Criminal Profiling

Criminal profiling represents a technique wherein the behavioral features apparent in a crime or series of crimes are assessed for the purpose of formulating a template of descriptive features concerning the likely perpetrator of the crime or crimes. The technique is typically used to assist police personnel who are investigating crimes, often of an aberrant violent nature, which are not readily solved via standard investigative procedures. The information contained in a criminal profile typically includes demographic features such as the offender’s age, gender, level of education, marital status, vocation, and personal interest but can also extend to highly specialized forms of information such as the area wherein the offender may reside or analysis as to whether multiple crimes were perpetrated by the same offender. Equipped ...