Chaper 12: THE INVESTIGATION OF SEX CRIMES, ASSAULT, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, AND CHILD ABUSE

Rape

The penetration, no matter how slight, of the vagina or anus with any body part or object, or oral penetration by a sex organ of another person, without the consent of the victim.

Drug-facilitated sexual assault (DFSA)

A sexual assault that is facilitated by an offender through the use of a legal or illegal substance.

Anti-snitching mindset

The belief among some citizens that providing information to the police about crimes is to be avoided and that cooperating with the police can lead to negative consequences.

False rape allegation

An allegation made by a person that a rape occurred when in fact it did not.

Sexual assault nurse examiner (SANE)

A nurse with special training in forensic matters who conducts physical forensic examinations of sexual assault victims.

Contact rapists

Sexual offenders who are often 'friends' or acquaintances with the victim; their motive is usually their sexual pleasure.

Sexual aggressor rapists

Sexual offenders who are most often strangers to their victims; their motive is anger and control.

Domestic violence

Violence committed by intimate partners, immediate family members, or other relatives.

Restraining order

Order issued by a judge upon request of a victim that requires the respondent (offender) to stay away from and to not have contact with the victim.

Emotional trauma

The emotional and physical trauma of a sexual assault that may last for weeks, months, years, or even a lifetime.

Investigation challenges

Difficulties faced in investigations such as obtaining victim cooperation, determining the cause of injuries, and getting reliable information from child victims.

Battered woman syndrome

A psychological condition experienced by women who are victims of prolonged domestic violence.

Cycle of violence

A pattern of behavior in abusive relationships that includes recurring episodes of violence followed by periods of calm.

Traumatic bonding theory

A psychological phenomenon where a victim develops a bond with their abuser as a survival mechanism during abuse.

Observation in interviews

Behavioral-oriented interviews focusing on documenting the behavior of the offender during the victim's interview.

Victim's statement

The victim's declaration that the sexual acts were not consensual, which can help establish lack of consent.

Identification of perpetrator

The process of determining the offender's identity, which may involve characteristics described by the victim.

Clearing rate

The rate at which a crime is solved; typically high for aggravated and simple assaults due to victim-offender contact.

Psychological entrapment theory

A theory suggesting that victims remain in abusive situations due to manipulation and fear instilled by the abuser.

Neglect

The most common form of child abuse which involves failing to provide for a child's basic needs.

Criminal profiling

A technique of assessing a crime and how it was committed to infer the characteristics of the person who committed it; also known as psychological profiling, crime scene profiling, or behavioral profiling.

Assumptions of Criminal Profiling

• Crime Reflects Offender's Personality: The nature of the crime often mirrors the offender's characteristics and personality traits.

• Stability of the Offender’s Traits: An offender’s characteristics, personality, and preferences tend to remain stable over time and are unlikely to change drastically or quickly.

• MO (Modus Operandi): The actions taken to commit the crime (MO) reflect the offender’s personality and preferences. As such, the MO is generally consistent across crimes.

• Signature: The signature, which is the unique and personal aspect of the crime that provides psychological or emotional satisfaction to the offender, is even less likely to change than the MO. It may involve the type of injuries inflicted, or the collection of souvenirs (items taken to remember the victim or crime) and trophies (items of intrinsic value to the offender, like body parts). The difference between a souvenir and a trophy is based on the offender's individual preferences.

signature

Signature is what the offender does to derive psychological or emotional satisfaction from the crime. It is a unique and personal expression of the offender. Signature may include, for example, the type and nature of injuries inflicted on the victim. It may include souvenir and trophy collection. Souvenirs provide the culprit with a memory of the victim and the crime (e.g., an earring taken from the victim).

trophy

Trophies are something of intrinsic value to the offender—a reward for committing the crime (e.g., a body part)

What is the main goal of criminal profiling?

The goal is to create a psychological and behavioral profile of the suspect to aid in identifying, apprehending, or understanding the offender's motives and methods.

What is behavioral profiling?

Behavioral profiling involves analyzing a criminal’s actions during the commission of a crime (such as their method of operation, or MO) and their psychological characteristics to predict future actions.

What are the key differences between criminal profiling and behavioral profiling?

• Criminal profiling focuses on constructing a profile of the offender based on crime scene analysis and other investigative data.

• Behavioral profiling is more focused on analyzing the offender's specific actions and patterns during the commission of the crime to predict future behavior.

types of date rape drugs

• Rohypnol, often referred to as "roofies," is a powerful sedative and hypnotic drug. It can cause memory loss, loss of motor coordination, and drowsiness, and is commonly associated with being used in date rape situations.

• GHB is a central nervous system depressant that can cause sedation, dizziness, confusion, and memory loss. It is often used as a date rape drug because it is odorless, colorless, and can quickly cause a person to become unconscious.