| When you teach forensic psychology, the | | | | psychiatrists5 academic psychologists4 |
| question students ask the most is how do I | | | | clinical psychologists6 forensic |
| become a profiler? This question also appears | | | | psychologists3 therapists (unspecified)4 |
| on the frequently asked questions section of | | | | British police officers1 British police |
| the FBI website.Given the popularity of the | | | | scientist1 British police data system |
| CBS drama criminal minds, the how do I become | | | | analyst1 American law enforcement |
| a profiler question is going to be asked more | | | | agencyQualificationsPsychiatrists are |
| than ever. The aim of this article, | | | | qualified doctors of medicine who undertake |
| therefore, is to address whether becoming a | | | | postgraduate training in psychiatry. |
| criminal profiler is a realistic career | | | | Psychologists have both undergraduate and |
| aspiration.Criminal Profiling in the USAThe | | | | postgraduate degrees in their specialist area |
| FBI doesn't actually have employees with the | | | | and may have secured chartered status through |
| job title profiler. However, special agents | | | | the governing body that oversees their |
| at the National Center for the Analysis of | | | | professional development. Police officers who |
| Violent Crime (NCAVC) at Quantico, Virginia | | | | undertake profiling work have usually studied |
| do construct profiles of unknown offenders as | | | | psychology as a postgraduate.What do they |
| well as offering case management advice, | | | | do?As with any form of profiling, the |
| threat assessments and interviewing | | | | principal aim is to generate a behavioural |
| strategies to law enforcement agencies both | | | | composite of an unknown offender so that it |
| home and abroad.You cannot simply apply to | | | | tells you something about the personality of |
| the FBI and immediately become a NCAVC agent. | | | | the individual.In the Copson study 184 |
| A basic requirement is three years service as | | | | accounts of profiling are documented. In 111 |
| a FBI special agent. However, such is the | | | | of these cases the profiler put his/her |
| competition for places, successful candidates | | | | advice into writing. An analysis of the |
| tend to have up to 10 years of service behind | | | | content of these written reports revealed 10 |
| them along with experience investigating | | | | main areas of advice.Features of the |
| violent and sexual crimes and abductions.In | | | | offenceCharacter of the offenceOrigins of the |
| terms of educational requirements an advanced | | | | offenderPresent circumstances of the |
| degree in a Behavioral or Forensic Science is | | | | offenderCriminality of the offenderGeography |
| often listed as preferred qualification.It is | | | | of the offenderPredicted future behaviour of |
| possible to work at the NCAVC without being a | | | | the offenderInterview strategies to be |
| special agent. these professional support | | | | adoptedThreat assessmentSpecific police |
| positions include Intelligence Research | | | | recommendations.So you still want to be a |
| Specialists, Violent Crime Resource | | | | criminal profiler?Good for you, but bear in |
| Specialists, and Crime Analysts. These are | | | | mind that very few people get to do it as a |
| essentially research positions so an in-depth | | | | form of career.My advice would be to |
| knowledge of research methodology, data | | | | concentrate on doing well within a broader |
| collection and analysis is required.Whether | | | | field e.g. psychology, while at the same time |
| you are applying to become a NCAVC agent or a | | | | pursuing your interest in profiling as often |
| research specialist you can expect to have | | | | as you can. For instance doing a profiling |
| complete a range of written and psychometric | | | | related final year project or |
| tests.Criminal Profiling in the UKIf you | | | | dissertation.You can find out more about |
| think getting into profiling work in the USA | | | | pursuing a career in profiling by visiting => |
| seems a difficult proposition, the chances of | | | | worked as a lecturer in psychology in the UK, |
| doing it in the UK are even more remote.In | | | | I recently moved to sunny Spain with my |
| 1995 Gary Copson conducted a comprehensive | | | | family, where I now work as a distance |
| survey of police use of profiling, which | | | | learning tutor and research dissertation |
| among other things addressed the questions, | | | | supervisor.Since 2000, I've been involved in |
| who are the profilers? What are their | | | | collaborative research with teams of forensic |
| qualifications? What do they actually do?Who | | | | scientists in the UK, US and Canada.To find |
| are the profilersThe Copson study found that | | | | out more about the fascinating world of |
| profilers define themselves as having | | | | forensic psychology visit my website you |
| relevant expertise for a particular criminal | | | | would like to read more information from the |
| | | | world of forensic psychology you can |
| investigation, although this expertise is | | | | subscribe to my free newsletter. Regular |
| not confined to one profession or academic | | | | features include an articles and links |
| discipline.In total 29 profilers were | | | | section, conference listings, news from the |
| identified in the course of the study, the | | | | field and study guide. |
| make-up of which was as follows:4 forensic | | | | |