Typology
Definition
A classification of offenders by behavioural pattern at the scene and across cases. Used to narrow suspect pools, not to identify individuals.
- Basis
- Behavioural pattern at scene and across cases
- Investigative role
- Narrows suspect pool
- Not used for
- Individual identification
Common questions
Why can a typology not be presented in court as identifying evidence?+
A typology places an offender into a broad behavioural category shared by many people, so it lacks the individualising power needed to link a specific suspect to a crime and is used investigatively to prioritise leads, not as proof of identity.
What distinguishes a typology from a full offender profile?+
A typology is a pre-existing classification scheme an offender is sorted into, while a profile is a case-specific inference built from the particular scene, victim, and behavioural evidence of that investigation, though profiling often draws on typology categories as a starting point.
Related terms
- Disorganised Offender
- FBI BSU category. Spontaneous, weapon of opportunity, chaotic scene, evidence everywhere. Suggests stress, mental illness or proximity to the scene.
- Holmes Typology
- Four-type serial-killer classification by Holmes & Holmes (1988): visionary, mission, hedonistic (lust/thrill/comfort sub-types), and power-control.
- Mixed Scene
- A scene with both organised and disorganised features. Canter (2004) showed this is the majority case, which is why the dichotomy is...
- Motivation
- The internal driver behind a criminal act: what the offender was trying to achieve, consciously or otherwise. Lust, anger, power, profit, ideology...
- Organised Offender
- FBI BSU category. Premeditated, brought weapon, controlled the scene, removed evidence. Suggests planning, social competence and a learning curve across offences.