Geographic Profiling and Geography

Geographic Profiling and Geography

Introduction

The practice, of tracking offender's home or operational base, in which geographical information is used, in a sequence of linked crimes or offences. It is depending upon the supposition that the offender may work, near or close to places they know well or their residence. It helps the profiler to filter down their search, after having knowledge about their location.

Discussion

David Canter is the primary or main exponent of geographic profiling. He claims that this type of profiling is worked and designed upon how people conceptualize and represent information and cognitive theory. People use a special kind of schema, as per this theory, i.e. mental maps, a simplified mental illustration of what we anticipate to occur in any situation. (Bartlett 1932). Canter claims that the study or information regarding the location or place of the crime scene, symbolizes their personal experiences regarding their atmosphere and environment. Therefore, information regarding the crime place can help and used to infer, where the criminal is based, his interests, relationship and employment.

There are a variety of instances which have efficiently confirmed the use of geographic profiling. For example, the train rapist, John Duffy case was successful. They started to plan the rapes following the murders and then used geographical details and information and tried to work out his safe place, where he based. They discovered that the rapes and killings clearly followed the train line which crossed London. Following this informational lead, from this geographical plotting, they figured out that he lived somewhere in this central area and realized that he know railways lines very well, which worked and proved helpful for him. This case shows the potency of geographic profiling because they used it to get him

In the USA, about 120 serial killers were analyses ...