D#4HW#3 WP#1

Heather Morris
Research Proposal
D#4HW#3

No sooner did Criminal Profilers become known to the public did they become under scrutiney. There have now been questions as to whether profilers are contributors in investigations or just leading investigors farther away from their suspect. Although, it is widely believed that profilers are meant to take evidence and determine the psychological make up as well as physical characteristics of a suspect and be able to tell an investigator who committed the crime, it is far from true. Due to wide misconceptions of what criminal profilers job pretain to, the question that needs to be answered is "How do Criminal Profilers really contribute to criminal investigations?".

I will hopefully be entering this field after completing school and my interests lie strong with this subject. I know most about this field due to my research and the fact that I work alongside many officers who deal with profilers. I believe it is interesting to watch a person take evidence from a crime scene and come up with a generalized profile of a criminals behavior and possible physical characteristics. Media tends to criticize profilers because they feel that the work they produce is all guess work and is not contributing to investigations. However, if researched further a profilers created M.O. does usually give specific physical characteristics as much as it does the behavior of the criminal that can help detectives determine the offenders next move.

My research will focus on informing others on what profilers jobs include when involved in a case and how that helps detectives with their investigators. My audience will be law enforcement agencies who don't know much about profilers as well as the media and others who aren't aware of the contributions made by profilers. The purpose of conducting this research is to inform people who are ignorant to the job descriptions of Criminal Profilers.

My research plan includes using library databases, recent books written on the subject, as well as websites found on the internet including the FBI's behavioral unit site. I also intend on talking to at least one profiler through the Phoenix Police Department to get their opinions on the criticism.

My time line basically includes writing my research proposal on time as well as trying to get all the information needed to do my assignment the week before due in order to have my final paper put together in a decent amount of time to proof read and make any necessary revisions. I will also need to constantly stay on top of my assignments regardless of how hard that may be, because in the long run it will make things much easier for me.

D#4, HW#1 Reading Reflection

Okay, so it's been really hard for me to get on here and do these homework assignments. I read Chapter 9: Evaluate Sources and it was really helpful. I didn't really know how to evaluate a source until I read this chapter. I usually just put in my paper what I felt was relevant to what I was writing about without actually taking the time to determine whether it was relevant to my specific audience. The checklist on page 128 was great in that it gave me the questions I needed to ask myself when determining how reliable the source is and whether the information on the site can support my arguements . Chapter 5 was a big help because I'm extremely computer illiterate and have never done a search on a library catalog before. I know, almost everyone has used one. I honestly haven't though. I usually just ask the librarian for what I'm looking for. I haven't used anything online to search for what I need, so it was really great to read how to search by different keywords and fields.

Deadline #2, HW #7

This weeks work was a lot to do, I'm not even kidding. I'm so gonna have to start breaking this stuff up throughout the week. I've worked non-stop on this for the last four hours. I do have to say that a lot of the work I did helped me better my writing skills. I learned more about putting a paper together than all the years before attending middle school, high school and my one measly year of college. I realized there's a lot more to a paper than just actually writing. You have to research, decide a topic and that's not just going "oh, I'm going to write on this" and bam it comes easy. I've learned that just because a subject seems easy to write on it doesn't necessarily mean it is. There may not be much information to do research on or have examples to back up what you're saying. Reading my classmates material helped me out a bunch, especially when I didn't know how to start off. I know reading them did help me out a lot because if I didn't have their work to use as a guideline I would have been at this for hours (not like I haven't been already, but you get my point).

I replied to:

Tara
http://tmbates1.blogspot.com/2007/09/deadline-2-reflect-on-my-topic.html

Courtney
http://courtsblog22.blogspot.com/2007/09/d2-hw4-narrowed-topic.html

Justin
http://winterjustin88.blogspot.com/2007/09/deadline-2-hw-5-reflect-narrow-topic.html

Kathy
http://laceyariz.blogspot.com/2007/09/d2hw5-topic-reflection.html

Alex W.
http://teufelheunden.blogspot.com/2007/09/deadline2-research-topic.html

Deadline #2, HW #6

http://www.mtholyoke.edu/~mlyount/MySites/ForensicPsychology/CriminalProfiling.html

