Geographic profiling is an investigative technique used by law enforcement to identify likely suspects or locations of a criminal offense It is based on the fact that criminals often target victims located near their home, working places, or other locations in which they have some familiarity.
Geographic profiling is based on the concept of rational choice theory, which suggests that criminals attempt to maximize their reward relative to the risks they must face. By analyzing the locations of the crimes, geographic profiling can help identify suspect's travel patterns, patterns of behavior, and connections to other people and locations.
Geographic profiling techniques have been used by law enforcement for decades, but have become increasingly sophisticated with the introduction of computer-generated graphics, data analysis, and statistical modeling. The technique is used to generate a geographic profile of a suspect, which might suggest a likely area in which to find that person or the type of residence they are likely to live in.
The five best examples of geographic profiling are as follows:
1. The Golden State Killer Case:
In this case, a team of investigators used geographic profiling to identify the possible location of a serial killer who had eluded capture for more than two decades. Using crime scene analysis, demographic information and the offender’s past behavior, the team was able to narrow down their search area and ultimately identify the Golden State Killer.
2. The Green River Killer:
This case involved a serial killer who murdered women in the Seattle area in the 1980s and 1990s. By analyzing the locations of the victims, investigators were able to build a picture of the offender’s hunting grounds and establish a geographic profile for the Green River Killer.
3. The BTK Murders:
The BTK Killer murdered 10 people in Kansas between 1974 and 1991. Investigators used Geographic Profiling to determine the area in which to focus their search. After numerous leads, the BTK Killer was caught in 2005.
4. The DC Sniper Case:
In this case, a team of investigators used geographic profiling to identify the potential location of a serial sniper in Washington, D.C. The profile suggested the sniper was likely to be located in the region and ultimately helped investigators capture the two individuals responsible.
5. The Unabomber Case:
In this case, a team of investigators used Geographic Profiling to determine the potential residence of the Unabomber, Theodore Kaczynski. By analyzing the locations of his mail bombs and other evidence, the team was able to generate a geographic profile and determine the most likely area in which Kaczynski resided. This ultimately helped to capture the Unabomber.