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Forensic Case Review_Consultation
We understand how difficult some
situations can be. We are available on a consultation basis to review your
specific concern. By completing a comprehensive behavioral assessment and
evaluating the findings with current law, we can assist you in re-directing
efforts in regard to criminal cases, civil cases or training.
Our services are available to:
Law Enforcement
Agencies
Public and Private Entities
Law Offices
Prosecution and Defense Teams
General Citizenry/Public
The Taylor Group may conduct a
crime analysis of particular crimes for several purposes. Criminal
investigative analysis (CIA) is simply a tool for law enforcement to
assist in the solution of unsolved crimes. It involves a method of
reviewing and assessing the facts of a criminal act by individuals who
have investigative experience and specialized academic training. It often
includes interpreting the offenders’ behavior and interaction with the
victim, as exhibited during the commission of the crime or as evidenced by
the subsequent crime scene. CIA should be viewed as a process of reviewing
crimes) from a law enforcement prospective.
Various services which might
result from an analysis are:
Crime Analysis _ An
independent analyst, who is uncluttered with various on scene stresses and
extraneous information, reviews initial crime scene information and
preliminary investigative efforts. Possible motives may be detected as
well as determining the sequence of the events which occurred during the
offense. Multiple crimes can be reviewed to determine if the same offender
was involved, and suggestions can be offered that may help direct the
course of an investigation. The case may also be classified using
categories set forth in the Crime Classification Manual, Lexington Press,
1992.
Profile of Unknown Offenders -
By analyzing the way a crime was committed, investigative profilers can
identify the major personality and behavioral characteristics of an
individual. Generally, the person’s basic patterns of behavior exhibited
in commission of a crime will also be present in that person’s lifestyle.
Thus, an investigative analysis may be able to determine the type of
person who committed the crime and their possible motives). Some, but not
necessarily all, of the following areas may be addressed in a typical
profile:
- Age Range Social
Adjustment
- Sex Personality /
Characteristics
- Race Emotional
Adjustment
- Intelligence Level
Employment History / Adjustment
- Lifestyle Prior
Criminal Arrest History
- Work Habits Sexual
Adjustment & Perversions
- Marital Status /
Adjustment Location of Residence in Relation to Crimes)
- Pre and Post
Offense Behavior
No two criminals, nor any two
criminal acts, are identical and therefore the offender is not expected to
fit each and every category of the analysis. It should be noted that if a
profile has previously been prepared by another agency or professional
(i.e.; FBI, forensic psychiatrist), IOIS may not create a separate profile
however it may, if appropriate, review the original and offer any
additional observations.
Personality Assessment -
This type of analysis identifies a suspect’s strengths, weaknesses, and
vulnerabilities from a law enforcement viewpoint. Because each request is
unique, the assessment process requires a detailed submission of data
about the person targeted and demands extensive review and consultation by
the analyst. The availability of this material is considered essential to
constructing appropriate interview strategies.
Interview Techniques -
This combines a personality assessment with an analysis of the crime and
the behavior exhibited therein. Suggestions are then made as how to best
interview a subject, particularly when the agency may only have one
opportunity for a successful interview. These may include suggestions on
the most appropriate type of interview, desired approach, and the best
environment in which to conduct the interview.
Investigative Suggestions
_ These may be offered based on an evaluation of the crime scene and an
assessment of the offender.
Prosecutive and Trial
Strategies _ This service may be provided at the request of either the
investigative agency or prosecuting attorney. They can involve
recommendations to include:
A. Considerations
regarding jury selection
B. Possible cross-examination techniques for offender and/or witnesses
(will require personality assessments)
C. Overall Prosecutorial theme development
D. Crime analysis / crime motivation
Threat Analysis _ When
verbal or written communications are received, this service will attempt
to determine if the same author is responsible for the communications and
/ or whether the author has the intent, knowledge or means to carry out
the threats. A behavioral description of the author may be provided to
assist in their identification and apprehension.
Search Warrant Assistance
_ A major component of criminal investigative analysis is research which
has shown that certain behavior and personality traits are commonly
possessed by specific types of offenders (i.e.: child molesters) This
information can be highly beneficial in search warrant affidavits in order
to describe the types of evidence that can be expected to be found (i.e.:
souvenirs from victims; seemingly innocuous items which may have
evidentiary value). Timeliness (staleness) issues might be alleviated
through the appropriate use of data gained from current research.
