NCJ Number
184495
Journal
Homicide Studies Volume: 4 Issue: 3 Dated: August 2000 Pages: 294-307
Date Published
August 2000
Length
14 pages
Annotation
This is a limited empirical test of criminal investigative analysis.
Abstract
The purpose of criminal investigative analysis is to assist law enforcement in identifying and apprehending violent offenders by discerning important suspect and crime scene characteristics. Criminal investigative analysis grew out of micro-level reviews of unusually violent crime cases. Lack of agreement as to what constitutes criminal investigative analysis has led some to view the process as more art than science. In an effort to clarify some of the issues, this study analyzed cases of serial sexual homicides of elderly women. Although the sexual homicide of elderly women is a small percentage of overall homicides in the United States, the study provided empirical evidence supporting use of criminal investigative analysis in solving these unusual cases. The study also revealed several points that merit further discussion: (1) Criminal investigative analysis is not simply impressionistic, but is based on practical and sound analysis by investigative analysts; (2) Elderly female sexual homicides illustrated an intra-racial offending pattern; and (3) There was an apparent lack of balance between the effort expended to sexually assault and murder the victim and the subsequent search for and theft of property. Tables, notes, references