Crime Scenarios Research Articles

A novel Dual Probe Complex Trial Protocol for detection of concealed information.

In simply guilty (SG), countermeasure-using guilty (CM), and innocent (IN) subjects, a new concealed information test, the P300-based Dual Probe Complex Trial Protocol was tested in a mock crime scenario. It combines an oddball protocol with two stimuli (probe, irrelevant) and another with three stimuli (probe, irrelevant, target) into one trial, doubling detected mock crime information per unit time, compared to previous protocols. Probe-irrelevant amplitude differences were significant in SG and CM, but not IN subjects. On a measure from both two and three stimulus protocol parts of the Dual Probe Complex Trial Protocol trial, accuracy was 94.7% (based on a .9 bootstrap criterion). The criterion-independent area (AUC) under the receiver operating characteristic (from signal detection theory) measuring SG and CM versus IN discriminability averaged .92 (in a range of 0.5-1.0). Countermeasures enhanced irrelevant (not probe) P300s in CM groups.

A mock juror investigation of blame attribution in the punishment of hate crime perpetrators

We examined blame attribution as a moderator of perceptions of hate crimes against gay, African American, and transgender victims. Participants were 510 Texas jury panel members. Results of vignette-based crime scenarios showed that victim blame displayed significant negative, and perpetrator blame significant positive, effects on sentencing recommendations. Also as hypothesized, victim and perpetrator blame moderated the effect of support for hate crime legislation. Interaction patterns suggested that both types of blame attribution influence sentencing recommendations, but only for participants disagreeing with hate crime legislation. Three-way interactions with victim type also emerged, indicating that the effects of both types of blame attribution show particular influences when the victim is gay, as opposed to transgender or African American. Implications for attribution theory, hate crime policy, and jury selection are discussed.

Are psychopaths simply criminal narcissists?

Some authors argue that psychopathy and narcissism are so similar as to be essentially the same characteristic (Jacobwitz & Egan, 2006). Others suggest that while being related, the traits are distinctive (Paulhus & Williams, 2002). This study aimed to elucidate observable differences in levels of criminality between those scoring highly on psychopathy and narcissism. A series of 8 scenarios were devised varying in their level of criminality. Participants (N = 187) were asked to rate how likely they would be to carry out the scenario behavior. Regression analysis indicated that there were clear differences in responses to the scenarios. Higher levels of narcissism predicted higher responses to lower level crime scenarios, whereas higher levels of psychopathy predicted higher scores for the higher crime scenarios, but not the lower level of criminality ones.

The Role of Affect in Intended Rule Breaking

Objectives: Through a mood induction procedure, we prime positive, negative, or a neutral affective state and examine its effect on intentions to cheat on an exam and drinking and driving. Method: University students served as subjects for the study. They were provided with a questionnaire that randomized a mood induction procedure. Respondents were asked to recall (1) a recent positive event or experience, (2) a recent negative event or experience, or (3) their favorite books. They then completed a questionnaire that asked about their current mood state and got their responses to two hypothetical crime scenarios—cheating on an exam and drinking and driving. They were also asked questions pertaining to perceived risk, their decision-making style, impulsivity, and confidence. Results: We found that those experiencing an intense positive mood state were generally less likely to report that they would cheat or drive drunk relative to the negative and neutral state. However, we found little support for the suggested mediating causal mechanisms. Conclusions: Affective states milder than emotions are related to intentions to commit acts that are in the long-term harmful and go against self-interest. The relationship between affect states and criminal decision making can benefit from additional research.

Windows Volatile Memory Forensics Based on Correlation Analysis

In this paper, we present an integrated memory forensic solution for multiple Windows memory images. By calculation, the method can find out the correlation degree among the processes of volatile memory images and the hidden clues behind the events of computers, which is usually difficult to be obtained and easily ignored by analyzing one single memory image and forensic investigators. In order to test the validity, we performed an experiment based on two hosts' memory image which contains criminal incidents. According to the experimental result, we find that the event chains reconstructed by our method are similar to the actual actions in the criminal scene. Investigators can review the digital crime scenario which is contained in the data set by analyzing the experimental results. This paper is aimed at finding the valid actions with illegal attempt and making the memory analysis not to be utterly dependent on the operating system and relevant experts.

