Importance Of Geographic Profiling

Importance Of Geographic Profiling This paper shall give a comprehensive discussion about the importance of geographic profiling to aid in investigative methods employed by government agents and police officers in pinpointing predatory criminals. The sophistication of the techniques in crime scene investigation have kept pace with the rapid development in the tools and technologies used in the field, and this has enabled police authorities to employ a variety of methods to help them pinpoint perpetrators in the most accurate, efficient and timely way. The renewed public interest in the formerly esoteric field of forensic science has been sparked by a series of television shows that are focused mainly on the techniques and tools used by crime scene investigators in the course of their daily work. For example, Coetzee (2008) noted the popular TV series Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) in all its different seasons have helped to throw some light into the work performed by crime scene investigators. As has already been mentioned, new and more sophisticated ways of doing crime scene investigation is being designed every day. On the one hand, this is meant to keep up with the developments in the field of forensic science. On a more practical note, however, developing new techniques and tools will help police authorities to clear their cases faster and more efficiently and allow them to stay on top of all their assignments. Likewise, the reality is that more and more perpetrators are employing more covert methods to keep themselves out of the reach of the law, and so police investigators must be able to devise ways to speed up the proceedings of their cases in such a way as to effect speedy justice. There are various ways by which crimes are solved, and it is by no means only the police investigator who is responsible for the successful closure of a criminal case. The investigation of a crime involves a wide array of activities and areas of expertise, such as DNA profiling to examine shoe prints, toxicology and handwriting analysis (Sjerps, 2008). Other scientific experts are also routinely called upon to testify in court depending on the nature and circumstances involved in the crime at bar. The solution to a crime starts with the crucial information that a dutiful crime scene investigator can offer (Coetzee, 2008). He or she identifies, interprets, and provides the necessary clues and leads for the investigator in charge to follow. The ever-increasing importance of the detection and identification of physical evidence left in a crime scene in order to bring about a successful prosecution also underscores the critical nature of a crime scene investigators work. The Locard principle-that every contact leaves a trace-is the primary assumption on which crime scene investigation rests. Thus, when two objects come together, there will inevitably be mutual contamination and it is through the proper tracing and identification of these contamination points that crimes can be possibly solved. Trace evidence is any object that can be brought back to police laboratories that may help investigators determine who committed a crime and why (Thompson, 2006). Because of the critical nature of the evidence, they must be preserved properly and analyzed accurately in order to withstand the rigors of court examination. An investigator may probably be able to work with very small amounts of trace evidence, but the persistence and purity of such evidence is important for him or her to cull crucial information from the same. Whether or not they criminals are aware of it, they actually leave something in the surroundings, while at the same time taking something with them from their contact with the victim or the objects at the crime scene. Traces of contact evidence are also very different to detect with the naked eye, and that is why criminals cannot always erase all the evidence that they leave behind. These traces are important for the crime scene investigator to find, tag and identify. They are sometimes referred to as silent evidence as they point out crucial leads that the investigators can follow by giving material bases for the leads that they follow throughout the investigation (Kaza, n.d.). Some of the most common types of trace evidence found at the crime scene include bloodstains, paint, hair, textile fibers, and glass fragments. Microscopic particles are also important because they may give clues as to what is inherently a part of the surroundings in which the crime took place and what is linked to the crime committed. There are times, however, when the perpetrator leaves traces that are hard to analyze in order to gain a probable physical description of him. For this reason, criminal investigators employ a variety of other methods that are not dependent on tangible evidence left behind by the perpetrator, relying instead on the behavioural patterns and the modus operandi of the suspect to gain a clue as to his possible whereabouts, his state of mind, and hopefully his next supposed victim. The idea is therefore to read such intangible clues and get into the mind of the perpetrator to prevent him from committing another crime and hurting another person. While these information may not be helpful in the actual prosecution of the case, they would oftentimes lead the police officers into valuable leads that can help them track down the suspect. Among the non-physical evidence based methods used by criminal investigators are criminal profiling and, more recently, geographical profiling. These methods are used to predict the subsequent actions of the perpetrator based not only on the physical evidence that he left behind but also on the conscious or unconscious choices that made before, during, and after the commission of the crime. These methods are not