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Criminal
Profiling Provides Excellent Tool
For Law Enforcement
Criminal Profiling, [not to be
confused with "Racial Profiling"] has
proved to be one of law enforcement's most valuable
investigative assets. While racial profiling assumes
criminal behavior based on physical characteristics,
criminal profiling assumes nothing. The most
important objective of criminal profiling is not
only to establish a certain group of suspects, but
to also eliminate groups of suspects concerning the
investigation. This evaluation and elimination
process will present the investigator with a list of
potential offenders that possess particular habits
and characteristics based on the evidence available
from a crime scene. This practice is most often used
in cases where repeated offenses have occurred at
the hands of the same unknown offender. As the
number of offenses increases, the available evidence
at the crime scene also becomes more available.
While profiling methods are now better
known than ever before, this practice has been
around in some form since the formation of organized
law enforcement. Even in the early chronicles of the
fictional Sherlock Holmes, the author relies on
profiling to solve the crime. Although the practice
of criminal profiling is not as efficient as we have
seen portrayed in movies, it has proved to be an
invaluable asset to solving high profile cases, such
as the missing and murdered children case in
Atlanta, the Uni-bomber, and the many murders
committed by serial killer Ted Bundy. Keep in mind
that criminal profiler's were solving serial rape
cases long before current DNA identifiers were ever
available. Also, while the DNA data banks can
include or eliminate the suspect beyond any
mathematical doubt, it is the profiler's who come up
with the suspects so that DNA technology can be
utilized.
Roy Hazelwood, one of the nations best
known criminal profiler's and a former FBI agent,
stated that virtually any crime showing mental,
emotional, or personality aberration can be analyzed
for profiling purposes. Thus, everything from serial
rape to serial arsonist cases, are instances where
profiling can be utilized. Formerly assigned to the
FBI's renowned behavioral science unit, Hazelwood is
though to be the role model for the creation of
Special Agent Jack Crawford, a character in the
movie Silence Of The Lambs. Profiler's usually
follow guidelines set sup by the FBI's Behavior
Science unit in Quantico, Virginia, and while
most locally employed profilers have other duties,
the FBI unit is one that is available at all times
and are able to travel to any part of the country
should the need arise.
There is an old saying that for any
criminal act that occurs, the perpetrator leaves
something behind. Whenever that 'something' is
found, the profiler's work begins. By evaluating
crime scene photographs, examining autopsy reports,
reviewing evidence and crime scenes, as well as a
complete background review of the victim, the
profiler begins a slow and meticulous task of
identifying the suspect. This process can identify
the sex, race, approximate age, profession, and many
other factors about the suspect. In most cases the
profile of the suspect has had an uncanny mirror
like comparison to the perpetrator when he or she
was finally arrested. Deduction and reasoning, as
well as the study of human nature, are the main
proponents that are used in the study of serial
criminals. Criminal profiling is extremely effective
in certain criminal offenses such as serial rape,
rape homicide, and autoerotic deaths. While most of
these profilers are employed as law enforcement
professionals, they are somewhat unique in that they
also have knowledge of psychology and are students
of human behavior.
The real value of profilers is not in
the cases that we see in the news or depicted in the
movies, but the everyday cases where predators
victimize average people. Hopefully, before these
types of crimes are committed against innocent and
unsuspecting people, the would-be-perpetrator will
heed some warning from those like Hazelwood.
However, when the warning falls on deaf ears,
victims will have some hope of justice that their
assailants will be caught utilizing the methods of
profiling.
Law enforcement is like everything else
in today's world. Technology, whether we like
it or not, has become an integral part of criminal
investigations. It provides valuable assistance that
has never been available before. DNA,
entomology (the study of bugs), and computer
analysis are all now a routine part of criminal
investigation. The old-time police officers, who by
the way did solve many crimes, would be lost in some
of the forensic labs used today. However, in a time
where every measure of success is graded by the
scientific method involved, it is good to know that
good old fashion police work is still alive and
well!
061203
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