Offender Profiling: Separating Myth from Reality

These flashcards encompass key terms and concepts related to offender profiling, highlighting its methods, notable figures, and the scientific and psychological aspects underpinning the practice.

Offender Profiling

The process of using available information about a crime, crime scene, and victim to construct a profile of the unknown perpetrator.

Crime Scene Analysis (CSA)

An approach to profiling that focuses on behavioral clues found at the crime scene, as well as information from autopsy reports.

Inductive Profiling

A profiling approach that develops profiles based on generalizations from known cases, often seen as less scientifically rigorous.

Deductive Profiling

A profiling approach that deduces specific characteristics of an offender from the detailed analysis of a particular crime.

Geographic Profiling

A technique used to analyze the spatial behavior of an offender, often to predict where they live or operate.

FBI Academy

A training facility for law enforcement personnel, particularly for the Behavioral Science Unit involved in criminal profiling.

Paul Britton

A well-known criminal psychologist in the UK who developed profiles to assist in criminal investigations.

David Canter

A psychologist who applied psychological principles and scientific methods to offender profiling, known for his work on the railway rapist case.

Empirical Basis

Refers to evidence derived from observation or experimentation which serves as the foundation for conclusions in scientific research.

Psychological Evaluation

An assessment often conducted during profiling to understand the mental characteristics or personality traits of a suspected offender.

Serial Crimes

Repeated criminal acts that are often linked by similar characteristics and can be subjects of profiling efforts.