as accurate or exact as forensic science itself, but they do provide valuable clues as to the next steps that the police should take in order to catch the criminal faster. Criminal profiling through geography In general, criminal profiling is the art of weaving together traces left in the crime scene to develop a likely story about the criminals plan, his method of operation, his thoughts, and his next target. The aim is to provide a map of sorts that will help police investigators and forensic psychologists to nail down the perpetrator. Criminal profiling methods are becoming more and more sophisticated as well, with the help of not only advanced technological tools but also developments in behavioural sciences, particularly psychology and psychiatry. Winerman (2004) noted that informal criminal profiling had its beginnings in the 1880s, when two physicians named George Philips and Thomas Bond utilized crime scene clues to discover the personality of the British serial murderer Jack the Ripper. In the decades to come, criminal profiling methods remained largely informal and the police investigators were often left to use intuition in tracking down their quarry. It is only in the 1970s when the US Federal Bureau Investigation opened its Behavioral Science Unit that criminal profiling became an actual scientific process. From then on, it became widely accepted in law enforcement circles as a reliable technique for predicting criminal behaviour. From the nature of these techniques, it can be deduced that profiling works best only when the police investigators already have a string of clues from different crime scenes at hand. Moreover, they are also likely to have an idea of who the suspect is, or at least they have a shortlist of suspected offenders. The trick is therefore pinpointing exactly who among these individuals actually perpetrated the crime, and to catch him before he does it again. Some of the most common things that criminal profilers look at when deciphering cases where the criminal has committed a series of offenses are the following: ÂÂ · Antecedent: what is the criminal plan or fantasy behind the action? ÂÂ · Method of operations: victims identity, weapon(s) used on the victim, degree of hostility or cruelty exhibited by the act, the existence or lack of sexual overtures to the crime, method of body disposal ÂÂ · Post-offense behaviour: is the suspect trying to give false leads to the media or to the police authorities? While methods are beginning to resemble an exact science, it cannot be denied that most of the data that investigators follow up on are mere guesswork and speculations backed up by circumstantial evidence. Thus, there was a need to develop a more foolproof method that will police authorities to limit their investigation to a particular area or community, and thus crack down on the perpetrator in a shorter amount of time. It is at this juncture that criminal geographical tracking (CGT) or more commonly known as geographical profiling came to be. Knowledge of criminal mobility and the geographical characteristics of crime scenes concurrently prompted investigators to look for a way that will allow them to manage their time and resources more effectively by confining the investigation to the most probable location of the perpetrators residence or his hub of criminal activity (Holmes and Holmes 2002). The most popular name that is associated with geographical profiling is Kim Rossmo, who started to make this method of investigative profiling more exact and accurate through his doctoral dissertation at Simon Fraser University in 1995 (Ramsland 2010). He developed a computer software called the criminal geographical tracking or (CGT) that is meant to assist in cases involving violent serial crimes. It feeds a number of important geographical characteristics into the software, which in turn tries to zero in on the most probable area of residence of the offender. CGT was meant to be an information management system that can help law enforcement agents cut down on their investigation time and resources by locating an exact area where the perpetrator is most likely to reside or to operate. This pioneering technology was first adapted by the Vancouver Police Department and was later on utilized by a number of other police districts across Canada. As a method of investigation, geographic profiling works by utilizing the locations of connected series of crimes to come up with the most probable area of residence of the offender. Oftentimes, it is used in cases where serial murder, rape, arson or robbery is involved, but it can also be applied in instances of single crimes like carnapping, burglary, bombing, and others. The most important element of this kind of investigative technique is the presence of distinguishing geographical features that can point the police officers to a specific place to conduct their investigation. Rossmo likened geographical profiling to looking at the traces left by a garden sprinkler on a lawn-there is no exact way to predict where the water droplets will fall, but it will leave a pattern that will show whoever is looking at it to guess where the sprinkler was most likely located amidst the marks on the wet ground (Grierson 2003). Grierson (2003) noted that Rossmo noted four important principles underpin geographical profiling. Rossmo borrowed two concepts from the original crime-pattern theory proposed by his teachers. The first idea is that offenders often leave a buffer zone around their area of residence in order to maintain their anonymity, while the second posits that there is a distance decay that can be interpreted from the actions of offenders. That is, an offender will be more willing to travel farther from home if he thinks that the payoff for the crime will be that much greater, meaning the violence involved in the commission of