Criminal Profiling Techniques

Derived from the Latin word ‘filum’, ‘to profile’ means ‘to thread’ or ‘to shape’. Profiling broadly means identifying social, emotional, and physical characteristics of an offender based on the data gathered at the crime-scene. This method of criminal identification is based on criminology, psychology, behavioural studies and forensic sciences. Previously used in investigating for serial crimes, criminal profiling techniques are nowadays used by crime-scene investigators to identify possible personal traits, characteristics, social life aspects and occupational background of offenders and thus to narrow down the list of suspects even in less complicated cases like arson, murder, rape, and cyber crime in order to save time and resources.

Literature Review

In as early as 1880’s the ‘White-Chappel Murders’ case (‘Jack The Ripper’), help of the first profiler, Dr. Thomas Bond, autopsy surgeon for London Metro Police, was seeked for his experience (O'Connor, 2014). The results were amazing and attracted the attention of law enforcement agencies, the media, and the public in general. Profiling became all-pervasive and an integral part of investigative teams in the late 20th and 21st Century (Curtis R. Bartol, Anne M. Bartol, 2013, p. 1).

The broad application and use of profiling techniques by different types of profilers led to the development of many approaches which are quite similar to one another and to the confusion on the academic and research side of profiling.

There are three commonly-known methods of profiling:

a. Clinical Method

The Clinical Method, the oldest form of profiling, looks at the offender’s psychological state. Knowledge of psychological disorders, mental health problems and clinical practi...

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John E. Douglas, Ann W. Burgess,Allen G. Burgess, and Robert K. Ressler,. (2006). Crime Classification Manual, A STANDARD SYSTEM FOR INVESTIGATING . San Francisco: Jossey-Bass, A Wiley Imprint.

Kocsis, R. N. (2006). CRIMINAL PROFILING, Priniples and Practice. New Jersey: Humana Press,Inc.

O'Connor, T. (2014). History of Profiling. Retrieved 2014, from MegaLinks in Criminal Justice.

Sammons, A. (n.d.). Criminological Psychology; Typological offender profiling. Retrieved 2014, from psychlotron.org.uk : http://www.psychlotron.org.uk/newResources/criminological/A2_AQB_crim_typoProfiling.pdf

Snook et al. (2008). CRIMINAL PROFILING ILLUSION. SAGE Publications .

Torres, Boccaccini, and Miller. (2006). Perceptions of the Validity and Utility of Criminal Profiling Among Forensic Psychologists and Psychiatrists. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice , 53.