NCJ Number
120539
Date Published
1989
Length
136 pages
Annotation
Sociopsychological profiling of violent criminals is a forensic tool to complement law enforcement investigations.
Abstract
In offering more than a personality profile of the violent offender, profiling provides information on social demographics such as age, race, sex, occupation, and education. Profiling is intended to provide a social and psychological assessment of the offender, a psychological evaluation of belongings found in the offender's possession, and interviewing strategies and suggestions. Criminal theories and sociopsychological profiling are addressed, as well as the rationale for profiling and crime scene analysis. Profiling of serial murder, Satanic and cult-related murder, and rape is detailed. Attention is also paid to victim profiling based on physical traits, occupation, medical history, last activities, marital status, education, psychosexual history, personal lifestyle, and court history. Computerized criminal profiling is discussed, notably New York's Homicide Assessment and Lead Tracking System (HALT), the Drug Enforcement Agency's Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN), and the Violent Criminal Apprehension Program (VICAP). 130 references, 18 tables, 6 figures.