NCJ Number
191982
Journal
Law and Order Volume: 49 Issue: 10 Dated: October 2001 Pages: 229-233
Date Published
October 2001
Length
5 pages
Annotation
This article reviews the use of crime analysis and personality profiling in the criminal investigations of serial or sadistic rapists.
Abstract
Crime analysis offers a general theory of an offender's characteristics, as well as identifying patterns and trends, which provide a lead on a suspect and the potential to interrupt the cycle of violence. Profiling is considered an art, and the development of psychological profiles is a technique used to develop investigative leads. Analysis shows that a sadistic rapist finds the visible pain of his victims sexually arousing. However, studies have shown that fewer than ten percent of rapists are sexual sadists. Each rapist has his own modal personality, the personality most frequently appearing in a series. The sadistic rapist is viewed as having made a connection between aggression and sexual gratification. Criminal analysis identifies the offender's motivation, methods of operation, personality, and social class, as well as his working knowledge of law enforcement procedures and his travel pattern and behavior.