Criminal Profiling: A Viable Investigative Tool Against Violent Crime

Forensic Psychology



Inside the Criminal Mind: A Forensic Psychology eBook Collection Special

In the early 1970s, Special Agent Howard Teten and others in the FBI began to apply the insights of psychological science to violent criminal behavior. In 1972, the FBI Academy launched a Behavioral Science Unit, later called the Behavioral Analysis Unit; which began looking for patterns in the behavior of serial rapists and killers. Agents John Douglas and Robert Ressler conducted systematic interviews of serial killers like John Wayne Gacy, Ted Bundy, and Jeffrey Dahmer to gain insight into their modus operandi, motivations, and backgrounds. This collected information helped agents draw up profiles of violent criminals eluding law enforcement.

By the 1980s, the concept of criminal investigative analysis was maturing into a full-fledged investigative tool for identifying criminals and their future actions by studying their behaviors, personalities, and physical traits. Accordingly, in July 1984, the Bureau opened the National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime (NCAVC) on the campus of the FBI Academy to provide sophisticated criminal profiling services to state and local police for the first time.

The aim of Inside the Criminal Mind: A Forensic Psychology eBook Collection Special is to showcase all the major articles written by members of the Behavioral Science Units, National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime, at the FBI Academy.

Criminal Profiling: A Viable Investigative Tool Against Violent Crime by John Douglas and Alan Burgess is the first article in this collection.

Click Here to download and read this influential article.

Click Here to visit the main Forensic Psychology eBook collection page.

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Criminal Profiling: A Viable Investigative Tool Against Violent Crime

The School Shooter: A Threat Assessment Perspective

Forensic Psychology



It's now ten years since the Columbine High School shooting when 18 year old Eric Harris and 17 year old Dylan Klebold, killed 12 students, a teacher and wounded a further 24 people. This infamous day ended when Harris and Klebold committed suicide before they could be apprehended.

Less than a year before the Columbine High School shooting the FBI's National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime (NCAVC) had initiated a research initiative to study school shootings, from a behavioral perspective. The original research was designed to study specific cases of school shootings or foiled attempts in order to develop a better understanding of these events, the incident itself, and the shooter, his background, the school, and other social dynamics which may have influenced the crime. Eighteen cases were identified and included in the study.

The Columbine shooting hightened this research effort and in response the FBI's National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime (NCAVC) invited 160 educators, administrators, mental health professionals, law enforcement officers, and prosecutors to a symposium on school shootings and threat assessment.

In attendance were teachers and administrators from all eighteen schools involved in the original NCAVC research (including someone from each school who knew the shooter or would-be shooter personally), NCAVC staff members, and law enforcement officers who were involved in investigating each of the shootings. Also attending were experts in disciplines including adolescent violence, mental health, suicidology, school dynamics, and family dynamics.

As a result, a detailed monograph was developed from the concepts and principles developed by the FBI's NCAVC in nearly 25 years of experience in threat assessment, ideas generated at a l999 NCAVC symposium on school shootings, and an in-depth review of eighteen school shooting cases.

Key topics addressed in this public document include:

Factors in Threat Assessment

Motivation

Signposts

Personality of The Student

Family Dynamics

School Dynamics

The Intervention Process

Recommendations

You can download and read The School Shooter: A Threat Assessment Perspective by Clicking Here

Click Here to visit the main Forensic Psychology eBook collection page.

Related Blog Post



I'd Kill To Be Famous: Mass Murders & The Media

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The School Shooter: A Threat Assessment Perspective

Top 7 Serial Killer Myths

Forensic Psychology



Following on the from the last forensic psychology blog post, I've been working my way through the excellent Serial Murder: Multi-Disciplinary Perspectives For Investigators. One of the issues that is addressed early on is that the rarity of serial murder combined with inaccurate, anecdotal and fictional portrayals of serial killers has resulted in a number of common misconceptions. As a result of this discussion 7 main serial killer myths were identified.

1. Serial Killers Are Dysfunctional Loners.

2. Serial Killers Are All White Males.

3. Serial Killers Are Only Motivated By Sex

4. Serial Killers Operate Interstate.

5. Serial Killers Cannot Stop Killing.

6. Serial Killers Are Insane Or Evil Geniuses

7. Serial Killers Want To Get Caught

I've included full details on each of these myths over at the main forensic psychology website, which you see via the following link.

Serial Killers

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Top 7 Serial Killer Myths

Serial Murder: Multi-Disciplinary Perspectives For Investigators: Free 75 Page Serial Killer eBook

Forensic Psychology



Book Details

In 2005 the FBI’s National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime, Behavioral Analysis Unit hosted a 5 day symposium on serial murder. The goal of the Symposium was to bring together a group of respected experts on serial murder from a variety of fields and specialties, to identify the commonalities of knowledge regarding serial murder.

A total of 135 subject matter experts attended the five-day event. These individuals included law enforcement officials who have successfully investigated and apprehended serial killers; mental health, academic, and other experts who have studied serial killers and shared their expertise through education and publication; officers of the court, who have judged, prosecuted, and defended serial killers; and members of the media, who inform and educate the public when serial killers strike.

The agenda encompassed a variety of topics related to serial murder including common myths, definitions, typologies, pathology and causality, forensics, the role of the media, prosecution issues, investigative task force organization, and major case management issues.

This invaluable 75 page eBook is based on the input and discussion of the attendees on the major issues related to serial murder. The contents are based upon the notes taken during the presentations, panel discussions, and break-out group sessions. These were:

Definition of Serial Murder

Causality and the Serial Murderer

Psychopathy and Serial Murder

Motivations and Types of Serial Murder

Investigative Issues and Best Practices

Forensic Issues in Serial Murder Cases

Prosecution of Serial Murder Cases

Media Issues in Serial Murder Investigations

Click Here to get hold of your free copy of Serial Murder: Multi-Disciplinary Perspectives For Investigators.

This very informative publication is just the first of many that I will be making available as part of the forensic psychology eBook collection.

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A Free & Comprehensive Guide to The World of Forensic Psychology

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Serial Murder: Multi-Disciplinary Perspectives For Investigators: Free 75 page serial killer eBook

Forensic Psychology Classic: Hugo Munsterberg: Essays on Psychology & Crime

Forensic Psychology



On The Witness Stand: Essays on Psychology & Crime is a true psychology classic and an absolute must read for anybody interested in forensic psychology. This very important book was Written by my all time favorite psychologist, Hugo Munsterberg; An engaging and controversial figure who was a key figure in the history and development of forensic psychology.

Years ahead of its time, On The Witness Stand: Essays on Psychology & Crime explores issues that are just as important and relevant today e.g., witness memory, suggestibilty and false confessions.

I've just added this classic to the Psychology eBook collection so that you can read and download it for free (see following link).

Hugo Munsterberg

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I will be using Twitter to let people know as soon as a new title has been added to the psychology eBook collection.

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Forensic Psychology Classic: Hugo Munsterberg: Essays on Psychology & Crime