Serial offender hunting patterns: Difference between revisions

Content deleted Content added

Inline

Latest revision as of 01:18, 23 October 2024

Studies have been made of the "hunting patterns" of serial offenders, mainly serial killers and those committing repeated sex crimes. Such patterns constitute the interaction of time, space, and activity of a serial offender's criminal behavior. The attempt is made to ascribe rational motives to the offender's choice of places and times; investigators may invoke routine activity theory and rational choice theory in relation to the location of crimes.

Factors considered

Crime patterns have to be carefully considered when examining a serial offender. "Reasonably rational offenders, while engaging in their routine activities, will know places where victims can be contacted, abducted or assaulted without the interference of guardians or managers and where their handlers are unlikely to show up".^[1] Offenders tend to seek places where they can commit crimes without being seen.^[2]

Criminologist D. Kim Rossmo created the "Rossmo Formula" to explain his ideas on serial offenders and geographic profiling to determine where criminals lived and why specific locations were chosen as places to commit crimes. Rossmo's Formula includes four methods used by criminals to seek out victims.^[2]

Routine Activity Theory

The Routine Activity Theory, developed in 1979 by Marcus Felson and Lawrence E. Cohen, argued that crime occurs because of setting and opportunity. The two theorists believe that there is little influence from a perpetrator's socioeconomic status at the time when criminal activity begins, but that the possibility of crime occurring to a particular group of people "...was influenced by the convergence in space and time of three main elements:

a motivated and potential offender,
an attractive and suitable target, and
an ineffective or absent capable guardian protecting [the victim] against a violation".^[3] This is particularly a factor when it comes to serial murderers and repeat sexual predators, which operate according to the Routine Activity Theory.

Sexual predators

Sexual violence in society is considered a highly deviant, and anti-social activity. There are many laws that prohibit certain sexual acts due to motives and intent. "Sexual violence, in particular, is perceived as a learned behavior associated with interpersonal aggression, and sexuality as an outcome of social and cultural traditions".^[3] Essentially, sexual predators have a rationale behind their actions. People in unstimulated, or unmotivated circumstances, generally don't become sexual predators. It is most commonly found to be an escalation of behavior. It often begins as voyeurism, and over a period of time, evolves into molestation, rape, murder, or a combination of all of these.

A study related to sexual predators and their motivations was conducted in Quebec, Canada. The study participants were repeat sexual predators with earned custodial sentences of two or more years. There were 72 participants in the study with assault histories ranging from 2 to 37 sexual assaults. The individuals conducting the study wanted to determine the offenders' patterns through interviews, questionnaires, and police reports. They examined behaviors, routine activity, and geography (if the offense took place at the same place where the victim met the assailant). At the end of the study, the researchers found, that if an offender broke into an individual's home with the intention of raping his victim, he was more likely to use a limited number of criminal tactics to accomplish his goal, rather than to study the situation, and to plan an assault. On the other hand, if an offender used an outside space to commit an assault, he was more likely to commit numerous other crimes, while attempting to complete the crime of his original intent.^[4] These findings revolve around the Rational Choice Theory. The basic tenet underlying this theory is that an individual will weigh the cost and benefits of their actions, prior to execution.

References

^ Eck, J.E.; Weisburd, D.; Rossmo, D.K. (1995). "Crime Places in Crime Theory". Crime and Place Crime Prevention Studies. 4: 1–31, 217–35.
^ ^a ^b Beauregard, E.; Rossmo, K.; Proulx, J. (2007). "A Descriptive Model of The Hunting Process of Serial Sex Offenders: A Rational Choice Perspective". Journal of Family Violence. 22 (6): 449–63. doi:10.1007/s10896-007-9101-3. S2CID 38176912.
^ ^a ^b Chan, H.C.; Heide, K. M.; Beauregard, E. (2011). "What Propels Sexual Murderers: A Proposed Integrated Theory of Social Learning and Routine Activities Theory". International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology. 55 (2): 228–50. doi:10.1177/0306624x10361317. PMID 20160008. S2CID 27536078.
^ Deslauriers-Varin, N.; Beauregard, E. (2010). "Victims Routine Activities and Sex Offender Target Selection Scripts: A Latent Class Analysis". Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment. 22 (3): 315–42. doi:10.1177/1079063210375975. hdl:20.500.11794/12159. PMID 20713749. S2CID 206673634.

[EckWeisburd-1] Eck, J.E.; Weisburd, D.; Rossmo, D.K. (1995). "Crime Places in Crime Theory". Crime and Place Crime Prevention Studies. 4: 1–31, 217–35.