Estimation of stature from foot outline (3D footprint) measurements in Ibans of East Malaysia by regression analysis

Objective: To derive regression equations for stature estimation from foot outline lengths of Iban ethnics in East Malaysia. Material and methods: The study was carried out at Sarawak state, northern Borneo Island in East Malaysia, involving 320 adult Iban subjects (160 males and 160 females).Informed consent and Human Ethical Approval were obtained. The heights of the individuals were recorded with portable height measuring device (SECA 206) and foot outlines were collected following the standard procedure. The data obtained were analyzed with PASW 20 computer software and derived regression equations to estimate stature from foot outline lengths of Iban ethnics. Results: Investigation revealed that all foot outline lengths exhibit statistically positive significant correlation with stature (p<0.001). The mean stature and foot outline lengths are found to be significantly higher in males than females. Correlation coefficient (R) values are found to be higher in the pooled sample (0.845–0.870) when compared with males (0.718–0.772) and females (0.695–0.748). Conclusion: The result of this investigation provided population specific regression equations for stature estimation from foot outline (complete and partial) lengths in Ibans of East Malaysia. The regression equations derived for the pooled sample can be used to estimate stature when the sex of the footprint remains unknown, as in real crime scenarios.

Stature estimation based on footprint measurements of Malays in peninsular Malaysia by regression analysis

Objective:To derive regression equations to estimate stature from footprint lengths of Malay ethnicsin peninsular Malaysia. Material and methods: The study was carried out in UniversitiSains Malaysia involving 400 adult Malay subjects (200 males and 200 females) who are staff and students. Informed consent and Human Ethical Approval were obtained. The heights of the individuals were recorded with portable height measuring device (SECA 208) and footprints were collected using inkless shoe print kit (Carolina, USA). The data obtained were analyzed with SPSS computer software and derived regression equations to estimate stature from footprint lengths of Malay ethnics in peninsular Malaysia. Results:Investigation revealed that all footprint lengths exhibit statistically positive significant correlation with stature (p<0.001). The mean stature is found to be significantly higher in males than females. All the footprint lengths in males are found to be larger than females both in left and right feet.The mean second toeheel footprint lengths in both left and right are found to be the longest both in males and females. Correlation coefficient (R) values are found to be higher in the pooled sample (0.740.78) when compared with males (0.430.51) and females (0.530.61). Conclusion: The result of this investigation provided population specific regression equations for stature estimation from footprints (complete and partial) of Malays in peninsular Malaysia. The regression equations derived for the pooled sample can be used to estimate stature when the sex of the footprints owner remains unknown, as in real crime scenarios.

An examination of sexual orientation- and transgender-based hate crimes in the post-Matthew Shepard era.

Recent state and federal legislation such as the Hate Crimes Prevention Act (HCPA) addresses hate crime prevention and punishment. Two pivotal questions that arise in the development of such legislation are (a) should hate crime perpetrators be subject to penalty enhancements? and (b) should protections be extended to sexual and transgender minority individuals? This article presents two studies addressing these questions employing a two-step vignette methodology. Jury-eligible community members provided sentencing and blame attribution ratings for one of three hate crime scenarios (i.e., anti-African American, antigay, or antitransgender), as well as penalty enhancement agreement (i.e., yes/no) and measures of need for affect (Study 1) and need for cognition (Study 2). Patterns of findings across studies suggest that participants comply with hate crime legislation instructions in general, but sentencing decisions are consistently moderated by whether a participant agrees with the penalty enhancement aspect of hate crime legislation. Moreover, need for affect and need for cognition differentially impact perceptions of hate crimes; need for affect demonstrated predictive associations with victim blame, whereas need for cognition moderated relations with perpetrator sentence and blame judgments. Results are discussed with emphasis on the state of federal hate crime legislation, antigay and antitransgender prejudice, and future directions in research and policy.

