Project Project Proposal Form 1. The Applicant Name: Rezwana Ahmed Course: Criminology & Criminal Justice Student Number: U1512267 Units: 40 Address: ** ******* E-mail: Telephone Number: ********* 2. The Programme of Research Working Title: Is offender profiling a useful technique for police investigations? Aims and Objectives of the project (maximum of 250 words): Offender profiling (sometimes also called 'psychological profiling' or 'criminal profiling') is regarded by many members of the public as an effective tool in aiding police investigations. These perceptions are primarily the result of fictional portrayals of profiling on television and in film. In TV shows such as Cracker, Silent Witness and CSI, and films such as Silence of the Lambs and Manhunter, the profiler is typically portrayed as someone who makes an important and often vital contribution to the investigation. But is this really the case? In the real world, some concern has been raised about profiling after incidents such as the collapse of the court case against Colin Stagg in 1994. The judge in that trial was extremely critical of the role played by a profiler in the police investigation. Since that case, a substantial literature has built up on offender profiling and this includes some studies on the effectiveness and accuracy of profiles to the police (e.g. Copson, 1995; Gudjonsson and Copson, 1997; Hazelwood, Ressler, Depue and Douglas, 1995).
Project The aim of this project is to critically review the existing research literature on offender profiling. The objective will be to assess the degree to which offender profiling is a genuinely useful technique for police investigations. (207 words) Proposed Methods of Achieving the Aims and Objectives outlined above: This will be a literature review-based project and will involve collecting, reviewing and assessing relevant publications in this area. Particular attention will be focused on books and journal articles, and the research will also draw material from relevant internet sites (e.g. www.homeoffice.gov.uk). Indicative Reading List: Among the sources which will be reviewed for this project are the following: Ainsworth, P. (2001). Offender Profiling and Crime Analysis. Devon: Wilan. Copson, G. (1995). Coals to Newcastle? Part 1: A Study of offender profiling (Paper 7). London: Police Research Group Special Interest Series, Home Office. Hazelwood, R. and Burgess, A. (1995). Practical Aspects of Rape Investigation (2nd edition). London: CRC Press Jackson, J. and Bekerian, D. (1997). Offender Profiling: Theory, Research and Practice. Chichester: Wiley. Turvey, B. (2002). Criminal Profiling: An Introduction to Behavioural Evidence. London: Academic Press. Student's Signature Date:
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