NCJ Number
239248
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 7 Issue: 81 Dated: July 2012 Pages: 1-35
Editor(s)
John E. Ott
Date Published
July 2012
Length
35 pages
Annotation
Three feature articles focus on the characteristics of psychopathy and psychopaths, with attention to implications for law-enforcement personnel in their interviewing of psychopaths; two additional articles present case studies of a psychopathic stalker and a psychopathic killer of four Canadian police officers.
Abstract
"Psychopathy: An Important Forensic Concept for the 21st Century" develops the theme that understanding the mind of psychopaths and assessing their personality and behavioral traits can assist authorities in designing improved strategies for interviewing such individuals. "Looking Behind the Mask: Implications for Interviewing Psychopaths" explains how law-enforcement interviewers can - with proper preparation, knowledge, and understanding of psychopathy - recognize a psychopathic personality. "The Language of Psychopaths: New Findings and Implications for Law Enforcement" describes a study that used human coders in distinguishing differences in the speech of psychopaths and non-psychopaths. "The Predator: When the Stalker Is a Psychopath" presents a case study that explains how crime-scene analysis in staking-related offenses can reveal that the offender is a psychopath. "No More Bagpipes: the Threat of the Psychopath" presents a case study of the killing of four Canadian law enforcement officers by a psychopath, with attention to warning signs for police officers that a suspect may have homicidal and suicidal intent.