What is criminal behavioral profiling?
Criminal behavioral profiling is the science of combining forensics and psychology, which together can draw a picture of the criminal. The goal is to narrow down the field of potential suspects during an investigation.HistoryThe case of a bomber in New York was one of the first cases of criminal profiling, according to Lea Winerman of The American Psychological Association’s Monitor. In 1956, New York City police consulted a psychiatrist and requested he develop a description of the bomber. He did, and the police found and arrested him.ConsiderationsIn 2010, behavioral profiling is still a relatively new science with few set definitions or standards. It takes two forms: psychology and criminalistics.FBIWinerman reports that the FBI started the Behavioral Science Unit in 1974. The unit only profiled cases involving serial rape or homicide.