Do Men and Women Perceive White-Collar and Street Crime Differently? Exploring Gender Differences in the Perception of Seriousness, Motives, and Punishment

Public perceptions of white-collar crime have shifted from indifference to awareness based on recent, highly publicized corporate collapses and Ponzi schemes. This research explores perceptions of white-collar crime with a focus on gender. Participants ( N = 900) read one of six crime scenarios involving either a white-collar crime (Ponzi scheme, embezzlement, corporate crime) or a street crime (auto theft, burglary, prostitution) committed by a male or female offender. Respondents then rated the behavior on seriousness, harshness of punishment, and offender motivation (i.e., greed and stress). Overall, the results support previously observed patterns showing that citizens see white-collar crime as a serious societal problem. Ponzi schemes are seen as more serious than the three street crimes. The findings also show differences between male and female respondents on the issues of offense seriousness, punishment, and offender motivation, but attitudes toward offenders’ gender are more ambiguous.

Stereotypic Crimes: How Group-Crime Associations Affect Memory and (Sometimes) Verdicts and Sentencing

Stereotype-based judgments in the legal system can be particularly damaging. In Experiment 1, we surveyed 179 participants to assess which of 55 crimes they viewed as stereotypical of 13 groups of people. Stereotypic crimes based on ethnicity, gender, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and age were found. We used these results to create crime scenarios for Experiments 2 and 3 that unconfounded crime stereotypicality and crime violence. We then examined the effects of stereotypic crimes with black or white defendants on mock jurors’ memories and decisions. Memory biases were found in line with the stereotypic crimes. Offenders’ verdicts and sentences were sometimes biased by stereotypic crimes. By unconfounding crime stereotypicality and violence, the results also demonstrate how violence influences biases in memories and decisions.

The emotional eyewitness: The effects of emotion on specific aspects of eyewitness recall and recognition performance.

The present set of experiments aimed to investigate the effects of negative emotion on specific aspects of eyewitness recall and recognition performance. The experience of emotion was manipulated between subjects, with participants either viewing a crime scenario (a mugging) or a neutral scenario (a conversation). Eyewitness recall was categorized into descriptions of the perpetrator, critical incident, victim, and environmental details. The completeness and accuracy of eyewitness recall across categories of detail were measured in Experiment 1. A significant main effect of negative emotion was found for the completeness of recall. Furthermore, a significant main effect of the completeness of eyewitness statements was found, but not for their accuracy. However, these main effects were qualified by a significant interaction between emotion and category of detail recalled. Specifically, emotional participants provided a more complete description of the perpetrator than neutral participants; however, they were less able than their neutral counterparts to describe what the perpetrator did to the victim. In light of these findings, Experiment 2 investigated whether enhanced completeness of perpetrator descriptions during recall translated into an enhanced ability to recognize the perpetrator from a photographic lineup by emotional compared with neutral participants. Results from Experiment 2 suggest that while emotional participants again provide a more complete description of the perpetrator, they are less able than their neutral counterparts to recognize the perpetrator from a photographic lineup. Results are discussed in terms of a retrieval motivation hypothesis of negative emotional experience and the possible consequences for eyewitness testimony.

Postincident conferring by law enforcement officers: Determining the impact of team discussions on statement content, accuracy, and officer beliefs.

