Geographic Profiling - Considerations

Considerations

In developing a geographic profile, there are important factors to consider:

• Crime locations
• Offender type
• Hunting style
• Target backcloth (the spatial opportunity structure of crime sites)
• Arterial roads and highways
• Bus stops and train stations
• Physical and psychological boundaries
• Land use
• Neighbourhood demographics
• Routine activities of victims
• Singularities
• Displacement

Incorporating these factors in a profile can lead to a geographic pattern where it sheds light on an offender’s mobility, method of transportation, ability to navigate boundaries and most importantly, the possible residential location. It is important to recognize such spatial intentionality, to determine the offender’s comfort zone and their desire to commit crimes in locations where they feel a sense of familiarity. However, the reality may be more complex since an offender may have multiple spatial anchor points, such as home, workplace or the residence of their significant other.