Module 3
Module 3
Pioneers such as former FBI Special Agent John Edward Douglas were able to
master and develop a criminal profiling methodology that is still in use today.
By interviewing serial killers, terrorists and other violent criminals, Douglas
was able to research the psychopathologies and behavioral abnormalities of
serious criminals, beginning the process of identifying patterns and correlating
behaviors.
The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
employ profilers who have undergone specialized training to address recurring
or unusual violent crimes. Practicing criminal investigative analysis, profilers
provide behavioral-based operational support to partner agencies. As technical
experts in the field, they can build a profile by conducting an examination,
evaluation and interpretation of a crime, as well as providing technical training,
research and intelligence reports.
1. Early Developments: The early roots of criminal profiling can be seen in the
work of figures like Dr. Thomas Bond, a 19th-century British surgeon who
provided psychological insights into the Jack the Ripper case in 1888. Bond's
analysis of the crime scenes and the nature of the murders provided early
insights into the potential psychological profile of the killer.
1. Psychological Theories:
- Psychoanalytic Theory: Sigmund Freud's theories about the unconscious
mind and personality development have influenced early approaches to criminal
profiling. Profilers often consider unconscious motivations and conflicts that
may drive criminal behavior.
- Trait Theory: This perspective suggests that certain personality traits or
characteristics predispose individuals to engage in criminal behavior. Profilers
may look for traits such as impulsivity, aggression, or sensation-seeking
tendencies in their analysis.
2. Criminological Theories:
- Routine Activity Theory; This theory posits that crime occurs when three
elements converge: a motivated offender, a suitable target, and the absence of a
capable guardian. Profilers may analyze crime scenes to understand offender
motivation and target selection.
- Social Learning Theory: According to this theory, individuals learn criminal
behavior through associations with others, reinforcement of criminal acts, and
exposure to criminal models. Profilers may consider an offender's social
environment and past experiences in their analysis.
Crimes by females
Introduction
Before we talk about female criminality, it is necessary to understand the social
theory proposed by Sir Ralph Linton and George Herbert Mead, recognized by
the name of the “role theory”. According to this theory, “different expectations
of standard behaviour appear to be important in the genesis of women’s
crime”. Put simply, the theory discusses how females are taught by their
families in which they are brought up to be passive, quiet, polite, well-behaved,
and non-violent. By this fact, females try to suppress their violent nature, anger,
frustration, and their voice to live up to society’s expectations. This prevents
women from possessing the technical ability to be involved in violent crimes
like gang fights, armed robberies, etc. But many studies have found that women
generally commit three kinds of offences namely;
1. Property offences;
2. Offences against the person;
3. Other offences include any kind of crime that affects the law and order
of society.
This article discusses the nature of offences, and the causes for such offences to
be committed by women.
Kinds of offences
As have been mentioned previously, the three broad kinds of offences that
locate greater involvement of female criminals in comparison to the males have
been explained hereunder.
Property offence
Other offences
In the Ferozepur central prison situated in the state of Punjab, the total capacity
of the prison is to house 1000 men and women but at the time of study in
January- February 2010, there were 1600 men and women imprisoned in this
prison. There were 81 women of which 31 were convicts and 50 were under
trial, living in two barracks.
It has been observed that females who have not received basic education or are
illiterate, lack reasoning and logic in their activities that are reflected in their not
so properly socialized criminal instinct. Knowing the law and committing a
crime vis a vis unknown about the law and committing an offence showcase
that the former will be having an upper hand over the latter.
Studies which have been done by Ahuja, Rani, Nagla, Joseph, William and
Christopher have shown that when the literacy rate decreases, the crime rate
increases. The studies make it quite evident that in the prisons of Ferozepur,
Jaipur, and Varanasi, the majority of women were illiterate. While in Ferozepur
the percentage of illiterate women was 67.7, the Varanasi prison had 71 percent
illiterate women and in Jaipur, 61.3 percent women were illiterate.
Human behaviour has always been influenced by the strong forces of religion,
whichever religion it may be. Therefore, it is through this religion only that the
clues necessary to understand the varying incidence of crime rate among
different sections of the community, can be found out.
