◆ SpookStack

Criminal Profiling from Crime Scene Analysis John E. Douglas. M.S. Robert K. Ressler, M.S. Ann W. Burgess, R.N.. D.N.Sc. Carol R. Hartman, R.N., D.N.Sc. Since the 1970s, investigative profilers at the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit (now part of the National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime) have been assisting local, state, and federal agencies in narrowing investigations by pro- viding criminal personality profiles. An attempt is now being made to describe this criminal-profile-generating process. A series of five overlapping stages lead to the sixth stage, or the goal of apprehension of the offender: (1) profiling inputs, (2) dectsion-process models, (3) crime assessment, (4) the criminal profile, (5) investigation, and (6) apprehension. Two key feedback filters in the process are: (a) achieving congruence with the evidence, with decision models, and with investigation recommendations, and (b) the addition of new evidence. “You wanted to mock yourself at me! . . . You did not know your Hercule Poirot.” He thrust out his chest and twirled his moustache. Llooked at him and grinned . . . “All right then." ! said. “Give us the answer to the problems—if you know it.” “But of course I: know it.” ce John E. Douglas, M.S., is Supervisory Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation and Program Manager, Profiling and Consultation Program, National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime, FBI Academy, Quantico, VA; Robert K. Ressler, M.S., is Supervisory Special Agent, Federal Bureau of Investigation and Program Manager, Violent Criminal Apprehension Program, National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime, FBI Academy, Quantico, VA; Ann W. Burgess. R.N., D.N.Sc., is van Ameringen Professor of Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing, Philadelphia, PA; and Carol R. Hart- man, R.N., D.N.Sc., is Associate Professor and Coordinator of the Graduate Program in Psychiatric Mental Health Nursing, Boston College School of Nursing, Chestnut Hill, MA. Preparation of this manuscript was supported by an Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention grant (84-JN-KO10}. The authors wish to acknowledge Allen G. Burgess, Cynthia J. Lent, and Marieanne L. Clark for contributions to this manuscript. Correspondence and reprint requests should be addressed ta: John E. Douglas, FBI Academy, Quantico. VA 22135. Behavioral Sciences & the Law, Vol. 4, No. 4. pp. 401-421 (1986) © 1986 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. CCC 0735-3936/86/040401 -21504.00