1. Peering into the Criminal Mind

2. What do these people have in common?

3. Forensic Psychiatry vs. Forensic Psychology

4. The short answer is, psychiatrists are medical doctors and psychologists are not. The suffix "-iatry" means "medical treatment," and "-logy" means "science" or "theory." So psychiatry is the medical treatment of the psyche, and psychology is the science of the psyche. What is the psyche?

5. psyche- The human mind. This can include conscious & unconscious thought, the spirit, the soul, etc. All of the things that fall under how people think & feel. Not all parts of the psyche have a scientific explanation, but some do.

6. Forensic Psychiatry
Unlike hair, shoeprints, or weapons, the motivations of criminals aren't visible. They cannot be studied under a microscope or analyzed in a lab. This makes psychiatry a totally different type of science; the science of behavior……

7. Forensic Psychiatry cont.
Investigators use physical and biological evidence to determine the who, what, where, and how. Forensic psychiatrists help to answer why. Many times the why is the most valuable piece of information for solving the crime because there are very few crimes that are committed without a motive, the why.

8. What do Forensic Psychiatrists (Psychologists) do?
Test suspects for mental illness
Assess a perpetrator’s sanity
Establish a perpetrator’s mental state at the time of a crime
Determine an individual’s competency to stand trial, offer testimony, sign contracts, and perform other actions
Evaluating suspects for signs of deception or malingering (faking illness)
Profiling perpetrators and victims

9. So, what would a forensic psychiatrist do in court?
Stand trial to offer an opinion regarding the suspect’s mental state at the time of the crime
Address issues related to legal sanity (in the case of an insanity plea)
During the sentencing phase, they may suggest the need for admission to a mental facility instead of prison
They may offer how dangerous the defendant is and how likely the defendant is to be a repeat offender.

10. Did you know that the term insanity is a legal term and not a medical term? Insanity, therefore is determined by a judge and jury.
(Psychiatrists determine mental disorders and advise the courts accordingly but the final say comes from the law.)

11. Now…what about the forensic profiler?
Psychological profiling (AKA offender profiling, criminal profiling, or just profiling) analyzes habits and rituals of serial criminals. They speculate on peculiarities of the offender's lifestyle that, when made public, may be recognized by colleagues or neighbors.

12. History
Basic profiling began over a hundred years ago when in 1888 “Jack the Ripper” murdered seven prostitutes in the Whitechapel area of London. George B. Philips, a police surgeon, noticed the neat removal of the organs of Annie Chapman, the third victim. Philips concluded that only someone with medical training could have made the incisions so precisely.

13. History cont.
Profiling emerged as a distinct discipline in the 1950’s when the FBI established a Behavioral Science Unit. It is now called the Investigative Support Unit.

14. The main data bases are:
NCAVC – National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crimes
VICAP – Violent Criminal Apprehension Program
CIRG – Criminal Incident Response Group
PROFILER

15. Profiling
If you don’t know what you are looking for, finding it is nearly impossible. Profiling is looking at evidence and making a best guess as to the type of individual who would commit the crime in question. Profiling helps the investigator get an idea of who they are looking for and narrows down the search.

16. A profiler is usually a specially trained FBI agent who looks at the crime scene, autopsy report, victim and likely precrime and postcrime behaviors. They would ask questions like:
How did the killer gain access to the victim?
What did the killer do to the victim?
Did the killer try to cover his/her tracks?
What is it about this victim that attracted the killer?
What motive or fantasy drove the killer to harm the victim in the particular manner at the particular time and location?

17. What kind of offenders are ‘out there’?
Mass murderers….Spree killers…Serial killers…Serial arsonists…Child Molesters… Pedophiles…Serial rapists….
(just to name a few)

18. Let’s start out with the multiple murderer…
Multiple murderers are people who’ve killed more than one person. Multiple murders are classified according to the location and sequence of the killings:
Mass murderers
Spree killers
Serial killers

19. Mass Murderers Kill more than 4 people in one place at one time
Have a clear agenda and want to send a message
Motive often is some perceived wrong committed by co-workers or employer

20. Spree Killers
Kill more than one person at two or more locations that are linked by motive with no cooling off period between killings
Constantly killing, hiding, running, or planning his next attack
Goes on rampages, moving from place to place, city to city
Many times ends up in a suicidal confrontation with law enforcement