the crime will also be greater. Rossmo also added his own ideas to these theoretical concepts. He incorporated what he called the least effort analysis wherein he postulated that an individual will not act without performing some kind of cost-benefit analysis for his proposed course of action. The last concept in the puzzle is that of routine-activity theory, which states that crimes can happen at the junction of opportunity and familiarity. In other words, the decision to commit the crime in a particular manner is influenced by where the criminal finds himself at the time he decided on pushing through with his criminal design. This method is highly dependent upon two basic assumptions: 1. That the set of crimes being analyzed belong to one and the same series only. This can be validated only by exhausting other police methods that will confirm that a particular set of discrete offenses can be actually be attributed to the same person. 2. Accurate and valid geographical modelling that can show travel distance to the crime sites relative to the type of crime committed, type of offender, and the area or location being studied. Geographical profiling links the geographical characteristics of the crime scene and the known propensities of serial criminals in terms of choosing their victim and the location for deed. The result of the corresponding analyses will be a map that shows the offenders area of criminal activity. The locations of the occurrence of the crime would often belie a certain rational choice on the part of the offender, which would then help the investigators to trace him to his place of residence. Geographical information systems can be adapted to fit different scales, from global to small-scale investigation. Most geographical profiling occurs at the medium scale level, applying to particular cities or neighbourhoods. Smaller areas such as individual buildings can also be subjected to geographical profiling to determine more and more specific locations for the crime, such as an elevator shaft or a fire exit. According to Harries (1999), mapping crime is an important step in criminal investigation because it helps to provide a visual representation of the course of the investigation and what the authorities have found so far based on the existing evidence. Rossmos CGT would come up with either 2D or 3D map that can show the criminals most probable locations of activity based on the past crime scenes and corresponding accuracy rates. This map represents the offenders mental map of the city based on his past experience and activities within the area, his travel routes, and reference points. Some offenders stay within a particular geographical region, while others are willing to travel great distances in order to perpetuate their criminal design. The chances of the offender being a stable or a mobile one depends on a number of factors, such as his past travel experiences, means for transportation, predatory motivations, sense of personal security and even his preferred mode of attack. Rossmo also makes the assumption that the more crimes the offender is able to commit successfully, the more confident he feels about his particular mode of operation and the more willing he is to expand his area of activity. Geographic profiling can help the investigation in a variety of ways, such as choosing the most appropriate and efficient investigative strategy, prioritizing tips and evidence, running searches on existing DNA and fingerprint databases, neighbourhood canvasses and questioning of key people associated with the suspect, and address-based searches of police records. It is not meant to be a standalone technique to solve a crime, but rather to point the investigators to a particular locality where they can more extensively concentrate their investigation efforts. Ramsland (2010) noted that some law enforcement experts are actually more confident in the turnouts that geographical profiling can give rather than the traditional investigative methods that have been used in the past. Conclusion At present, the future of geographical profiling methods seems promising because of the increasing sophistication of crime mapping techniques and technology. Geographic information systems like Rossmos CGT was the first important step in the evolution of this branch of criminal investigation in the past decade, but it seems likely that we will be seeing more and more non-conventional and innovative methods in present-day investigations. Harries (1999) predicted that technologies like global positioning system or GPS, digital photography, local police databases and even the Internet as invaluable aids to police investigations. Spatial analysis giving police investigators a definite edge over their criminal counterparts, therefore shortening the criminal investigation considerably and allowing the prosecution stage to happen earlier. One of the most important advantages that technologies like geographical profiling can offer the law enforcement circle is its ability to reduce wastage of time, effort and resources by pointing the investigators to the most probable area of activity that the offender inhabits. Instead of spreading the manpower of the authorities over a large area and spending too much time chasing down false leads, the police can now focus on a specific location and conduct a more narrowly-tailored search. Rossmos CGT has spawned a series of new technologies that are now aimed at making police work more scientific and accurate. Even if the earliest beginnings of criminal profiling were largely dependent upon luck and guesswork, advances in science and technology have made it possible for criminal investigations to proceed with more certainty. Thus, it is important for investigators to also continue using it to improve upon the technology and make it more prevalent in law enforcement.

