How Criminal Profiling Works - Term Paper Example

CRIMINAL PROFILING Introduction Criminal profiling relates to a behavioral and an investigative technique designed to assist investigators of criminal offenses to come up with accurate prediction and profiling of the various characteristics of unidentified criminal offenders. Other terms used to describe criminal profiling include offender profiling, behavioral profiling, criminal investigative analysis and criminal personality profiling. Criminal profiling can also be defined as the in-depth analysis of an individual’s psychological and behavioral qualities in a bid to determine if they have taken part in criminal activity under investigation. The method applies the use of various aspects of the suspect’s personality makeup so as to establish their choices before during or after a criminal activity is done. The information obtained from the criminal profiling is analyzed in combination with other relevant details as well as physical evidence from the crime scene and those of the suspect. How criminal profiling works. The use of criminal profiling in forensic psychology has been in existence since late 19th century. The tool was first applied by two great physicians namely Thomas Bond and George Philips who applied it in investigating crime scene evidences in the case of British serial killer who was known as Jack the Ripper. The tool extended greatly in the United States and many forensic scientist adopted the technique as a means of investigating criminal activities. Some of the factors that are determined by the forensic scientist in criminal profiling include listing the age of the perpetrators and their sex as to whether they are male or female. The educational level, family background and any psychological problem that they may have shown in the past, is also taken into consideration (Ebisike, 2008, 67). Some of the commonly used evidences in criminal profiling include fingerprints evidence, computer evidence, DNA evidence and the use of hair and fibers. Fingerprint evidence is the most widely method as fingerprints are unique to each and every person and cannot be altered so as to change ones identity. The technique not only provide evidence of a person’s involvement in a criminal activity but also offers clues on their presence at the scene of crime. DNA evidence can never be altered or confused provided that it is conducted by well-trained forensic scientists who are working freely without any form of interference. DNA evidence presented in a court of law under a criminal case, has to be in a position to be scrutinized by the Crown Prosecution Service as well as the Department of Public Prosecutions before it can be admitted as a legal evidence. Computer evidences are applied in crimes committed over the internet which has become a common phenomenon in the current generation. The online criminals are people who have in-depth knowledge on the use of computer applications and they make it difficult for any person to identify them. However, those who commit computer crimes usually find it difficult to hide their cyber trail despite the fact that they may think that they have hidden all their trail. They can still be tracked by forensic scientist who have adequate knowledge of computer software and other computer applications. Forensic computer technicians are able redesign wiped hard drives as well as bringing together erased files so as to generate a detailed picture of the key suspects. Hair and fibers evidence is applicable in criminal profiling just like the case of DNA evidence as they are very unique to each person (Kocsis, 2007, 204). The human hair contain strands of their DNA which can never be duplicated in any way. The fibers offer useful means of identification in cases where the suspect may have put on a particular cloth as they can easily be traced to their DNA and linked to those found at the scene of the crime. Strengths of criminal profiling One of the advantages of criminal profiling is the fact that it generates profiles for interviewing suspected criminals. Interviewing a suspect of a crime requires a lot of psychological approach which can only be attained through proper understanding of forensic psychology. The criminal profilers are in a position to provide the investigators with a personalized way to interview the potential suspects. This enables the investigators to obtain relevant information needed for accurate and judgmental conclusions. An investigator may find it challenging as they try to extract information from the suspect without having a criminal profiler’s information. Criminal profiling has the ability to enlist the help of members of the public in a criminal investigative case. Criminal profilers are likely to release profiles to the public provided that they have done all their detailed profiles in the best way irrespective of the role played by the police investigators. Weaknesses of criminal profiling The fact that much of criminal profiling relies on assumptions, forms one of its top weaknesses. The main assumption is that the behavior of criminals is usually consistent across different scenarios. This may not be a true reflection of a person’s inner character as people have different motives and manner of perpetrating criminal activities. The increasing level of organization exhibited by high profile criminals such as serial killers, is making the predictive trends of criminal profiling to be less efficient and effective (Turvey, 2011, 78). The fact that criminals are highly organized and are able to conceal some of the things that forms the focus of criminal profiling, makes it difficult for forensic scientists to clearly determine their involvement in crime. Criminal profiling and its future use in the courts The use of criminal profiling in the courts has in the past proved to be a very controversial topic owing to the technicalities involved in the process. This is mainly due to the nature of questions that suspects are likely to be asked in court process drawing from criminal profiles. The questions are deemed to be bordering closely to implicating the suspects with the criminal charges as opposed to considering them as crime suspect who may as well be innocent. Criminal profiling has been found to be less sufficient to be admissible in a court of law. It has been found to be prejudicial as opposed to being probative thus undermining the roles of courts. Some courts in the land are less convinced that criminal profiling technique is reliable and valid to be used in criminal proceedings. These factors must be put into consideration and be handled effectively if criminal profiling is to be used in future in the courts. References Ebisike, N. (2008). Offender profiling in the courtroom: The use and abuse of expert witness testimony. Westport, Conn: Praeger. Kocsis, R. N. (2007). Criminal profiling: International theory, research and practice. Totowa, N.J: Humana. Turvey, B. E. (2011). Criminal Profiling: An Introduction to Behavioral Evidence Analysis. Burlington: Elsevier Science. Read More