21. Serial Killers
Kill more than one person at different times and locations
Cooling off period between killings (used to unwind, calm down before the demons take over again)

22. Assessing the Perpetrator’s Psyche
There are three basic categories of offenders:
Organized offenders
Disorganized offenders
Mixed offenders

23. Organized Offenders Very sophisticated approach Planning involved
Average or better intelligence
Employed
Involved in active social relationships (spouse, family, etc.)
Maintain control to avoid being impulsive
Prepare and rehearse
Target specific types of victims
Use control measures (restraints, etc.)
Bring tools
Takes care not to leave evidence behind
If killers, hide or dispose of the body with a preselected dumpsite

24. Disorganized Offenders
Live alone or with a relative
Lower than average intelligence
Unemployed or work at menial jobs
Often mentally ill
Act impulsively; have little control over fantasy-driven needs
Attack with sudden violence
Crime scene is messy and chaotic
Doesn’t plan ahead or bring tools; just uses what ever is around and handy
As killers they leave the body behind
Take little care about leaving evidence behind
Some have sexual contact after victim is killed

25. Mixed Offenders
Show evidence of planning and sophistication but the assault itself may be frenzied, messy, or sloppy.

26. Descriptors
Profilers use descriptors (categories) that they use to describe the type of individuals who commit the crimes. Descriptors can be categories like age, sex, race, residency, proximity, social skills, work/military history, or educational level. Using these descriptors, profilers can create a pretty good picture or profile of the offender.

27. What is your average serial killer like?
20-30 years old
Mostly male
Most don’t cross racial lines
Most kill close to home (comfort zone) until they get confident at least…
Killers who use a ruse are more social; those who use a blitz-style attack are less comfortable with conversation
Residency, work/military history or educational level depends on whether the offender is ‘organized’ or ‘unorganized’

28. What about child molesters. Pedophiles. We haven’t mentioned them yet
What about child molesters? Pedophiles? We haven’t mentioned them yet. First of all, is there a difference between a child molester and a pedophile?
Answer: Yes

29. Pedophilia vs. Child Molester
Psychological disorder
Sexual preference for pre-pubescent children; typically less than 12 years of age
Have sexual fantasies but not necessarily act on them
Maintains contact with young children at all costs

30. Pedophilia vs. Child Molester
Different motivations often not of sexual origin; many times just criminal
Described as an older person
95% male, 5% female
Defined as any type of sexual act with a person who is a child

31. So, who is this and how do you classify her?

32. Now…how about those arsonists?
What are some descriptors?
Dysfunctional family background
Attraction to the aftermath of fire
Extremely disciplined as a child; to the point of abuse
History of running away; truancy

33. Staging
Profilers also play an important role in determining if the crime scene was ‘staged’. Staging is when a crime scene is changed to make it appear as if something else happened.
Example: A husband kills his wife but trashes the house making it look like a burglary occurred.

34. Trophies and Souvenirs
Many criminals take things from the crime scene. Many of these objects can be sold.
Serial killers tend to take objects with no monetary value. They choose objects that hold more nostalgic value so they can relive the crime in later fantasies. Objects of all sorts are taken, even body parts.

35. Distinguishing MO from Signature
Modus operandi (MO, or method of operation) describes the tools and strategies a criminal uses to commit a crime…. location, tools needed, types of objects taken from the crime, transportation, the perpetrator’s alibi, the perpetrator’s accomplices, etc. They are the things that the perpetrator deems necessary in getting away with the crime.

36. Distinguishing MO from Signature
So, what is a signature?
A signature is an act that has nothing to do with completing the crime or getting away with it. They are actions that are driven by the killer’s psychological needs and fantasies.
Example: Torturing the victim, posing and taking pictures with the victim, taking trophies or souvenirs, etc.

37. Whether there is a multiple killer, child molester, or serial arsonist, there is one common thread that links them all together….
They are all playing out the fantasies that plaque their minds….the “demons” within.

39. Homework Questions Name 3 responsibilities of a forensic psychiatrist.
Who determines whether a person is insane?
What does a forensic profiler do?
What is the difference between a serial killer and a spree killer?
Identify characteristics of an organized offender.
Compare and contrast a pedophile and a child molester.
How is a signature different from a MO?