Skip to content

Request for Solved Series

GeoProfile: Affordable and accurate geographic profiling software.

One of the major problems facing geographic profiling researchers today is the lack of data—specifically, solved serial offender cases. Solved series allows researchers to refine geographic profiling models to better fit the observed patterns of serial offender. The closer the model is to reality, the better predictive power it has.

If you have solved serial offender cases that you would like to donate to research, please contact me.

Description of Requested Data

Required

  • A solved series. While a conviction would be ideal, series with an arrest will work, too.
  • At least three incidents. The series should include at least three incidents with a cooling off period between each.
  • Locations of incidents and the offender’s home. Decimal degree coordinates (latitude/longitude) would be ideal, but complete addresses work just as well since I can geocode them.
  • Crime type. The offense for each incident would be ideal, but the crime class, such as the UCR category, would work as well.

Optional

  • Synopsis of crime. The narrative of the crime. The synopsis can be anywhere from a few sentences to the full report.
  • Other offender anchor points. Locations of other centers of activity for the offender, such as his workplace or frequented recreational establishments.
  • Mode of transportation. The method of transportation the offender used to travel to the crime scene for each incident.
  • Basic offender information. Gender, age, number and nature of past convictions, etc.
  • Generalized victim description. If relevant, victimology such as gender, age, profession, etc.

Notes on the Handling of the Data

Due to the sensitive nature of crime data, law enforcement may be concerned with how the data will be handled by the researcher.

  • Identifying information. I encourage you to strip the data of all identifying information before donation.
  • Proprietary Use. While I will use the data to increase the accuracy of GeoProfile, a commercial product, I primarily want to use the data to increase our scientific knowledge of serial offending. Consequently, I will publish my results in peer-reviewed journals. Furthermore, if I am given permission to do so, I will share the data with any other researcher who requests it.

Please feel free to contact me with questions about donating data.