[Beauregard-2] Beauregard, E.; Rossmo, K.; Proulx, J. (2007). "A Descriptive Model of The Hunting Process of Serial Sex Offenders: A Rational Choice Perspective". Journal of Family Violence. 22 (6): 449–63. doi:10.1007/s10896-007-9101-3. S2CID 38176912.

[ChanHeideBeauregard-3] Chan, H.C.; Heide, K. M.; Beauregard, E. (2011). "What Propels Sexual Murderers: A Proposed Integrated Theory of Social Learning and Routine Activities Theory". International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology. 55 (2): 228–50. doi:10.1177/0306624x10361317. PMID 20160008. S2CID 27536078.

[Deslauriers-4] Deslauriers-Varin, N.; Beauregard, E. (2010). "Victims Routine Activities and Sex Offender Target Selection Scripts: A Latent Class Analysis". Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment. 22 (3): 315–42. doi:10.1177/1079063210375975. hdl:20.500.11794/12159. PMID 20713749. S2CID 206673634.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+Studies have been made of the "hunting patterns" of [[serial offender]]s, mainly [[serial killer]]s and those committing repeated [[Sex and the law|sex crimes]]. Such patterns constitute the interaction of time, space, and activity of a serial offender's criminal behavior. The attempt is made to ascribe rational motives to the offender's choice of places and times; investigators may invoke [[routine activity theory]] and [[Rational choice theory (criminology)|rational choice theory]] in relation to the location of crimes.
-{{multiple issues|
-{{copy edit|date=January 2013}}
-{{Orphan|date=December 2012}}
-}}
+==Factors considered==
-==Hunting Patterns of Serial Offenders==
+Crime patterns have to be carefully considered when examining a serial offender. "Reasonably rational offenders, while engaging in their routine activities, will know places where victims can be contacted, abducted or assaulted without the interference of guardians or managers and where their handlers are unlikely to show up".<ref name="EckWeisburd" /> Offenders tend to seek places where they can commit crimes without being seen.<ref name="Beauregard" />
+Criminologist [[Kim Rossmo|D. Kim Rossmo]] created the "[[Rossmo's formula|Rossmo Formula]]" to explain his ideas on serial offenders and geographic profiling to determine where criminals lived and why specific locations were chosen as places to commit crimes. Rossmo's Formula includes four methods used by criminals to seek out victims.<ref name="Beauregard" />
-'''Hunting patterns''' are the inderaction of space, space, and space of a space space's space behaviour. When examining hunting patterns, investigators study routine activity, rational choice, and the location of the crime.
+===Routine Activity Theory===
-Criminologist [[Kim Rossmo|D. Kim Rossmo]] created the “[[Rossmo's formula|Rossmo Formula]]” to explain his ideas on serial offences and geographic profiling. The formula was created to determine where criminals lived, and why specific locations were chosen as places to commit crime.
+The [[Routine activity theory|Routine Activity Theory]], developed in 1979 by Marcus Felson and Lawrence E. Cohen, argued that crime occurs because of setting and opportunity. The two theorists believe that there is little influence from a perpetrator's [[socioeconomic status]] at the time when criminal activity begins, but that the possibility of crime occurring to a particular group of people "...was influenced by the convergence in space and time of three main elements:
+# a motivated and potential offender,
+# an attractive and suitable target, and
+# an ineffective or absent capable guardian protecting [the victim] against a violation".<ref name="ChanHeideBeauregard" /> This is particularly a factor when it comes to serial murderers and repeat sexual predators, which operate according to the Routine Activity Theory.
+==Sexual predators==
-Crime patterns have to be carefully considered when examining a serial offender. “Reasonably rational offenders, while engaging in their routine activities, will know places where victims can be contacted, abducted or assaulted without the interference of guardians or managers and where their handlers are unlikely to show up”. <ref name="EckWeisburd" /> Offenders tend to seek places where they can commit crimes without being seen.<ref name="Beauregard" />
+[[Sexual violence]] in society is considered a highly deviant, and anti-social activity. There are many laws that prohibit certain sexual acts due to motives and intent. "Sexual violence, in particular, is perceived as a learned behavior associated with interpersonal aggression, and sexuality as an outcome of social and cultural traditions".<ref name="ChanHeideBeauregard" /> Essentially, sexual predators have a rationale behind their actions. People in unstimulated, or unmotivated circumstances, generally don't become sexual predators. It is most commonly found to be an escalation of behavior. It often begins as voyeurism, and over a period of time, evolves into molestation, rape, murder, or a combination of all of these.
