Module 5 - Criminal Profiling

Lesson 4 - Criminal Profiling Crime Case Studies

Case Study - Overview

	- Sergeant A. Kowalyk, Edmonton Police Service Criminal profiling is an investigative tool that is used by police to shorten a list of criminal suspects. A criminal profile identifies some of the major personality and behavioural characteristics of an unknown offender based on a detailed analysis of the crime scene. The assumptions made by criminal profiling experts about the behaviours and personalities of unknown offenders have helped law enforcement in the hunt for suspects responsible for serious crimes. This lesson focuses upon two crime case studies involving criminal profiling. Based on actual events in history, the first crime case study is The Railway Killers; the second is The BTK Strangler. You are expected to answer related questions about these case studies in your assignment booklet. “Multiple murderers are rare, but when they do strike, the public and the criminal justice system are both significantly affected. Beyond the violence and tragedy of the crimes, multiple murder produces tremendous fear levels in the community, generates heavy pressures for investigating agencies, and demands significant resources from police, courts and prisons.” - Dr. D. Kim Rossmo, Geographic Profiling Expert

- Sergeant A. Kowalyk, Edmonton Police Service

Criminal profiling is an investigative tool that is used by police to shorten a list of criminal suspects. A criminal profile identifies some of the major personality and behavioural characteristics of an unknown offender based on a detailed analysis of the crime scene. The assumptions made by criminal profiling experts about the behaviours and personalities of unknown offenders have helped law enforcement in the hunt for suspects responsible for serious crimes.

This lesson focuses upon two crime case studies involving criminal profiling. Based on actual events in history, the first crime case study is The Railway Killers; the second is The BTK Strangler. You are expected to answer related questions about these case studies in your assignment booklet.

“Multiple murderers are rare, but when they do strike, the public and the criminal justice system are both significantly affected. Beyond the violence and tragedy of the crimes, multiple murder produces tremendous fear levels in the community, generates heavy pressures for investigating agencies, and demands significant resources from police, courts and prisons.”

- Dr. D. Kim Rossmo, Geographic Profiling Expert

Glossary Term: Mass Murderer

a person who kills several or numerous victims in a single incident

Glossary Term: Serial Murderer

a person who attacks and kills victims one by one in a series of incidents

After studying Lesson 4, you should be able to…

discuss a historical crime case(s) that involved criminal profiling and/or geographic profiling (such as Washington Sniper shootings, Oklahoma federal building bombing, Unabomber, Anthrax letters, Mad Bomber, or Son of Sam)