In many jurisdictions, law enforcement officers are permitted to discuss their recall of an incident when preparing their official statement. This practice has been criticized on the grounds that it lacks transparency and may produce inaccurate corroborative accounts. In the current study, 300 armed officers took part in an interactive staged crime scenario and were permitted to confer (or not) while writing statements. Alternative procedures for statement production by teams were also evaluated. Some officers also provided an independent statement prior to conferring while others were provided with retrieval support instructions. Although errors were transmitted during discussions, conferring had no overall impact on the accuracy or content of final statements. However, officers who wrote an initial independent statement did not incorporate any errors obtained from colleagues into their final accounts. Conferring officers expressed greater confidence in the accuracy of their accounts than nonconferring officers despite no differences in accuracy.

When Interference Helps: Increasing Executive Load to Facilitate Deception Detection in the Concealed Information Test

The possibility to enhance the detection efficiency of the Concealed Information Test (CIT) by increasing executive load was investigated, using an interference design. After learning and executing a mock crime scenario, subjects underwent three deception detection tests: an RT-based CIT, an RT-based CIT plus a concurrent memory task (CITMem), and an RT-based CIT plus a concurrent set-shifting task (CITShift). The concealed information effect, consisting in increased RT and lower response accuracy for probe items compared to irrelevant items, was evidenced across all three conditions. The group analyses indicated a larger difference between RTs to probe and irrelevant items in the dual-task conditions, but this difference was not translated in a significantly increased detection efficiency at an individual level. Signal detection parameters based on the comparison with a simulated innocent group showed accurate discrimination for all conditions. Overall response accuracy on the CITMem was highest and the difference between response accuracy to probes and irrelevants was smallest in this condition. Accuracy on the concurrent tasks (Mem and Shift) was high, and responses on these tasks were significantly influenced by CIT stimulus type (probes vs. irrelevants). The findings are interpreted in relation to the cognitive load/dual-task interference literature, generating important insights for research on the involvement of executive functions in deceptive behavior.

Detecting concealed information: The role of individual differences in executive functions and social desirability

The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between deception efficiency and individual differences in executive functioning (EF) and personality, with a particular focus on the influence of social desirability. A mock crime scenario was used, followed by a Concealed Information Test based on reaction times (RT-based CIT). Individual measures of EF (inhibition, shifting, and working memory [WM]) and personality (the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire – Revised, EPQ-R), plus a measure of social desirability (Balanced Inventory of Desirable Responding, BIDR) were collected in a distinct session. Results indicated that better executive functions were associated with faster responses to irrelevant items in the RT-based CIT. In a regression analysis, individual differences in shifting and spatial WM were significant predictors of the extra-time taken to lie, compare to truth-telling. No significant relations between deception outcomes and personality measures were noted. Looking at social desirability, the Impression Management scale predicted a further portion of variance in the extra time required to lie, beyond the contribution of executive functions. The utility of an individual differences approach to deception is advocated.

A violência dos justos: evangélicos, mídia e periferias da metrópole

Na igreja Assembleia de Deus dos Ultimos Dias ex-bandidos, agora missionarios, sao personagens centrais na constituicao de circuitos simbolicos e territoriais em que criminalidade e religiao se entrelacam. Em espacos perifericos, reconfigurados por esse imaginario evangelico, os mediadores politico-religiosos desta igreja buscam uma transformacao redentora dos bandidos e dos territorios do crime. Por meio de rituais, o pastor Marcos forja uma comunidade imaginada fortemente calcada nas experiencias de vida dos moradores de periferias diversas. Neste artigo, discutimos como a constituicao fisico-moral da pessoa resgatada por esta igreja atua sobre o sofrimento nao apenas de ex-bandidos, mas de todos aqueles que se identificam com um cenario mais amplo do crime, da violencia.

Validity of the Concealed Information Test in Realistic Mock Crime Scenarios&gt; Comment on Bradley, Malik, and Cullen

Based on the low detection rates of participants who incidentally encoded crime-related details in a realistic mock crime scenario, Bradley, Malik and Cullen (2011) argued that laboratory studies overestimate the validity of the Concealed Information Test. Studies from our group using naturalistic mock crime scenarios, multiple physiological response measures and improved scoring and classification techniques suggest that such a general conclusion is not warranted.

