ABSTRACT
Cautionary Issues When Linking 211 Using Linkage Analysis in Cases Involving Co-Offenders 211 Using Linkage Analysis for Purposes Other than Establishing Behavioral Linkages 211 Relying on Computerized Linkage Systems Exclusively 212 Examining Isolated Behaviors without Taking into Account Context 213 Missing Instances of Behavioral Similarity upon Initial Assessment 213 Paying Attention to Dissimilarities 214
Case Example 1: State v. D 215 Case Example 2: The Sunday Serial Rapist 216
The State’s Evidence 216 Linkage Analysis 217
Approach Method 217 Approach Location 217 Sexual Acts 218 Pseudo-Relationship Acts 218 Description of the Offender 218 Attempts to Cover the Victim’s Head 218
Since the existence of modern law enforcement, investigators have been faced with the dilemma of trying to determine which crimes might be the work of one offender. Modern forensic sciences have simplified that task with the advent of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), the use of touch DNA, fingerprinting, ballistics, forensic odontology, and the like. However, despite the impressive development of the forensic sciences, and probably due to the proliferation of television programs relating to the forensic sciences, offenders are believed to be leaving less and less forensic evidence at crime scenes (House of Commons, 2005). It is an ongoing challenge for forensic science to improve in its ability to detect, collect, and process forensic evidence.
