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Cognitive Mechanisms and Protocols for Fugitive Interdiction

NCJ Number
237570
Author(s)
Nyagudi Musandu, Ph.D.
Date Published
2011
Length
50 pages
Annotation
This paper presents concepts and protocols for identifying the location of and apprehending fugitives, i.e., "manhunts."
Abstract
Given that every person is an idiosyncratic entity, vast amounts of biometric, psychometric, and anthropometric data continuously emanate from an individual. The static or real-time analysis of these data can eventually result in a successful identification of the fugitive's physical location. This paper identifies the nature of these domains of individuality and their usefulness in manhunts. Some examples of human intelligence ("humint") that can also aid in locating fugitives are determining the types of locations fugitives frequent (e.g., places of worship in cases of religious extremists and vice spots and sweat shops for traffickers in young women). Other sources of humint are interviews of victims in order to determine the criminal methods used by the offender, and interviewing the children of offenders about the whereabouts and activities of their parents. Other areas of information helpful in locating fugitives are work habits, professional/social affiliation, an analysis of recent movements, offender belief system, education level and intelligence, and the extent of the offender's psychological coherence. This paper also discusses the emerging and future trends in criminal fugitive manhunts, the process of becoming a fugitive, the classification of fugitives, exploitation of the reoffending nature of fugitives, and intelligence analysis in manhunts. Also discussed are the objectives of intelligence analysis reports used in manhunts, the qualities of a search-interdiction team, the immobilization of a fugitive, and how to use the tendency of a fugitive to believe he/she can outlast a manhunt and return to a less stressful and more familiar way of life. Case studies are provided to illustrate the latter concept. The paper concludes with a discussion of the concept of reverse application of cognitive mechanisms and protocols for manhunts. 25 references