What is Criminal Profiling?
Criminal profiling, also known as offender profiling, is a
forensic tool used by law enforcement to identify potential
criminal suspects and narrow down investigations based on
behavioural and psychological traits.
The following outlines the history of criminal profiling, how it
is currently used as a tool by police as well as key limitations of
the technique.
For more specific questions or a consultation, get in touch with
our criminal solicitors.
Types of Cases Criminal Profilers Handle
Modern criminal profiling can be traced back to the late 19th
century. The first recognised use of profiling occurred in London
in the 1880s when police surgeon Thomas Bond was asked to assess
the mental state of Jack the Ripper, the infamous serial killer.
Although the term "criminal profiling" wasn't yet in
use, Bond's detailed psychological assessment laid the
groundwork for what would become an investigative tool in forensic
psychology.
