Evaluating the use of data-based offender profiling by researchers, practitioners and investigative journalists to address unresolved serial homicides

Abstract

Purpose The purpose of this article is to improve the use of evidence-based practice and research utilization in the offender profiling process. The use of offender profiling has been met with increasing resistance given its exaggerated accuracy. The “Investigative Journalist/Expert Field Micro Task Force” model, a collaborative method that incorporates offender profiling and is designed to address unresolved serial homicides, is introduced and evaluated alongside recommendations on attaining adherence. Design/methodology/approach The model was field tested in 17 instances. The measures used by the Federal Bureau of Investigation to gauge the usefulness of their case consultations, whether their input helped catch the offender, offer new leads, move the case forward, provide new avenues or give new ideas, were used to evaluate the model. Findings The model established likely patterns of serial murder activity among strangulations of women in Chicago, Cleveland, and Panama and resulted in convictions of suspects in Louisiana and Kansas City. This model is valuable when used to parse modern-day offenders from those who committed unresolved homicides as the latter display different behaviors that can make investigations difficult endeavors. Results from the field tests mirror those from the literature in that profiling alone did not result in the capture of serial killers. Instead, profiling was used in conjunction with other efforts and mainly as a means to keep the investigation moving forward. Originality/value Unresolved homicides are at a point of crisis and represent a significant but largely unaddressed societal problem. The success of this model may compel law enforcement to restore faith in offender profiling.

Psychological contributions to cold case investigations: A systematic review

“… Mixed Methods Fox et al, 2020 [ 34 ] The study explores the collaboration between academics and law enforcement and highlights how this could help garner unique novel perspectives to aid cold case investigations. Qualitative Yaksic, 2020 [ 91 ] The study examines the collaborative effect between investigative journalists and law enforcement agencies and the use of offender profiling to help progress a cold case. Qualitative …”

“…Four papers in this review highlighted the importance of the collaboration between law enforcement and experts in other relevant fields of the criminal justice process [ 10 , 14 , 34 , 91 ].…”

“…Yaksic [ 91 ] introduced the Investigative Journalist/Expert Field Micro Task Force (IJ/EF MTF) model in order to improve evidence-based practice in the offender profiling process in unresolved serial homicides. Offender ‘profiling’ has been met with resistance over recent years due to its tendency for exaggeration and inconsistent accuracy.…”

“…Similarly, a recent literature review sought to identify and synthesize available theories and methods for cold case homicide evaluation and solvability to guide future research [ 69 ]. Their review outlines suggestions for cold case investigation that directly support the work of all four of the interdisciplinary papers discussed [ 10 , 14 , 34 , 91 ]. It is reported that cold case investigations should be regarded as a team effort involving a mix of investigators, civilians, and forensic specialists.…”

The Dark Figure of Delinquency:New Evidence and Its Underlying Psychopathology

“…Since early research on the dark figure of crime, more recent investigations consistently document that far more crime, violence, and victimization occurs than legal authorities are aware of, and this is true whether the focus is cybercrime (Tcherni et al, 2016), shoplifting (Dabney et al, 2004), hate crime (Pezzella et al, 2019), stalking (Bouffard et al, 2021; Brady & Nobles, 2017), serial murder (Quinet, 2007; Yaksic, 2020), or sexual crime (Abel et al, 1987; Drury et al, 2020; Koss et al, 1987). In some cases, hundreds to thousands of criminal episodes and victimizations occur with the majority of those events never resulting in arrest.…”