Small Change

At the end of September, Malcolm Gladwell, a staff writer for the New Yorker magazine and author of The Tipping Point and Blink, published a piece, Small Change: Why the Revolution Will not be Tweeted, in that magazine making the argument that social media tools like Facebook and Twitter were overhyped as agents of social change at best and at worst, completely useless in helping move the kind of high-risk actions that are strong enough to bring down governments and change cultures. Using the wave of sit-ins that swept the South in 1960 during the Civil Rights Movement as his prime example, Gladwell rests his thesis upon two points.First, movements and high-risk socio-political actions are carried out by people who have strong ties to each other or a strong level of commitment to the movement itself and the actions they undertake serve to reinforce those ties. Second, the momentum and strategic direction of movements requires some level of hierarchy and organization so the energy has a chance of winning the kinds of change the participants want to see. Given these two requisites for large-scale social change, he says, there is no way that social networks will actually be able to play a role in amplifying or directing social change.This essay engendered a firestorm of criticism from activists who use Facebook and Twitter as part of their daily work in organizing for progressive social change in the America. Some of it was the usual triumphalism of the tech geek. Some of it was an interesting mix of â€Å"old guys don’t get it† and â€Å"it's not the 60’s anymore so don’t expect change to look like it did 50 years ago†. None of these responses dealt at all with the main points of his thesis, strong-ties and the primacy of closed, hierarchical organizations.However, an increasing number of responses have tackled those issues and done it from the point of view of activists and organizers working hard to change the public policy cl imate of the United States. These responses range from top-level examination of how Gladwell positions his understanding of Twitter and Facebook within his own thesis on ties and hierarchy to nuts-and-bolts examinations of how modern progressive organizations are fighting for and winning progressive change using organizing methodologies that deploy Twitter and Facebook as tools in a tactical arsenal that increasingly includes a dizzying array of options.

How Should Schools Stop Bullying - Free Essay Example

Sample details Pages: 2 Words: 583 Downloads: 10 Date added: 2019/02/15 Category Society Essay Level High school Tags: Bullying Essay School Bullying Essay Did you like this example? From the two reports we know that every student can become a bully or bully of school bullying. The correct understanding of bullying on campus is the basic premise for the school to carry out prevention and treatment work, and it needs to be recognized by all faculty and staff. The root of preventive work is to build a team of trusted friends and teachers, and a group and school that can study and live with peace of mind. There is a need to strengthen the awareness and ability of teachers. Teachers should train students to develop relevant skills related to ‘basic ability’ and ‘expertise’. First, let the children stay away from the basic abilities of bullying, mainly including understanding and communication ability of others, and judging the ability of others and the environment. Second, the study of the expertise of school bullying. At the same time, the students are given a variety of decompression methods, such as sports, reading, confiding, etc., rather than conflict with others. Bullying damage often stems from ‘learning pressure’ and ‘interpersonal relationship pressure’. School education and teaching practices should be improved in order to prevent bullying. Schools should build a platform for everyone to express, attach importance to the interpersonal relationship building of classes, grades, and associations, create opportunities for everyone to be useful and successful, and improve self-awareness. Don’t waste time! Our writers will create an original "How Should Schools Stop Bullying" essay for you Create order The important feature of school bullying is that it is difficult to find and difficult to judge, because bullying usually occurs at times and places that are difficult for adults to discovery, and is often obscured by playfulness and other forms. Teachers first need to have positive attitudes and discoveries and judge with other teachers. For school, the key to discovering bullying as soon as possible is to establish and improve relevant measures, such as regular investigations, consultations, and reports. For example, Japanese schools arrange regular questionnaires to allow students to choose their own situation. Through the survey, the school learned about bullying on campus and also investigated factors such as learning pressure, interpersonal relationship, and self-efficacy. Once the bullying facts are discovered and determined, teachers need to immediately stop it. If there is student counseling and reporting about bullying, teachers need to prioritize this work rather than other work. For those who are being bullied, the teacher must show the attitude of ’resolute protection’ and ’resolute support’. It is necessary to tell the bullied students :’You are not wrong!’ Parents should also be used to protect students through home visits. After the school has confirmed the facts of bullying, it is necessary to combine psychologists and professionals with relevant experience to discuss solutions to prevent recurrence. For bullies, first of all, let them know that bullying is an act of hurting others, promote self-reflection, and then punished according to different situations. In addition, the problem of bullying on the Internet is becoming more and more prominent. It is characterized by violent behavior, usually speech violence or exposure to information bullying. Therefore, schools need to guide students to regulate use the Internet. First of all, the school and the family work together to improve the quality of the students. Secondly, once bullying is discovered, it is necessary to stop and clear the information immediately. The problem of school bullying cannot be eliminated in a short time. Schools should promote students to build correct values and protect their growth.’ The school should be the sunniest and safest place.’ Our goal is to create a campus environment for children without fear.

