Key Characteristics of a Criminal Profiler

by Marji McClure, studioD
Criminal profilers use clues at a crime scene to identify suspects.

Criminal profilers use clues at a crime scene to identify suspects.

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As the interest in detective shows never continues to wane, more and more people seem intrigued by the possibility of working in law enforcement -- especially as a crime solver. One way in which individuals can enter the detective field is by becoming criminal profilers. A criminal profiler uses psychology to create a profile of a suspect. Law enforcement professionals then use that profile to help better understand a suspect and his motives, so they can catch that suspect.

The Background Required

Among the techniques used to learn how to become a criminal profiler are behavioral sociopsychology and geographic profiling. Such techniques help to identify patterns in criminal cases or to predict behaviors of people who continue to commit crimes, such as serial murders. Among the subjects criminal profilers need to study are case management, motive and pattern analysis, forensic demography and statistical prediction.

Crime Action Profiling Capabilities

Richard Kocsis and others created models they based on actual criminals to serve as guides in profiling crimes. Those models resemble interviews conducted by clinical psychologists to form diagnoses. Using these models can help criminal profilers conduct work in cases such as rapes, murders and arsons. As part of crime action profiling, criminal profilers also study the process of profiling to establish a baseline for the kind of information that needs to be included in an accurate criminal profile.

Strong Analytical Skills

A successful criminal profiler must be able to effectively analyze a variety of evidence from a crime scene. This includes photographs from a crime scene, as well as photos of victims and other evidence. Criminal profilers must also use other information, including the victim’s clothing (and its condition), weapons that may have been used and even a medical examiner’s report. Through this information, the profiler can create a profile of a suspect that is comprised of such characteristics as age, sex, race, weight, height and psychological condition.

Investigative Psychology Skills

Sometimes criminal profilers use investigative psychology to conduct their work. This involves being able to studying theories, hypotheses and behavior characteristics of a possible suspect. Criminal profilers use investigative psychology to explore how a criminal’s actions are connected to his or her past and present life, and what actions are unique to that individual. Investigative psychology was spearheaded by environmental psychologists, including Dr. David Canter. According to Canter, there are five approaches criminal profilers can use to create profiles of suspects: interpersonal coherence, significance of time and place, criminal characteristics, criminal career and forensic awareness.

About the Author

Based in Connecticut, Marji McClure has been a professional writer since 1993. She writes mostly about business and technology topics for niche trade publications, including EContent and Information Today. McClure holds a Bachelor of Arts in communication arts from Marist College.

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