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