Modus Operandi Essay

Modus Operandi is a term used in a criminal investigation to describe a way in which a defender goes about committing a crime. Usually it defines a pattern of activities driven by the offenders, thought and behavior processes, before, during, and after the crime. It is also used in criminal profiling, where it can assist with obtaining clues regarding an offender’s psychology. It consists of examining the actions used by the offender to execute the crime, prevent its detection and/or facilitate escape. (Vronsky, 2004)A criminal’s MO pertains to facts gathered from a crime scene, giving investigators insight into how, when and where the crime was committed. For example, a criminal may use a particular weapon or focus on certain type of people, time of day, or a particular neighborhood. All which support his modus operandi. The signature is the way in which a criminal leaves his mark on the crime scene. This can include, posing or branding his victim in a certain way or carrying out his crime in a manic obsession such as torture of disfigurement, using props and/or securing souvenirs such as clothing, to relive the crime. An offender’s signature alerts profilers to the emotional and psychological aspects of the offender that are the driving forces of an offender’s crime.(Keppel,1997) Signature behaviors suggest clues regarding a criminal’s past, personality, emotions, mental state and intelligence. Criminal psychological profiling is an investigative tool utilized by experts to examine details of a crime, in the attempt to categorize, understand and predict the behavior of certain type of offenders based on behavioral clues they provide. Criminal psychological profiling is also referred to as â€Å"criminal profiling†, â€Å"criminal profiling† and â€Å"behavioral profiling.†Criminal profiling is a behavioral composite of the unknown, put together after analyzing the crime scene and other important information pertaining to the crime. This can include the autopsy report, autopsy and crime scene photos, as well as initial police reports. Also included in criminal profiling, is a detailed analysis of the victim. (Douglas, et al, 1992) Additional data, such as geographical areas beyond the immediate crime scene, the method of which the offender traveled to and from the crime scene and the relevant aspects of the residential location of the victim are also examined. In addition, the relationship between the perpetrator and the victim is also analyzed. Criminal profiling is not necessarily useful in every case, yet in some cases, it can assist with narrowing down the search for an offender when used in repeated crimes committed by a specific offender, such as serial rape or murder. Knowledge gained from profiling, can aide in the interrogation process of an offender and can assist with identifying and protecting potential victims before the perpetrator gains the opportunity to offend again. Although there are many opponents against utilizing the criminal profiling techniques, the goal of criminal profiling is to deduce enough behavioral, personality and physical characteristics about an offender so that she or he may be apprehended. (Berg, 2008) Several FBI special agents have written books noting their positive experiences with utilizing their skills of a criminal profiler.FBI profiler, Robert Ressler, assisted with popularizing the field of profiling. His book, Whoever Fights Monsters, has often been credited with creating much of the public’s fascination with psychological profiling. Berg, B. L. (2008). Criminal Investigation. New York: Mc Graw – Hill. Douglas, J. E.., Burgess, A.W., Burgess A.G., & Ressler, R.K.(1992).Crime classification manual: A standard system for investigating and classifying violent crimes. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass. Keppel, R.D., & Birnes, W. J(1997). Signature killers: Interpreting the calling cards of the serial murderer. New York: Pocket Books. Vronsky, R. (2004). Serial Killer. New York: Berkley Publishing Group I felt that way.See when uve had a life filled with trauma,ur normal response is to â€Å"panic†,get excited,go into overdrive,defensive,loud talkn etc.Side note.I realize that alot our ppl in the hood,respond that way all the time.Not understanding their responses, are trauma responses.Normal responses based on what theyve been through.Of course they dont no that, bcuz they are always in survival,†Fight or flight† mode.Two traumatized ppl wont make it bcuz, they trigger each other.Unless, they r content with the â€Å"normalcy of it all.You no,ppl who claw@each other daily?Tear each other down,then make up as if nothin is wrong.That’s trauma to one’s spirit.Ater a while, some is gonna have to pay for that(she/he jst snapped one day).No, it was building.I need a cool calm and collected, who understands that its not personal.That my barr none attitude,is the outcome. Its the normal response baby,from being on my own at 16,DV for many yrs,dispised and unloved by my first teacher.Yea, it has to go somewhere.lol But,I work on me everyday.Truth b told, I wouldnt want to b anybody else.I felt that way.See when uve had a life filled with trauma,ur normal response is to â€Å"panic†,get excited,go into overdrive,defensive,loud talkn etc.Side note.I realize that alot our ppl in the hood,respond that way all the time.Not understanding their responses, are trauma responses.Normal responses based on what theyve been through.Of course they dont no that, bcuz they are always in survival,†Fight or flight† mode. Two traumatized ppl wont make it bcuz, they trigger each other.Unless, they r content with the â€Å"normalcy of it all.You no,ppl who claw@each other daily?Tear each other down,then make up as if nothin is wrong.That’s trauma to one’s spirit.Ater a while, some is gonna have to pay for that(she/he jst snapped one day).No, it was building.I need a cool calm and collected, who understands that its not personal.That my barr none attitude,is the outcome. Its the normal response baby,from being on my own at 16,DV for many yrs,dispised and unloved by my first teacher.Yea, it has to go somewhere.lol But,I work on me everyday.Truth b told, I wouldnt want to b anybody else.