vulnerable population
Criminal/Psychological Profiling
Diane Miller
Abstract
Criminal profiling is not a new concept as variations of it have been used for many years in an effort to understand offenders and facilitate crime solving. As the field of Forensic Nursing grows, the Forensic Nurse plays an important role as a member of the criminal profiling team especially as a Forensic Nurse Examiner. This study will examine the criminal profiling process, the steps leading to the apprehension of the offender and explore the benefits law enforcement agencies can reap by including a Forensic Nurse as a member of their team.
Statement of Criminal/Psychological Profiling
Although criminal profiling had been used for many years it became a more refined process in the 1970’s when the FBI began conducting research in an effort to provide a better understanding of serial murderers and rapists. The groundwork for this profiling was laid by the FBI’s criminal research project. The FBI’s National Center for the Analysis of Violent crimes assists local, state and federal agencies by providing criminal profiles. Profiling uses deduction to paint a picture of the offender but does not identify him. It does this by focusing on certain behavioral and personality characteristics.
Literature Review of Criminal/Psychological Profiling
The literature review indicates criminal profiling began informally in the 1940’s, but caught the interest of the FBI after the a profile of the “Mad Bomber” done by a New York psychiatrist, Dr. James Brussel, in the 1950’s proved to be amazingly accurate.
In the 1970’s the FBI developed a more refined process in utilizing criminal profiling as an investigative tool. That process continues today at the FBI’s National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime and is instrumental in solving heinous and violent crimes that otherwise could not be solved.
The literature review supports the value and importance of criminal profiling today and the role it plays in attaining justice for the victims of violent crime and their families.
The principles related to criminal profiling outlined in the literature demonstrate the importance of interpreting crime scene behavior in order to narrow the field of suspects for a particular crime and the accuracy it provides.
Criminal/Psychological Profiling
Core Forensic Nursing Principles Related to Criminal Profiling
Core Principles Related to Criminal Profiling
The scientific and social phenomenon of death represents the two primary aspects of death investigation on which the practice and philosophy of forensic nursing science is founded.
Experience in forensic nursing and guidelines in death investigation help provide the ways of knowing and critical thinking that determine the basis on which acute case management of questioned deaths can be provided.
(Lynch, 2006)
Utilizing These Principles in Criminal Profiling
The Forensic Nurse assists with the retrieval, assessment and evaluation of information obtained during the death investigation.
Understands the variations in criminal action patterns and the conclusions about the offender that can be drawn from these patterns.
Utilizes clinical skills as part of the investigation process, actions and strategies to facilitate the investigation.
Criminal Profiling Process
Legal Implications
Six Stages of the Profiling Process
Input: collecting crime scene information.
Decision process: arranging the input into meaningful patterns, analyzing victim and offender risk.
Crime assessment: reconstructing the crime and the offender motivation.
Criminal profile: developing specific descriptions of the offender.
Investigation: uses the profile as an aid in investigation.
Apprehension: check the accuracy and the description against new information and change the profile accordingly.
Best Practices in Criminal Profiling
Forensic investigators should gather detailed information from the crime scene.
The forensic examiner should use written and photodocumentaiton to precisely preserve details about the homicide victim’s wounds and sexual acts.
The Forensic Nurse Examiner becomes a valuable team member in the criminal profiling process by following these guidelines during the examination process.
This information collected properly is extremely valuable in developing an accurate profile of the offender.
Legal Implications
Following the six stages of the profiling process and utilizing best practices in criminal profiling is imperative in developing an acute profile of an offender.
The Forensic Nurse Examiner must be sure to avoid any judgmental reactions or attitudes when interpreting a crime scene.
Forensic nurses are not criminal investigators but function as a clinical investigator.
The registered nurse is an ideal clinician to fulfill the role of death investigator.
The Forensic Nurse must be prepared to testify in court.
Looking at Behavioral Characteristics Identified at the Crime Scene
Behavioral Characteristics and Criminal Profiling
Amount of planning that went into the crime.
Degree of control used by the offender.
Escalation of emotion at the scene.
Risk level of the offender and the victim.
Appearance of the crime scene (organized, disorganized).
The Interpretation Process
Profiling is based on research and years of experience in reviewing similar cases with similar offender characteristics. It is not a science or psychic guesses as we are sometimes led to believe, especially by the media. It is a process the profiler uses to make behavioral interpretations. This in turn enables the investigator to limit the suspect pool. According to the FBI”s research, similar crimes are committed for similar reasons.
The Ultimate Goal of Criminal Profiling: Help Catch the Offender!
Implications for Forensic Nursing Practice
The Forensic Nurse Examiner
Conducts an investigation of trauma or death.
Provides a forensic examination of physical, psychological, or sexual assault trauma.
Examines the questioned analysis of medical records or court-ordered evaluation of mental status.
Assists law enforcement by providing the advent of forensic nursing science.
Provides multidisciplinary cooperation to bring together clinical and criminal investigation.
Questions for Discussion
Please answer after viewing the PowerPoint and reading the attached articles.
Required Readings
Gregory, N., (2005). Offender profiling: a review of the literature. The British Journal of Forensic Practice, volume 7, issue 3, 29-33.
Schlesinger, L., (2009). Psychological prodiling: investigative implications from crime scene analysis. Journal of Psychiatry & Law, 37, 1, 73-83.
Discussion Questions
Is profiling admissible in the British legal system? Please explain your answer.
What famous case in the 1950’s brought criminal profiling to the attention of the public?
Do you think the forensic nurse has a role in criminal profiling?
References
Beauregard, E. (2009). Rape and sexual assault in investigative psychology:
the contribution of sex offenders” research to offender profiling. Journal of
Investigative Psychology and Offender Profiling, 7, 1-13.
Bennell, C., Corey, S., Taylor, A., & Ecker, J. (2008). What skills are required for the
effective offender profiling? An examination of the relationship between critical
thinking ability and profile accuracy. Psychology, Crime & Law, 14, 143-157.
Gregory, N. (2005). Offender profiling: a review of the literature. The British Journal of
Forensic Practice, 7, 3, 29-33.
References
Lynch, V. A. & Duval, J. B. (2006). Forensic Nursing. St. Louis, MO: Elsevier Mosby.
Schlesinger, L. (2009). Psychological profiling: investigative implications from
crime scene analysis. Journal of Psychiatry & Law, 37, 73-83.
Stangeland, P. (2005). Catching a serial rapist: hits and misses in criminal
profiling. Police Practice and Research. 5, 353-469.
Young, D. (2009). Investigative psychology in the courtroom: beyond the offender
Profile. Journal of Investigative Psychology