Toward Identification of the Sexual Killer: A Comparison of Sexual Killers Engaging in Post-Mortem Sexual Interference and Non-Homicide Sexual Aggressors

Establishing a model of sexual assault reflecting psychosocial and behavioral characteristics of perpetrators of sexual killing and rape is necessary for development in risk assessment and intervention. Methodological variations in defining sexual killing have amalgamated serial and non-serial offenders and perpetrators with direct and indirect associations between killing and sexual arousal. This study defined sexual killing specifying that killing should be directly linked to sexual arousal, and sampled 48 sexual killers, operationalized to include only those engaging in post-mortem sexual interference, with one or two known female victims (non-serial), from prison service national (England and Wales) databases. These sexual killers were compared with 48 non-homicide, life or indeterminately sentenced sexual aggressors on psychological and crime scene characteristics. Contrary to previous research, fatal outcomes were associated with neither stranger victims nor weapon presence; sexual killing was characterized by severity of violence less so than non-fatal assault. Sexual killers more often reported problems with emotional loneliness, empathic concern, and sexual entitlement than the sexual aggressors. Theoretical and applied implications are discussed.

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The HRA-Based Road Crash Data

Human Performance Technology ◽

10.4018/978-1-5225-8356-1.ch027 ◽

2019 ◽

pp. 528-543

Author(s):

Khashayar Hojjati-Emami ◽

Balbir S. Dhillon ◽

Kouroush Jenab

Keyword(s):

Risk Assessment ◽

Data Collection ◽

Reliability Assessment ◽

Behavioral Characteristics ◽

Road Accidents ◽

Human Reliability ◽

Human Errors ◽

Crash Data ◽

The Road ◽

To Come

Human error has played a critical role in the events precipitating the road accidents. Such accidents can be predicted and prevented by risk assessment, in particular assessing the human contribution to risk. As part of the Human Reliability Assessment (HRA) process, it is usually necessary not only to define what human errors can occur, but how often they will occur. Lack of understanding of the failure distribution characteristics of drivers on roads at any given time is a factor impeding the development of human reliability assessment and prediction of road accidents in order to take best proactive measures. The authors developed the complete investigation methodology for crash data collection. Furthermore, they have experimentally tested the proposed predictive behavioral characteristics of drivers in light of their instantaneous error rate over the course of driving period to assist processing and analysis of data collection as part of risk assessment. The findings of this research can assist road safety authorities to collect the necessary data, to better understand the behavioral characteristics of drivers on roads, to make more accurate risk assessments and finally to come up with right preventive measures.

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Sex Offenses Perpetrated Against Older Adults: A Multivariate Analysis of Crime Scene Behaviors

Journal of Interpersonal Violence ◽

10.1177/0886260520928639 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 088626052092863

Author(s):

Louise Almond ◽

Martha Sainsbury ◽

Michelle McManus

Keyword(s):

Sexually Abused ◽

Sexual Offending ◽

Crime Scene ◽

Future Research ◽

Background Characteristics ◽

Law Enforcement Agencies ◽

Female Victims ◽

Sexual Offenses ◽

Offending Behavior ◽

The Relationship

The aim of this study was to thematically explore the relationship between crime scene behaviors and background characteristics of offenders who commit sexual offenses against female victims aged 60 years or more. Research and understanding of offense behaviors in this area is extremely limited; therefore, the study sought to provide a preliminary understanding and multivariate model of offense behaviors in cases where older female adults were sexually abused. Twenty-seven crime scene behaviors from 143 rape or attempted rape cases of an older adult victim were analyzed; frequency data were computed to provide base rate information, and Smallest Space Analysis provided a visual representation of the co-occurrence of crime scene behaviors. Three distinct dominant themes were identified, in which 56% of offenses displayed themes of Involvement (22%), Control (17%), and Hostility (16%). The relationship between each dominant theme and selected background characteristics was then analyzed. For example, offenders displaying an Involvement theme were found to be significantly less likely to have prior convictions. Significance was also found in the relationship between dominant themes and a “theft and kindred offence other” preconviction background characteristic. The findings demonstrate offending behavior can be separated into three distinct themes, providing an explanation of offender subtypes and supporting previous models found in other types of sexual offending. Applications for law enforcement agencies regarding identified themes and links with likely offender background characteristics are highlighted. Limitations and future research avenues are discussed.

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Primer on the Contribution of Crime Scene Behavior to the Forensic Assessment of Sexual Offenders

European Psychologist ◽

10.1027/1016-9040/a000324 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 23 (2) ◽

pp. 154-166 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Robert J. B. Lehmann ◽

Klaus-Peter Dahle ◽

Alexander F. Schmidt

Keyword(s):

Risk Assessment ◽

Sexual Offenders ◽

Sexual Interest ◽

Sexual Offender ◽

Crime Scene ◽

Forensic Assessment ◽

Risk Indicators ◽

Future Research ◽

Offender Treatment ◽

Scene Information

Abstract. Over the last decades several attempts in developing incrementally valid risk indicators above and beyond standard actuarial and dynamic risk assessment instruments have been undertaken without much success. The current review will summarize current developments regarding the validity of detailed crime scene analysis for forensic assessments of sexual offenders. To this end, this overview will focus on two issues: First, we will discuss the issue of sexual offender risk assessment based on crime scene information. Second, we will outline how crime scene behavior contributes to the assessment of sexual interest in children. In each section we will introduce the reader to new approaches and instruments for risk assessment and diagnosing pedophilic sexual interest based on crime scene information, respectively, and discuss their validity. Finally, we will discuss the implications of these recent developments for risk assessment, risk management, offender treatment, and future research.