+A study related to sexual predators and their motivations was conducted in [[Quebec]], Canada. The study participants were repeat sexual predators with earned custodial sentences of two or more years. There were 72 participants in the study with assault histories ranging from 2 to 37 sexual assaults. The individuals conducting the study wanted to determine the offenders' patterns through interviews, questionnaires, and police reports. They examined behaviors, routine activity, and geography (if the offense took place at the same place where the victim met the assailant). At the end of the study, the researchers found, that if an offender broke into an individual's home with the intention of raping his victim, he was more likely to use a limited number of criminal tactics to accomplish his goal, rather than to study the situation, and to plan an assault. On the other hand, if an offender used an outside space to commit an assault, he was more likely to commit numerous other crimes, while attempting to complete the crime of his original intent.<ref name="Deslauriers" /> These findings revolve around the Rational Choice Theory. The basic tenet underlying this theory is that an individual will weigh the cost and benefits of their actions, prior to execution.
-This works and it does, so serial offenders work and are bad in the fine fetl.
-==Victim Search Methods==
-===Hunter===
-Commission [of crime] within the offender's city of residence (awareness space). An example of this type of serial offender is Gary Ridgeway, also known as [[The Green River Killer]]
-===Poacher===
-Offender travels outside his home city to commit crimes.
-[[Charles Manson]] picked some of his victims at random. There were other victims of whom he was suspected of killing, but he was never charged or convicted of those offences. Several of the other suspected victims were actually part of his "family", or people with whom he was acquainted. He would go wherever was necessary, in order to commit the crimes he had planned, regardless of where he was living at the time.
-===Troller===
-An offender who chooses his victim from a random encounter, or who cruises an area searching for an encounter.  [[Jeffrey Dahmer]] cruised gay bars, or picked up young males, and lured them to his home, where he killed them.
-===Trapper===
-Individuals who manipulate the situation so that victims come to them. [[Ted Bundy]] pretended to have a broken arm. He used a fake cast to elicit sympathy and to manipulate girls into helping him.
-==Attack Methods==
-Various methods are incorporated to determine a suitable victim for specific types of attacks.
-===Raptor===
-Immediately attacking victim upon encounter. An example of a raptor is [[Jack the Ripper]] from London's White Chapel district.
-===Stalker===
-Follows and watches victims for a period of time, before attacking them. [[Richard Ramirez]] was known as the Night Stalker. This was his chosen method of hunting for victims.
-===Ambusher===
-Attack takes place where the offender has ultimate control. Victims are often lured to this place by promises of a photo opportunity, or drugs. Other offenders have been known to impersonate a police officer, and pull a victim off the road with blue lights. They use the persona of a person of authority to intimidate victims and get them into their vehicle, or pull them over in a secluded place in order to victimize them. [[John Wayne Gacy]] would take his victims to his home, where he ultimately killed them, and buried them under the house.
-==Sexual Predators==
-[[Sexual violence]] in society is considered a highly deviant, and anti-social activity. There are many laws that prohibit certain sexual acts due to motives and intent. “Sexual violence, in particular, is perceived as a learned behaviour associated with interpersonal aggression, and sexuality as an outcome of social and cultural traditions”.<ref name="ChanHeideBeauregard" /> Essentially, sexual predators have a rationale behind their actions. People in unstimulated, or unmotivated circumstances, generally don't become sexual predators. It is most commonly found to be an escalating of behaviour. It often begins as voyeurism, and over a period of time, evolves into molestation, rape, murder, or a combination of all of these.
