London: Sage Publications.
  • Holmes, R., & Holmes, S. (2002). Profiling violent crimes: An investigative tool. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
  • Turvey, B. (2000). Encyclopedia of forensic science. London: Academic Press.
  • Shneidman, E. S. (1994) The psychological autopsy. American Psychologist, 49(1) 75-76.
  • Meloy, J. R. (Ed.). (1998). The psychology of stalking: Clinical and forensic perspectives. London: Academic Press.
  • Karmen, A. (1984). Crime victims: An introduction to victimology. Pacific Grove, CA: Brookes/Cole Publishers.
  • Homant, R. J., & Kennedy, D. B. (1998). Psychological aspects of crime scene profiling: Validity research. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 25(3), 319-343.
  • Holmes, R., & Holmes, S. (1996). Profiling violent crimes: An investigative tool (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications

Journal References

  • Journal of Forensic Sciences
  • Behaviour Research and Therapy
  • Criminal Justice and Behaviour
  • International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology
  • Journal of Behavioral Profiling
  • Journal of Forensic Psychiatry
  • Journal of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology

^ Mandatory reference

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

CRI3107|1|1

Faculty of Business and Law

School: Law and Justice

This unit information may be updated and amended immediately prior to semester. To ensure you have the correct outline, please check it again at the beginning of semester.

  • Unit Title

    Offender Profiling

  • Unit Code

    CRI3107

  • Year

    2015

  • Enrolment Period

    2

  • Version

    1

  • Credit Points

    15

  • Full Year Unit

     N

  • Mode of Delivery

    On Campus
    Online

Description

This unit introduces students to the concept, theory and practice of offender profiling. Students will be introduced to offender profiling procedures and their capacity to inform criminal investigations. As part of this, the unit will explore the history and development of this investigative technique as well as the theories that underpin the practice of offender profilers. The various techniques employed by offender profilers will be examined and students will develop the skills necessary to construct a profile of an offender.

Learning Outcomes

On completion of this unit students should be able to:

  1. Analyse the history and development of offender profiling.
  2. Construct an offender profile.
  3. Critically evaluate offender profiling and identify its relative strengths and weaknesses.
  4. Describe how offender profiling is used in relation to various offence and offender types.
  5. Discuss the techniques involved in creating an offender profile.
  6. Examine the role of offender profiling as an analytical tool within criminal investigations.
  7. Explain the evaluate offender profiling methods.
  8. Explain the theoretical perspectives that inform offender profiling procedures.

Unit Content

  1. Analysing crime scenes and physical evidence.
  2. Identifying and understanding the role of the offender signature.
  3. Principles of offender profiling.
  4. Profiling and serial arson.
  5. Profiling and serial homicide.
  6. Profiling and serial sex offending.
  7. Profiling and white collar crime.
  8. Psychological autopsies.
  9. The history and development of offender profiling.
  10. The role of offender profiling as an investigative technique.
  11. Theories relevant to criminal behaviour and offender profiling.
  12. Types of offender profiling.
  13. Understanding modus operandi.
  14. Victimology.

Additional Learning Experience Information

This unit is conducted in both the on-campus and off-campus modes. On-campus students are required to attend a three-hour seminar each week. The seminars are designed to introduce students to the concepts, theories and issues relevant to the use of offender profiling as an investigative technique. Problem-based seminar activities are used to allow students to apply their learning and improve their critical thinking skills and communication skills. Assessment methods provide students the opportunity to demonstrate and develop their content knowledge, critical thinking and written communication skills by requiring them to review the academic literature and prepare a criminal profile of a fictional offender. Off-campus students are provided with an electronic recorded seminar each week. All information is delivered to off-campus students via Blackboard. The seminars are designed to introduce students to the concepts, theories and issues relevant to the use of offender profiling as an investigative technique. Problem-based online activities are used to allow students to apply their learning and improve their critical thinking skills and communication skills. Assessment methods provide students the opportunity to demonstrate and develop their content knowledge, critical thinking and written communication skills by requiring them to review the academic literature and prepare a criminal profile of a fictional offender. Regular online access is essential.

Assessment

GS1 GRADING SCHEMA 1 Used for standard coursework units

Students please note: The marks and grades received by students on assessments may be subject to further moderation. All marks and grades are to be considered provisional until endorsed by the relevant Board of Examiners.

ON CAMPUS
TypeDescriptionValue
AssignmentEssay30%
Case StudyOffender Profile Report40%
ExaminationFinal examination30%
ONLINE
TypeDescriptionValue
AssignmentEssay30%
Case StudyOffender Profile Report40%
ExaminationFinal examination30%

Text References

  • ^ Turvey, B.E. (2012). Criminal profiling: An introduction to behavioural evidence analysis (4th ed.). Burlington, MA: Elsevier.
  • Shneidman, E. S. (1994) The psychological autopsy. American Psychologist, 49(1) 75-76.
  • Pinnizzotto, A. J., & Finkel, N. J. (1990). Criminal personality profiling: An outcome and process study. Law and Human Behavior, 14(3), 215-233
  • Meloy, J. R. (Ed.). (1998). The psychology of stalking: Clinical and forensic perspectives. London: Academic Press.
  • Karmen, A. (1984). Crime victims: An introduction to victimology. Pacific Grove, CA: Brookes/Cole Publishers.
  • Homant, R. J., & Kennedy, D. B. (1998). Psychological aspects of crime scene profiling: Validity research. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 25(3), 319-343.
  • Holmes, R., & Holmes, S. (1996). Profiling violent crimes: An investigative tool (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications
  • Holmes, R. (1991). Sex crimes. London: Sage Publications.
  • Hazelwood, R., Reboussin, R., Warren, J., & Wright, J. (1991). Prediction of rapist type and violence from verbal, physical and sexual scales. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 6(1), 55-67.
  • Fox, J. A., & Levin, J. (1998). Multiple homicide: Patterns of serial and mass murder. Crime and Justice, 23, 407.
  • Casey, E. (2001). Handbook of computer crime investigation: Forensic tools and technology. London: Academic Press.
  • Canter, D. (1994). Criminal shadows: Inside the mind of the serial killer. London: Academic Press.
  • Baeza, J., Chisum, W. J., Chamberlin, T. M., McGrath, M., & Turvey, B. (2000). Academy of behavioural profiling: Criminal profiling guidelines. Journal of Behavioral Profiling, 1(1).
  • Holmes, R., & Holmes, S. (2002). Profiling violent crimes: An investigative tool. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
  • Turvey, B. (2000). Encyclopedia of forensic science. London: Academic Press.

^ Mandatory reference

Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005)

For the purposes of considering a request for Reasonable Adjustments under the Disability Standards for Education (Commonwealth 2005), inherent requirements for this subject are articulated in the Unit Description, Learning Outcomes and Assessment Requirements of this entry. The University is dedicated to provide support to those with special requirements. Further details on the support for students with disabilities or medical conditions can be found at the Access and Inclusion website.

Academic Misconduct

Edith Cowan University has firm rules governing academic misconduct and there are substantial penalties that can be applied to students who are found in breach of these rules. Academic misconduct includes, but is not limited to:

  • plagiarism;
  • unauthorised collaboration;
  • cheating in examinations;
  • theft of other students' work;

Additionally, any material submitted for assessment purposes must be work that has not been submitted previously, by any person, for any other unit at ECU or elsewhere.

The ECU rules and policies governing all academic activities, including misconduct, can be accessed through the ECU website.

CRI3107|1|2