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Common and much less common scenarios in which botany is crucial for forensic pathologist and anthropologists: a series of eight case studies

International Journal of Legal Medicine ◽

10.1007/s00414-020-02456-0 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Marco Caccianiga ◽

Giulia Caccia ◽

Debora Mazzarelli ◽

Dominic Salsarola ◽

Pasquale Poppa ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Unusual Case ◽

Crime Scene ◽

The Other ◽

Disposal Site ◽

Post Mortem ◽

Case Histories ◽

Forensic Pathologist ◽

Sampling Protocols ◽

Murder Weapon

AbstractIt is commonly accepted that crime scene recovery and recording are key moments of any judicial inspection in which investigators must decide on the correct strategies to put into place. Complex outdoor scenarios, presenting partially or entirely skeletonised remains, can benefit more than others by the intervention of environmental specialists (forensic anthropologists, archaeologists, entomologists and botanists). These experts are capable of singling out, correctly recording and recovering environmental evidence that can lead to a more comprehensive reconstruction of a given criminal episode. If human remains are discovered in an outdoor scenario, the on-site presence of a botanist will guarantee a correct approach to the identification, recording and recovery of any botanical evidence. If an on-site botanist is not available, the operators must be capable of both the botanical evaluation of a scene and the implementation of correct botanical sampling protocols.The following collection of unusual case histories that aim at underlining the efficacy of forensic botany will examine the determination of post mortem or the post depositional interval, evidence for a victim’s post mortem transfer, evidence for the identification of a primary crime scene and evidence for the identification of a victim’s dismemberment site. In another two cases, one, we will illustrate the important role that forensic botany played in the discrimination between botanical material used to voluntarily conceal a victim and vegetation that had grown naturally above a disposal site, whereas the other will highlight the protocols implemented for the identification of a murder weapon.

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A qualitative risk assessment for visual-only post-mortem meat inspection of cattle, sheep, goats and farmed/wild deer

Food Control ◽

10.1016/j.foodcont.2013.10.002 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 38 ◽

pp. 96-103 ◽

Cited By ~ 19

Author(s):

A.A. Hill ◽

V. Horigan ◽

K.A. Clarke ◽

T.C.M. Dewé ◽

K.D.C. Stärk ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Assessment ◽

Meat Inspection ◽

Post Mortem ◽

Qualitative Risk Assessment ◽

Wild Deer

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Powder Fever and Its Impact on Decision-Making in Avalanche Terrain

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph18189496 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 18 (18) ◽

pp. 9496

Author(s):

Andrea Mannberg ◽

Jordy Hendrikx ◽

Jerry Johnson ◽

Audun Hetland

Keyword(s):

Risk Assessment ◽

Decision Making ◽

Field Study ◽

Sexual Arousal ◽

Risk Taking ◽

Corrective Feedback ◽

Experimental Methods ◽

Learning Opportunities ◽

Laboratory Studies ◽

Voluntary Activity

We examined the effect of emotions, associated with “powder fever”, on decision-making in avalanche terrain. Background: Skiing in avalanche terrain is a voluntary activity that exposes the participant to potentially fatal risk. Impaired decision-making in this context can therefore have devastating results, often with limited prior corrective feedback and learning opportunities. Previous research has suggested that arousal caused by emotions affects risk assessment and intentions to engage in risky behavior. We propose that powder fever may induce similar responses. Methods: We used the following two experimental methods: laboratory studies with visual visceral stimuli (ski movies) and a field study with real stimuli (skiing exciting terrain). We evaluated the effect of emotions on attention, risk assessment, and willingness to expose oneself and others to risk. Results: Both the laboratory studies and the field study showed that skiing-related stimuli had a relatively strong effect on reported emotions. However, we found very few significant effects on decision-making or assessment of risk. Conclusions: Skiing activities make people happier. However, despite the clear parallels to sexual arousal, powder fever does not appear to significantly impair decision-making in our study. More research on the effects of powder fewer on milder forms of risk-taking behavior is needed.

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Oral Autopsy – Dental Surgeon’s Perspective

Journal of Forensic Dental Sciences ◽

10.18311/jfds/12/1/2020.9 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 60-65

Author(s):

Sriraman Rajkumari

Keyword(s):

Crime Scene ◽

Legal Aspects ◽

Data Sources ◽

Google Scholar ◽

Post Mortem ◽

Visual Examination ◽

Laboratory Methods ◽

Legal Cases ◽

Post Mortem Examination ◽

Death Investigation

Background: Autopsy is routinely performed by the coroner in all medico-legal cases but the dental expertise is rarely sought. However, oral autopsy involving careful visual examination, imaging and laboratory methods can aid in solving the enigma associated with legal aspects of crime scene and death investigation. Aim: To illustrate the importance of oral autopsy during routine post-mortem examination. Data Sources: Pub-Med, Google Scholar search engines were used to extract the data. Conclusion: Oral autopsy performed as an adjuvant to regular autopsy procedure will definitely benefit in the legal investigation related to visually identifiable, decomposed, burnt or skeletonized corpse.

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