Criminal Profiling: the online encyclopedia

Salary:

$38,000-$130,000 (Depends on state, city, whether or not you work for a federal agency, etc.)

 

Job Description:

   Detectives work for a local, county, or state police agency. (Since this website is devoted to criminal profiling, I will focus on homicide, cold case, sex-crimes, arson and missing persons detectives. These can all be serial violent crimes, and when they occur multiple times, criminal profiling can be used). The job of a detective (and special agent) is to investigate crimes; collect evidence from crime scenes; conduct interviews with family members, suspects, and witness; issue and enact search warrants; etc.

   Homicide investigators investigate suspicious deaths (and obvious murders); cold case investigators solve older murder or missing persons cases (sometimes sex-crimes cases), sex-crimes investigators investigate illegal sexual acts against both adults and minors; and missing-persons investigators investigate people who have gone missing under suspicious circumstances. To become a detective you must usually work for a police department for at least 5 to 10 years (in the patrol unit), then you usually work your way up through different divisions. (Most police departments start new detectives off in the Vice unit, but it is different with every department). If there is an opening in the division you want (such as homicide, missing persons, etc.), you can apply for a transfer.

   

(This section focuses on the most well-known criminal profilers, the BSU division of the FBI).

This division is made up of the most experienced violent crimes investigators throughout america. This elite unit is used to consult with other law enforcement agencies on their serial violent crimes cases. Contrary to popular belief, most of the time this division does not help apprehend the criminal, it is the original agency that apprehends them. The NCAVC (National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime) actually houses the BSU (which is a subdivision of the NCAVC). The B.S.U. is also split into four specialized units:

• Unit 1 (counterterrorism, arson)

• Unit 2 (threats, cyber, white collar crime, public correction)

• Unit 3 (crimes against children) 

• Unit 4 (crimes against adults)

     To become a special agent in the BSU you must have previous violent crimes investigative experience (listed above), and you must have worked in the FBI for at least 3 years. You also need to have the rank of supervisory special agent, and a degree of some sort. (Although they say you field of study doesn’t matter; criminology, forensic science, forensic/criminal psychology, would be most helpful in this career). Besides developing psychological profiles of unknown offenders, the BSU provides these services:

• Crime analysis

• Offender motivation

• Linkage analysis

• Investigative suggestions

• Multi-agency coordination

• Threat assessment and management

• Interview strategies

• Search warrant assistance

• Prosecution and trial strategies

• Expert testimony

• Critical Incident analysis