The Role of Perpetrator Motivation in Two Crime Scenarios

Undergraduate volunteers (n = 134) were randomly assigned in a 2 × 2 design that manipulated type of crime (rape vs. robbery) and perpetrator motivation (anger vs. desire). After reading one of the crime scenarios, participants responded to a series of attitude items regarding responsibility for the crime, assigned blame to agents mentioned in the scenario, and assigned a prison sentence to the perpetrator. A two-way ANOVA showed a significant interaction of motivation and crime (p = .026), with the victim rated least responsible in the anger-motivated rape scenario. Likewise, the assignment of blame produced a significant interaction of motivation and crime (p = .034); the victim was blamed the least in the anger-motivated rape scenario. Although the perpetrator was viewed as more responsible for the crime of rape than robbery (p = .022) and received a significantly longer sentence for rape (p < .001), perpetrator motivation did not affect perceptions of the perpetrator's responsibility for either crime. These results stand in contrast to those of Mitchell, Angelone, Kohlberger, and Hirschman (2009) and suggest their findings may have been the result of homophobic statements by the perpetrator rather than anger per se.

On modeling value constellations to understand complex service system interactions

Summary Urban centers face complex challenges in managing their services to continually improve their citizens’ quality of life. They also face complex challenges in managing citizens’ perceptions of the effectiveness of services to continually improve their resulting quality of life. We view urban areas as dynamic sociocultural systems, meaning that effectively and dynamically understanding and addressing their challenges means confronting the full complexity of factors that interact to make up the system. More precisely, we understand these systems to be complex service systems, arrangements of multiple entities and stakeholders that interact to co-create value. Decision makers of urban centers face the design problem of arranging the entities so that the most mutual value emerges from their interactions. To analyze and understand such complex systems, we suggest a new approach to service system analysis based on model composition to design and evaluate stakeholder relationships through what-if scenarios. Applied to the intriguing real-world scenario of crime and perceptions of crime in the London Borough of Sutton, we show how service system analysis — analyzing value constellations to find opportunities for reconfiguring roles and relationships that unlock value — can be applied to a sociocultural service system by focusing on the complex relationship among components that can influence complex questions, such as safety and quality-of-community. Modeling and simulating the value constellations of complex service systems can help us discover which interventions and reconfigurations will be effective and which will not.

Hey Babe—Take a Walk on the Wild Side!

ABSTRACTThere is a self-evident need to “think thief” when designing against crime. If we do not understand how thieves operate, how are we to thwart their efforts? Also, precisely how should designers go about trying to think like a thief?This paper attempts to address a gap in knowledge. It seeks to introduce role-playing and empathic tools and techniques from drama and design to generate strategies that might inspire and help designers to design against crime. The paper describes how immersive and empathic methods employed in design and theater, supported by “scripting” exercises detailing the human and non-human actors and competencies in given crime scenarios, provide tools for designers to better understand the problem context. Such methods help generate insight into the opportunistic mindset of the casual thief, or even the professional career criminal, without losing sight of the need to design for users.

English

Camera images are amenable for manipulations by varied manageability's and manovorabilities for desperate purposes in the crime scenario. The invention of advanced and modern techniques of reproduction such as photocopiers, scanners have led to the prolifera- tion of original images available in original documents in one form or the other and consequently morphed images are entering in to the court rooms as evidences. Such instances are alarmingly increasing as the functionalities of image editing soft-wares allow an amateur to easily manipulate images. In some cases, they may be in the threshold of the requirements of a legal duplicate. In this paper, a case study of unearthing of such an entry of morphed images into court room in an attempt to derail justice is discussed. A technical approach evolved to detect digital alteration using image processing software Adobe Photoshop. The finding reveals that inconsistencies among the original and scanned images and their infringements have caused distortion. Experimental results demonstrate that scanned images are morphed . Keywords- scanner, signature, image analysis, adobe Photoshop.