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David Chumney

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Criminal profiling also known as “psychological profiling,” offender profiling,” or just “profiling” describes a process that attempts to identify the characteristics of an unknown offender through a detailed examination of the crime scene and the victim(s). Once a description or “profile” is created of the suspect, police can then begin focusing their efforts on person(s) of interest matching the profile, thus ignoring other types of people. The most common cases involving profiling techniques have been applied to cases involving serial killers-murderers who kill three or more people in separate events with a cooling-off period between murders (Costanzo & Kraus, 2015).

One could argue that criminal profiling is an accurate method used to identify possible suspects, although research may prove otherwise. A study conducted in England questioning 184 police detectives that had incorporated the use of a profiler to develop leads regarding the identity of a criminal (Copson, 1995) reported that the profiling process was in fact helpful. However, it only led to the identification of perpetrators in 2.7% of cases. Upon examining the actual profiles created for the police, most profiles were found to contain many inaccuracies and inconsistencies.

The problem with criminal profiling is that not all criminal profiles that are generated by the FBI are one hundred percent accurate. For example, one particular case that occurred years ago that came to mind was the D.C. Sniper case involving John Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo who was only 17 years old at the time of the incident. Soon after the first six killings that occurred on October 2nd and 3rd 2002 a former criminal profiler from the FBI, Clifton Van Zandt stated that he believed the person(s) responsible for the killings was someone that was “cold, calculating, that had the skills and did not care who they hurt” (Bothe, 2002).

Van Zandt also listed several other characteristics of the killer(s) and their choice of transportation. The suspect vehicle would be either a light-colored truck or a van located in a garage or a lake, would be white males in their 20’s to early 30’s. After 23 days, of intense investigation, both Muhammad and Malvo were apprehended without incident by police while sleeping at a rest stop. Muhammad (41) and Malvo (17), were both black males and were driving was a blue 1990 Chevy Caprice.

The case of the “Mad Bomber” in 1957 illustrates an effective profile during an investigation in which police sought the help of a prominent psychiatrist names James Brussel. Upon collecting evidence and reviewing letters written by the suspect, Dr. Brussel created a very accurate profile of the suspect with an age between 40-50, Roman Catholic, foreign-born, single and living with a brother or sister, who would be suffering from progressive paranoia and a “present or former Consolidated Edison worker.” One precise detail that Dr. Brussel gave regarding the suspect was that upon finding him, he would be wearing a double-breasted suit. Buttoned” (Brussel, 1968, p. 47). The man that police arrested named George Metesky was in fact single, unemployed, 54 years old, and a former employee of Con Ed that lived with two older sisters. When the police went to arrest him, he was currently in his bathrobe, however upon allowing him to change clothes, he emerged wearing a buttoned double-breasted suit.

One of the drawbacks of criminal profiling is that it is not always accurate and because of this investigator may focus all their attention on one type of suspect while ignoring many others. Inaccurate information can also lead to investigators spinning their wheels and going down dead ends (Costanzo & Krauss, 2015). Possible benefits include providing possible leads to police in an attempt to focus the efforts of investigators (p. 94). A successful criminal profiler incorporates the use of good sound judgment which is solely based on instinct not on the analysis of facts and figures (Douglas & Olshaker, 1997, p. 15). Investigators must train themselves to think like a criminal to understand the overall dynamics of the crime. Because mental health professionals have experience dealing a variety of different people including criminals, they are more inclined to understand why criminals do what they do and based on this, I do believe that they would also make good profilers.

Bothe, E., (2002, December 15). Facing the beltway snipers: Profilers were dead wrong. The Baltimore Sun.

Brussel, J.A. (1968). Casebook of a crime psychiatrist. New York, NY: Bernard Geis.

Copson, G. (1995). Coals to Newcastle: A study of offender profiling. London, England: Home Office.

Costanzo, M.K., & Krauss, D. (2015). Forensic and legal psychology: Psychological science applied to law. New York, Ny: Worth Publishers.

Douglas, J., & Olshaker, M. (1997). Journey into darkness. New York, NY: Pocket Books.