I think this website is going to help a lot due to the fact it has the definition of Criminal Profiling, why it works and how it works, the methods and so much more. It also includes links to other sites that give a more in depth explanation of the methods and who created them. I'll probably use this often as a reference for any information I need to check on quickly.

http://www.corpus-delicti.com/prof_archives_media.html

This site lists Criminal profilers in the media. It has articles of investigations profilers have been involved in, and what they did as far as helping with a case. It also gives an example of when Criminal Profilers were first introduced to the public via the movie Silence of the Lambs in 1991. The media articles will help to give evidence to points I make throughout my paper.

Deadline #2, HW #5

My mother passed away when I was 14. It wasn't an accident or anything like that, she had actually taken her own life. There was no note and therefore no goodbye to any of us. Up until that point I had wanted to do nothing more than write. After she died the only thing I wanted to do was be a cop. The way I saw it was I had no closure to the experience I had. I wanted to be able to give that to others who had experienced loss similar to my own. The only thing I felt was close to what I had gone through was homicide. I at first wanted to work as a Homicide Detective, but after entering the world of law enforcement I decided that the hours put into the job as well as the years needed to even obtain that position weren't for me. Then I came across an article on Criminal Profilers and their contributions to investigations and I knew that's what I wanted to be. Everything I have read including what processes are used to determine a person's psychological makeup to the evidence used in solidifying that conclusion has only made me more determined to become a profiler. When researching recently I did find a website that really caught my attention. I had assumed, because I hadn't read anywhere else, that there was only one procedure for creating a profile when really there are two . One was created by the FBI's behavioral science unit called Crime Scene Analysis and the other Behavioral Evidence Analysis created by Brent Turvey. I really value the issues involving this topic because it's a newer way of attempting to understand killers and make it easier to lure them, give investigators and idea as to who could be the murderer as well as possibly bring the killer to custody.

Deadling #2, HW #4

I narrowed my topic down to Criminal Profilers and their impact on investigations involving serial killers. Methods I used in determining what topic to use were brainstorming, search and browse, and talking to others. I brainstormed by writing down ideas that popped into my head and which topics I had the most useful ideas. This narrowed it down to Criminal Profilers and Sexual Offenders. When it came to searching the internet and a few articles I found just as much information on one as I did the other. It basically came down to talking to a few of my co-workers on which I should write about. All of them basically said I should write on Criminal Profilers since this is my major and the fact that I couldn't write about Sexual Offenders in a manner that wasn't hateful and disgusted.

Deadline #2, HW #3

Glazer, S. (2003, October 31). Serial killers. CQ Researcher, 13, 917-940. Retrieved September 6, 2007, from CQ Researcher Online, http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre2003103101.

Abstract
By Sarah Glazer

Do we know enough to catch them?

As the trials get under way for the two men accused in the 10 Washington-area sniper deaths last October, questions are being raised about our understanding of serial killers, and how many there are. Most research has focused on those who kill for sexual gratification. Far less is known about “spree killers,” as some have described the Washington snipers. Since the 1970s, the FBI has touted its criminal-profiling method for finding serial killers. But critics say profiles have little science behind them and can lead investigators astray. Modern DNA technology holds out promise for linking serial killers to crime scenes — and even stopping killers before they strike again. But civil rights lawyers are challenging the widespread sharing of suspects' DNA by law enforcement agencies as unconstitutional.

This is an interesting topic for me considering that I work with killers everyday as well as this is my desired major. I work in a maximum security and close custody jail with almost 2,000 inmates daily. On a regular basis I deal with the Baseline Rapist and the Mesa Serial Shooters. To see how they react and behave interests me more than anything. This can be narrowed by writing whether Criminal Profilers can contribute to the investigative process or not. I can further research this by methods in which profilers determine a killers psychological make up and how it can help in bringing a suspect into custody compared to physical evidence. Also, examples of trials in which a profiler was used and the outcome of their input can be used as support in my paper.


Jost, K. (1993, October 20). Science in the courtroom. CQ Researcher, 3, 913-936. Retrieved September 6, 2007, from CQ Researcher Online, http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre1993102201.