India’s first convicted female serial killer was KD Kempamma who has been
familiar with the name of Cyanide Mallika. She killed six women over eight
years. Her way of killing people was by portraying herself as a pious diety
which attracted a lot of women to worship her. In return, she used to ask them to
appear before her in their best clothes, and jewellery and offered them cyanide
to drink in the name of “holy water”. She was eventually sentenced to death.
Offences also vary among different females on the basis of the occupation they
acquire. For instance, women who are housewives, are predominant over
offences against individuals in comparison to the females whose professions
range from services to that of business, and domestic help, as they incline more
towards offences against property.
On 18th February 2021, the Andhra Pradesh police arrested a woman and also
took a minor into custody for their alleged involvement in two different
property offence cases. They were allegedly stealing a bag that contained
valuables of Rs 1.50 lakh, from a car that was parked in the parking basement of
a hotel situated near Beach Road. It is necessary to note that the woman had
already pursued her MBA degree, and was professionally a homemaker. This
also says that because the frustration, and pressure is more in being a housewife
than a servicewoman, the offences committed are also of a higher degree for the
former in comparison to the latter.
In this 21st century, many people of the society consider that economic
independence is the highest level of independence an individual can attain.
Removal of dependency specifically for women from that of the males in their
family has a lot to do when it comes to the discussion concerning female
criminality. The income of an individual affects his or her behaviour towards
society. Crimes vary according to the same.
A woman in the southern Indian state of Kerala had confessed to killing six
family members within fourteen years by adding cyanide to their food. A
popular member of the community in Kozhikode, Jolly Thomas was allegedly
motivated by wanting control of the family finances and property that led her to
commit the murder.
The biological viewpoint of female criminality can be understood with the help
of various observations as having been provided hereunder;
Sociological viewpoint
The sociological viewpoint is one such ideology that can be related in a much
more convenient way in comparison to the previous two viewpoints. Inequality
is faced by women all over the world in every phase of their life. The major
reason behind such disparity is social oppression and dependency on men in
every aspect of their lives. The four major convenors of this viewpoint have
been provided below;
Conclusion
There has been a considerable rise in the rate of female criminality over the
years. Technology, exposure, and awareness have added to the rise. But it is
necessary to prevent crimes from taking place in society irrespective of the
gender of the offender. Therefore, preventive measures such as legal awareness,
sex education, social action movement, pre-marital, and post-marital
counselling, public awareness, help, and support to the females who feel left out
or lonely by their families, etc must be adopted by appropriate authorities,
educational institutes, media to curb the excessive increase in female criminals
in the society. Further, female criminals who have been detained must be
provided with proper rehabilitative, and supportive advice which can help them
develop their personality, and make them acknowledge what is right, and what
has been categorized as wrong. These constrictive steps can help female
criminality to take a positive turn towards slowing down, gradually.
The ethics of criminal profiling are subject to debate and scrutiny, as the
practice involves making assumptions about individuals based on behavioral
patterns and characteristics. Here are some key ethical considerations
surrounding criminal profiling:
1. **Accuracy and Reliability**: Profiling techniques often rely on
generalizations and assumptions about certain behaviors or traits associated
with particular crimes. There is a risk of inaccuracies and biases, which could
lead to wrongful accusations or misidentification of suspects. It's crucial for
profilers to use scientifically validated methods and acknowledge the limitations
of their analyses.
3. **Victimology**:
- Profilers study the characteristics of the victims, including age, gender,
occupation, lifestyle, and any commonalities among them.
- They assess whether the victims were specifically targeted or if they were
chosen at random.
4. **Offender Characteristics**:
- Profilers develop a profile of the offender based on the evidence and
behavioral analysis.
- This may include the offender's likely age, gender, race, occupation,
education level, personality traits, and possible psychological disorders.
- Profilers consider whether the offender is likely to be familiar with law
enforcement procedures or have a criminal record.
7. **Profile Development**:
- Based on the analysis of the crime scene, victimology, and offender
characteristics, profilers create a detailed profile of the offender.
- The profile may include physical descriptions, behavioral traits, possible
motives, and suggestions for investigative strategies to identify and apprehend
the offender.