Personal Experience In My Life - 997 Words

I forgot to make Johnny and Cora, my younger siblings, their lunches again today. It’s been very hard on me, I have so much more responsibility than I have ever had before. With my older sister, Betsy, sick in bed with the Spanish Flu, my mama working in a factory, and my father away fighting in the Great War, I have to do everything I can for my family. I cook, clean, get the kids ready, help with homework, care for Betsy, and I don’t mind it all that much. The only thing I miss most about my old life is getting to go to school and have opportunities to learn. All I can do now is sit at home and read in the little free time I have. Today, I have to go to the pharmacist and refill Betsy’s medicine. I walk out of the door and into the busy†¦show more content†¦Papa’s coming home!† I yell as I thrust the newspaper into her cold hands. â€Å"Oh Rose, this is such good news. Papa’s coming home!† she says weakly, but with a huge grin on her face. We sit together and talk about what it’ll be like with papa back at home. I read through the rest of the newspaper with her looking over my shoulder. â€Å"Betsy, look at this! There were 53,402 casualties in the war, that’s a great deal of men.† I say with a frown. We seem to both know the possibility that papa didn’t make it, but we keep quiet. I hear the door swing open and run downstairs. â€Å"Cora! Johnny! The Great War’s over!† I yell as they put down their bags. â€Å"Does that mean papa’s coming home?† Johnny cried out with tears of joy. â€Å"Yes it does Johnny. We’ll all be together soon.† I say as I pull them into a hug. Once they go to bed, I sit by the fire and read through the newspaper some more. I see an article about Women’s Suffrage and wonder why my mama hadn’t talked about this at all. It talks about women fighting for equal job opportunities and even the right to vote. As I am caught up in reading, I hear a knock at the door. I look through the window and see that it is my mother standing in the cold. Right when I open the door, I realize that something is wrong. â€Å"Mama? What’s wrong?† I say, dreading what her answer will be. â€Å"It’s papa. He’s gone. I got a letter at work today,† she says, her voice shaky and soft. All I can do is stand here, paralyzed with grief. My father,Show MoreRelatedMy Personal Experience In Personal Life774 Words   |  4 PagesMy mother perpetually advises me by stating â€Å"à ¦ ¸Ã  ¦ °Ã  § Ã  ¦ ¬Ã  ¦ ¦Ã  ¦ ¾ à ¦â€ Ã  ¦ ªÃ  ¦ ¨Ã  ¦ ¾Ã  ¦ ° à ¦ ¸Ã  §â€¡Ã  ¦ °Ã  ¦ ¾ à ¦â€¢Ã  ¦ °Ã  ¦ ¾,† which translates from Bengali to English as â€Å"always do your best.† Taking heed of my mother’s advice has led me to always try to be the best possible version of myself, in school and outside of it. Knowing myself, junior year was going to be arduous as is; I would be studying profusely for my SATs and ACTs, going nights with minimal sleep as I would be taking nine total classes, eight of which were Advanced Placement classes, andRead MoreMy Personal Experience : My Experience In My Life1003 Words   |  5 Pagesdifficult to write about my life—not because I do not know what to say, but because I am often fearful of sharing my experiences and having them impact how people view me. My identity and upbringing are not necessarily unique, but I have been in situations that society tends to be uncomfortable with. Repeated sexual assaults, psychological abuse, neglect, and financial hardships are factors in my life that I tried to forget when I started college. Now that I am at the end of my undergraduate educationRead MorePersonal Experience In My Life1002 Words   |  5 PagesA personal experience I have encountered would be growing up without my birth parents. At the age of 6 my mother put me up for adoption. My father was no we’re to be in sight, I never meet him in my entire life. Growing up in the foster system has a lot of pros and cons for example, I was separated from my brothers and sisters for a very long time, also there would be days that I would go to two or three different homes in a single