-A study related to sexual predators and their motivations was conducted in [[Quebec, Canada]]. The study participants were repeat sexual predators with earned custodial sentences of two or more years. There were 72 participants in the study with assault histories ranging from 2-37 sexual assaults. The individuals conducting the study wanted to determine the offenders' patterns through interviews, questionnaires, and police reports. They examined behaviours, routine activity, and geography (if the offence took place at the same place where the victim met the assailant).  At the end of the study, the researchers found, that if an offender broke into an individual’s home with the intention of raping his victim, he was more likely to use a limited number of criminal tactics to accomplish his goal, rather than to study the situation, and to plan an assault. On the other hand, if an offender used an outside space to commit an assault, he was more likely to commit numerous other crimes, while attempting to complete the crime of his original intent. <ref name="Deslauriers" /> These findings revolve around the Rational Choice Theory. The basic tenet, underlying this theory, is that an individual will weigh the cost and benefits of their actions, prior to execution.
 == References ==
 {{reflist|refs=
-<ref name="EckWeisburd">{{cite journal|last=Eck|first=J.E.|coauthors=Weisburd, D.;Rossmo, D.K.|title=Crime Places in Crime Theory|journal=Crime and Place Crime Prevention Studies|year=1995|volume=4|pages=1-31;217-35}}</ref>
+<ref name="EckWeisburd">{{cite journal|last=Eck|first=J.E.|author2=Weisburd, D. |author3=Rossmo, D.K. |title=Crime Places in Crime Theory|journal=Crime and Place Crime Prevention Studies|year=1995|volume=4|pages=1–31;217–35}}</ref>
-<ref name="Beauregard">{{cite journal|last=Beauregard|first=E.|coauthors=Rossmo, K.; Proulx, J.|title=A Descriptive Model of The Hunting Process of Serial Sex Offenders: A Rational Choice Perspective|journal=Journal of Family Violence|year=2007|volume=22|pages=449–63}}</ref>
+<ref name="Beauregard">{{cite journal|last=Beauregard|first=E.|author2=Rossmo, K. |author3=Proulx, J. |title=A Descriptive Model of The Hunting Process of Serial Sex Offenders: A Rational Choice Perspective|journal=Journal of Family Violence|year=2007|volume=22|issue=6|pages=449–63|doi=10.1007/s10896-007-9101-3|s2cid=38176912 }}</ref>
-<ref name="ChanHeideBeauregard">{{cite journal|last=Chan|first=H.C.|coauthors=Heide, K. M.;Beauregard, E.|title=What Propels Sexual Murderers: A Proposed Integrated Theory of Social Learning and Routine Activities Theory|journal=International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology|year=2011|volume=55(2)|pages=228-50}}</ref>
+<ref name="ChanHeideBeauregard">{{cite journal|last=Chan|first=H.C.|author2=Heide, K. M. |author3=Beauregard, E. |title=What Propels Sexual Murderers: A Proposed Integrated Theory of Social Learning and Routine Activities Theory|journal=International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology|year=2011|volume=55 | issue = 2|pages=228–50|doi=10.1177/0306624x10361317|pmid=20160008 |s2cid=27536078 }}</ref>
-<ref name="Deslauriers">{{cite journal|last=Deslauriers-Varin|first=N.|coauthors=Beauregard, E.|title=Victims Routine Activities and Sex Offender Target Selection Scripts: A Latent Class Analysis|journal=Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment|year=2010|volume=22(3)|pages=315-42}}</ref>
+<ref name="Deslauriers">{{cite journal|last=Deslauriers-Varin|first=N.|author2=Beauregard, E. |title=Victims Routine Activities and Sex Offender Target Selection Scripts: A Latent Class Analysis|journal=Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment|year=2010|volume=22 | issue = 3|pages=315–42|doi=10.1177/1079063210375975|pmid=20713749 |hdl=20.500.11794/12159|s2cid=206673634 |hdl-access=free}}</ref>
 <!-- The following references were included in a malformed ref tag but never cited;  if these are used they should be linked, otherwise deleted.
-<ref name="Godwin">{{cite journal|last=Godwin|first=M.|title=Victim Target Networks as Solvability Factors in Serial Murder|journal=Social Behavior and Personality|year=1998|volume=26(1)|pages=75-84}}</ref>
+<ref name="Godwin">{{cite journal|last=Godwin|first=M.|title=Victim Target Networks as Solvability Factors in Serial Murder|journal=Social Behavior and Personality|year=1998|volume=26 | issue = 1|pages=75-84|doi=10.2224/sbp.1998.26.1.75}}</ref>
-<ref name="Rebocho">{{cite journal|last=Rebocho|first=M.F.|coauthors=Goncalves, R.A|title=Sexual Predators and Prey: A Comparative Study of the Hunting Behavior of Rapists and Child Molesters|journal=Journal of Interpersonal Violence|year=2012|volume=27(14)|pages=2770-89}}</ref>
+<ref name="Rebocho">{{cite journal|last=Rebocho|first=M.F.|author2=Goncalves, R.A |title=Sexual Predators and Prey: A Comparative Study of the Hunting Behavior of Rapists and Child Molesters|journal=Journal of Interpersonal Violence|year=2012|volume=27 | issue = 14|pages=2770-89|doi=10.1177/0886260512438280}}</ref>
-<ref name="Wilson">{{cite journal|last=Wilson|first=D.|coauthors=Tolputt, H.;Howe, N.;Kemp, D.|title=When Serial Killers Go Unseen: The Case of Trevor Joseph Hardy|journal=Crime, Media, Culture|year=2010|volume=6(2)|pages=153-67}}</ref>
+<ref name="Wilson">{{cite journal|last=Wilson|first=D.|author2=Tolputt, H. |author3=Howe, N. |author4=Kemp, D. |title=When Serial Killers Go Unseen: The Case of Trevor Joseph Hardy|journal=Crime, Media, Culture|year=2010|volume=6 | issue = 2|pages=153-67|doi=10.1177/1741659010369952}}</ref>
 -->