a-to-C equation (Action-to-Characteristics) The a-to-C equation: The profiling debate

The A-to-C equation (actions-to-characteristics) model is a critical component of investigative psychology, without which effective police investigating would be extremely difficult. The A-to-C equation presumes that certain crimes and certain crime scenes are more likely to be associated with criminals that possess certain types of characteristics vs. others. For example, serial killers tend to be male rather than female; gang-related activities associated with certain street gangs, based upon location and also gang symbolism tend to be the products of specific gangs (which often have members with very specific ethnic characteristics). The model is far from foolproof, but when the police are beginning with very few viable leads, such A-to-C profiling can help. Rapists and arsonists also often have very specific characteristics, depending on the subtype of these types of crimes and the specifics of the crime scene (Douglas 1986: 402).

There are certain problems with the presumptions of the A-to-C equation of course. First of...

Secondly, criminals might use its assumptions to cover up their criminal behaviors. Someone who committed a crime might use societal prejudices claiming that he or she saw an African-American teen running from the scene as a defense, given that there remains an assumption that this group of individuals is more likely to commit crime. Or a single criminal might use gang-related criminal characteristics to cover up the evidence he was the perpetrator. The most important thing I have learned about the 'C' part of the model is the extent to which using profiling characteristics of 'C' must be used judiciously, in light of the demands of constitutional law, which investigators and forensic psychologists must keep in mind.
On a widespread level, the use of profiling can also create mistrust between the police and the community the police is striving to serve and raise the specter of troubling constitutional violations. For example, one of the most controversial policies in New York City is its 'stop and frisk' policies. "Each year in New…