Criminal Profiling
By Sam Hester
What Is a Criminal Profiler?
Job Duties
Criminal profilers review evidence at crime scenes to figure out how a crime took place. This evidence helps profilers determine details about a suspect such as the person's height and the dominant hand the perpetrator used during the crime. Criminal profilers may also work on older unsolved cases to develop a suspect profile in which law enforcement can use during an investigation.
http://study.com/articles/Criminal_Profiler_Job_Description_Duties_and_Requirements.html
JOB REQUIREMENTS
- Knowledge of the criminal justice system in general.
- Knowledge of the various methods of criminal investigation.
- Knowledge of the scientific method.
- Knowledge of the science of logic.
- Knowledge of forensic science and the various methods of physical evidence collection and examination.
- Knowledge of victims, crime and criminals.
- Knowledge of human sociology in relation to the study and examination of victims, crime and criminals.
- Knowledge of human psychology in relation to the study and examination of victims, crime and criminals.
- Knowledge of mental illness in relation to the study and examination of victims, crime and criminals.
- Knowledge of drugs and alcohol in relation to the study and examination of victims, crime and criminals.
- Knowledge of human anatomy and physiology.
- Knowledge of human sexuality in all of its contexts and incarnations.
- The skill and ability to perform competent research.
- The skill and ability to write competently and professionally.
- The skill and ability to make valid arguments based on sound logic and reasoning.
- The skill and ability to write reports that meet the standards of the court.
- The skill and ability to give effective courtroom testimony.
- The ability to examine evidence relating to the violent, the sexually graphic, the bizarre, and the grotesque without becoming overwhelmed by personal feelings.
- The ability to recognize bias and work towards maintaining objectivity.
- The ability to keep a confidence, and maintain confident information.
- The ability to remain honest and ethical despite the short-term rewards for professional dishonesty and unethical practice.
To become a criminal profiler you also must have an education in one of the social sciences to be considered. (psychology, sociology, criminology, social work). 4 year bachelor degree
http://www.criminaljusticeprograms.com/articles/brent-turvey/
CRIMINAL CASES DECIDED USING CRIMINAL PROFILING
In this case, an FBI profiler looked at the styles that a person used including how there were only 29 letters in an envelope of mail that had anthrax in it killing 5 people. He felt because of the style that the FBI had arrested the wrong man. Furthermore, the fact that the actual suspect had been working extra long hours and on weekends before the anthrax was found in the envelopes.