Serial killers usually pursue a particular type of victim. Analyzing the characteristics of a killer’s victims can greatly assist the effort to create a typology of the killer.

• What does “demographics of victimization” mean? How can location relate to the demographics of victimization?
• Discuss how serial killers with different typologies use different methods for victim selection.
• How are the methods used for victim selection by serial killers similar to or different from the methods used by a mass murderer?
• Consider any of these killers: Aileen Wournos, Ted Bundy, or Wayne Williams. Discuss how their choice of victims related to their typology. If you were an investigator working on this case, how would you use the victims’ characteristics to assist in the investigation?

Answer preview

The study on patterns in criminal activities has proved challenging as several factors must be present for a crime to occur. However, there is progress made that shows the relationship that exists between risk factors and victimization. Demographics of victimization refers to the pattern in human behavior or lifestyle conditions that make some people more vulnerable to crime than others. The demographics show the relationship that exists between specific risk factors and crime (Bunch, Clay-Warner & Lei, 2015). For example, concerning age, adolescents and young…

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