Abstract
By Kenneth Jost

Is scientific evidence being misused in lawsuits?

Scientific disputes are being conducted today not just in laboratories and academic journals but in courtrooms, too. Judges and juries are being asked to decide unresolved scientific questions in a growing number of high-stakes lawsuits involving drugs, toxic chemicals and industrial processes. Plaintiffs in these cases have argued that high-power electric lines cause cancer, industrial chemicals damage the immune system and a drug once used for morning sickness causes birth defects. Business groups, legal critics and many scientists have sharply disputed the scientific basis for the claims. They complain that judges have been too lax in permitting what they call “junk science” to be used in the courtroom. Plaintiff and consumer groups, however, say that when scientists disagree, the legal disputes must be settled by the courts, not by scientists.

I thought this would be an interesting topic to write on because it contrasts my first topic on Criminal Profiling. It talks about physical evidence and lack thereof used in court to determine guilt or fault in cases. The outline of this article talked about using DNA as evidence as well as scientific findings including causes of cancer such as radiation. This article for some reason made me think of the frivolous lawsuits such as ones filed against McDonald's and Burger King. I'd be interested to read articles involving the courts opinions and processes in determining whether a business or corporation is at fault for possible medical conditions.

Glazer, S. (1996, January 12). Punishing sex offenders. CQ Researcher, 6, 25-48. Retrieved September 6, 2007, from CQ Researcher Online, http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/cqresrre1996011201.

Abstract
By Sarah Glazer

Will the courts overturn tough new laws?

Violent assaults on children in several highly publicized incidents have spurred states to pass new laws cracking down on sex offenders. A majority of states now notify residents of communities where a sex offender has been released. Some detain especially dangerous sex criminals for an indefinite term of mental treatment once their sentences expire. These laws are being challenged in the courts by those who charge they punish individuals for the same crime twice. Moreover, some treatment experts say the laws are based on a misconception about who commits sex crimes. Most convicted sex offenders are relatives or friends of their victims. With therapy, many can learn to control their sexual obsessions, some clinicians maintain. But the mental health profession remains divided over whether rehabilitation works.

This caught my attention because yet again I deal with sex offenders daily. I see how they act towards female officers compared to males as well as hear murmured comments made that are of sexual nature. I do not believe that most of these men and women can be rehabilitated. I believe it is their nature and upbringing and that it cannot be broken. I'm interested to see why people believe that rehabilitation can work and what forms of rehabilitation are used to cure these people of their sexual urges and nature. Based on what I find when researching I can possibly write about my opposing opinion to rehabilitation or if finding they have changed my mind with evidence I can write why I agree with them.

Deadline #2, HW #2

I replied to Courtney's blog

http://courtsblog22.blogspot.com/2007/08/deadline-1-hw8-help.html

Deadline #2, HW#1 Reading Reflection

I really enjoyed reading The Bedford Researcher. When I first read our homework assignments I nearly collapsed. I couldn't believe all I had to do. I thought it was going to be impossible for me. As I started reading, all of the information seemed to have easy concepts. Most of the things I read I've learned in high school and really put me at ease. One thing that was really helpful was the research log. I'm using a notebook now to write bits and pieces of information I need. Another thing that was helpful was the MLA style shown in chapter 18. It's been a while since I took English 101 and it was nice to have a reminder on how to format. Chapter 5c was useful in the fact that I had such a close minded idea on how to research. I've read newsgroups and web discussions, but until reading that chapter I would never have thought of using them in a writing assignment as sources. Everything's an Argument was a little bit hard to read. It wasn't hard as in actually reading it, but it was basically saying exactly what the title says. I didn't realize there were so many forms of arguing. If I had known that I might have used some of them growing up with my dad. I'm sure I have and just didn't know it was arguing. I think that for right now I'm okay in my reading assignments. It seemed overwhelming at first, but now everything seems tolerable.

deadline#1, HW8, Help

Okay, so I'm really computer illiterate. I think I'm starting to get the hang of all the websites though. Took me a while to get used to it all to be honest. I'm usually an e-mail and get off kind of girl, straight to the point if you know what I mean. I'll be fine, no worries.