Forensic Assistance _ One
of the most difficult areas for police investigators to understand is that
of forensic evidence. Very few officers have sufficient technical training
to properly interpret bloodstain patterns, DNA results, etc.. This service
will provide help in determining which analytical tools would be most
beneficial and who to call for the best advice. Areas of expertise include
fingerprint analysis, firearms identification, trace evidence (hairs,
fibers, soil, etc.) blood and other physiological and scene
reconstruction.
Criminal Justice Databases
_ Utah possesses state of the art technology and computer databases to
assist law enforcement. AFIS, CODIS, DRUGFIRE, NCIC, and ULLEIN off-line
searches are some examples of resources. It is the intent of The Taylor
Group to make every technological resource understandable and available
for help in solving crime.
Expert Testimony _
Occasionally, successful Prosecutorial strategies incorporate the use of
expert witness / testimony in support of case presentation. The Taylor
Group will maintain a reference base to assist any agency in identifying
possible resources.
While the various strategy
and assessment types of assistance may be applied in any type of case, crime
analyses and profiles may only be available in certain instances. Sufficient
information and indicators of behavioral traits MUST be available. When any
of the following circumstances exist, crime analysis or investigative
profiles may be of little or questionable value. The presence of one or more
of the following factors may have a limiting impact on whether or not a
crime analysis will be constructed by the IOIS.
Age of Case _Cold Case
- While age itself does not preclude review (we’ve examined cases over
3,500 years old), it is the availability and completeness of case
materials and information that determines whether services can be
provided.
Incomplete Investigations
- The assistance of The Taylor Group analysis are more likely to be
affected when attempted before sufficient information is available to
review. Exceptions regarding certain materials can be made when exigent
circumstances exist.
Disturbed or Destroyed Evidence
Some situations may lead to an analysis that does not reflect the true
personality of the participants. Likewise, scenes with significant
destruction, such as by fire, are difficult to analyze. In such cases,
evidence of the participant’s behavior, which provides needed insight to
the participant’s personality, becomes unavailable to the analyst.
Skeletal Remains - In some
cases it may be important to determine if the victim was tortured, the
cause and manner of death, and other factors which skeletal remains cannot
provide. Finding of skeletal remains may not totally preclude IOIS
evaluation, but may limit the depth and scope of any assessment.
Development of adequate victimology then becomes all the more paramount.
High Risk Victim The
higher risk lifestyles of certain victims tend to diminish the precision
of the analysis. Prostitutes, drug dealers, drug users with extensive
habits, homosexuals who cruise, bookies, extortionate collectors of debts,
etc. open themselves to a world of crime and to a high number of potential
offenders. Factors which might lesson our reluctance to evaluate high risk
victim cases would include:
A. Crime scene
location
B. Offender’s risk in commission of the crime
C. Crime is one of a series
Suspects Developed _ A
case with a strong suspect (one who is linked to the crime through a
witness, other investigation, or physical evidence) will not be profiled.
This particularly includes sexual assaults perpetrated by acquaintances or
family members. However other assistance, such as interview or
investigative strategies, Prosecutorial strategy, personality assessment,
investigative strategies, etc., may still be available.
Single Offense When only
one event is available to be analyzed, the behavior displayed may be an
aberration and not the subject’s norm. Single offenses can be analyzed
providing there is enough information available to get a true impression
of the offender’s personality and behavior (i.e.: a surviving victim is
able to recount details of a prolonged interaction with the offender, or a
bizarre homicide scene when sufficient victimology information is
available). When analyzing multiple offenses a better conclusion can be
drawn regarding the true, consistent behaviors of the offender.
Most Frequently Requested Cases:
Homicides (single,
multiple, serial, mutilation, lust)
Sexual Assaults (single or serial)
Extortions
Threats
Kidnapping
Child Molestations
Arsons & Bombings
Ritualistic Crimes
False Allegations (i.e.; sexual assault cases)
Product Tampering
Corruption Cases (all types)
Equivocal Deaths (may be accidental, homicide, suicide; includes
autoerotic fatalities)
Other cases may be reviewed on a case by case basis
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