day. Bouncing around from family to family is not the way a kid shouldRead MorePersonal Experience In My Life1344 Words à ‚  |  6 PagesI worked hard at my studies, homework and research and I put my education above everything else. If I was going to pass this tough course with good grades, or pass it at all, my studies had come first, above everyone and everything else which wasn t going to be easy, but it had to be done. I took my computer, notes and books on every vacation, starting off every day and ending every night working diligently on my dissertation. I got frustrated and discouraged at times, but with all the supportRead MoreMy Personal Experience : My Experience In My Life1132 Words   |  5 Pagesget together and notice they have differing opinions, it can lead to arguments. That’s what happened in my case. Recently, I experienced my first big fight with my parents over how many college classes I should be able to take. Ever since I was little, I have always tried to do my very best in classes and really push myself. I have also always been a perfectionist and been very on top of my work. I have always wanted to get things done as soon as possible and get ahead anytime I can, whether thatRead MoreMy Personal Experience : My Experience In My Life1097 Words   |  5 Pagesbirthed in Syria and a mother from the coast of Long Beach, California, my childhood was, to say the least, interesting. However, everything that happened from my birth until now, all made me who I am today, someone I am very proud to have become after these seventeen years. The first three years of my life were spent on the West Coast in the city of Irvine, California. I don’t remember too much from these years, but I do know my parents labored long shifts, sacrificing precious time to support anRead MorePersonal Experience In My Life1399 Words   |  6 PagesMy time working at a children’s psychiatric hospital helped me realize my strength and taught me more compassion than the rest of my life combined. Many times I had questioned if I was cut out for this work and if I was doing any good trying to help these children. I had to learn to walk on the fine line between growing thick skin and showing love and acceptance to kids who are seemingly unlovable. My experiences have continued to shape who I am had help give me perspective for when I find myselfRead MoreMy Personal Life Experience1293 Words   |  6 Pagesinterests, life experiences and commitments, I know that I will enrich the UWM community. I believe that life experiences are e xtremely crucial in self-development. The more you experience, the more you grow as an individual. I say that with such pride because I can say myself that the life experiences I have gone through has shaped who I am. Commitments rather they are large or small, you are dedicating yourself to something which comes easy to me. When I am dedicated to something, I give it my all. OneRead MoreMy Personal Experience In My Life990 Words   |  4 Pagesare only given one shot. Therefore, it is at our best interest to live life to the fullest. Over the years, I have been able to analyze how I’ve struggle from stepping out my comfort zone. I found myself on the same routine for the first 18 years of my life. With that being said, it is a major key to try new things as we learn to grow, therefore you won’t live a bring life. Every chance I get I take on new things to enhance my person. While doing so, I’ve been able to step outside the box. TryingRead MoreMy Personal Expe rience In My Life940 Words   |  4 Pagescareer and in life, your character must drive you toward your aspirations. Throughout life, several experiences have molded me into a person of resilience, empathy, and composure. Such values have allowed me to reach my goals and serve my community. In supplement to my intelligence, these assets render me an exceptional student and employee. The ability to be resilient is at the core of who I am, and the challenges that have created this strength have taught me empathy. Because of my weight, I faced