Information on Serial Killers

Information on Serial Killers & Criminal profiling

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The Information on serial killers section of the All About Forensic Psychology website forms part of a wider initiative to make important, insightful and engaging psychology publications widely available.

This particular Kindle collection consists primarily of the landmark articles written by members of the Behavioral Science Units, National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime, at the FBI Academy. These seminal publications in the history of FBI profiling were released by the U.S. Department of Justice as part of the information on serial killers provided by the FBI's Training Division.

The Serial Killer & FBI Profiling Collection

Criminal Profiling from Crime Scene Analysis by John Douglas, Robert Ressler, Ann Burgess & Carol Hartman

This seminal publication in the history of FBI profiling was released by the U.S. Department of Justice as part of the information on serial killers provided by the FBI's Training Division and Behavioral Science Unit at Quantico, Virginia. Topics addressed include:

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Criminal Profiling from Crime Scene Analysis

A Criminal Investigative Analysis of Jack The Ripper by John Douglas

Originally published in 1988, this previously classified FBI dossier documents the criminal investigative analysis prepared by criminal profiling pioneer John Douglas; who at the time of writing was a special agent at the FBI National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime (NCAVC).

In presenting his analysis of the infamous Jack The Ripper serial murder case, Douglas addressed a number of key areas, these included:

Note From The Editor

As well as been able to read this classic publication in full, links to a series of information resources have also been included for anybody who would like to learn more about criminal profiling.

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A Criminal Investigative Analysis of Jack The Ripper

Articles From Interviews With 36 Sexual Murderers: FBI Behavioral Science Unit Publication

Presenting two landmark articles written by members of the Behavioral Science Units, National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime, at the FBI Academy which were released by the U.S. Department of Justice as part of the information on serial killers provided by the FBI's Training Division.

The articles arose from the interviews conducted by FBI Special Agents with incarcerated sexual murderers; a sub-sample of 36 sexual murderers was selected for analysis with the aim of fostering an understanding of some of the dynamics behind sexually deviant behavior and to develop further information for profiling such murders.

The Men Who Murdered:

The first article presents a series of general statements regarding what the FBI Special Agents learned about the 36 sexual murderers in relation to such things as; background characteristics, family background, attitudes and beliefs.

The Split Reality of Homicide:

The second article presents the thoughts and beliefs articulated by the murderers themselves. The structure of conscious motives for murder is discussed, as is what happens when the fantasy of murder is played out through its various phases. By presenting an interpretation of the fantasy's importance to the serial killer, the article seeks to suggest perspectives for law enforcement on the investigation of sexual homicide.

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Articles From Interviews With 36 Sexual Murderers

Serial Murder: Multi-Disciplinary Perspectives For Investigators by The U.S Department of Justice

In 2005 the FBI’s National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime, Behavioral Analysis Unit hosted a 5 day symposium on serial murder. The goal of the Symposium was to bring together a group of respected experts on serial murder from a variety of fields and specialties, to identify the commonalities of knowledge regarding serial murder.

A total of 135 subject matter experts attended the five-day event. These individuals included law enforcement officials who have successfully investigated and apprehended serial killers; mental health, academic, and other experts who have studied serial killers and shared their expertise through education and publication; officers of the court, who have judged, prosecuted, and defended serial killers; and members of the media, who inform and educate the public when serial killers strike.

The agenda encompassed a variety of topics related to serial murder including common myths, definitions, typologies, pathology and causality, forensics, the role of the media, prosecution issues, investigative task force organization, and major case management issues.

This invaluable publication is based on the input and discussion of the attendees on the major issues related to serial murder. The contents are based upon the notes taken during the presentations, panel discussions, and break-out group sessions. These were:

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Serial Murder: Multi-Disciplinary Perspectives For Investigators

A Psychological Assessment of Crime Profiling by Richard Ault & James Reese

A Psychological Assessment of Crime Profiling is one of a series of landmark articles written by members of the Behavioral Science Units, National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime, at the FBI Academy.

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A Psychological Assessment of Crime Profiling

Criminal Profiling: A Viable Investigative Tool Against Violent Crime

In the early 1970s, Special Agent Howard Teten and others in the FBI began to apply the insights of psychological science to violent criminal behavior. In 1972, the FBI Academy launched a Behavioral Science Unit—later called the Behavioral Analysis Unit—which began looking for patterns in the behavior of serial rapists and killers. Agents John Douglas and Robert Ressler conducted systematic interviews of serial killers like John Wayne Gacy, Ted Bundy, and Jeffrey Dahmer to gain insight into their modus operandi, motivations, and backgrounds. This collected information helped agents draw up profiles of violent criminals eluding law enforcement.

By the 1980s, the concept of criminal investigative analysis was maturing into a full-fledged investigative tool for identifying criminals and their future actions by studying their behaviors, personalities, and physical traits. Accordingly, in July 1984, the Bureau opened the National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime (NCAVC) on the campus of the FBI Academy to provide sophisticated criminal profiling services to state and local police for the first time.

Criminal Profiling: A Viable Investigative Tool Against Violent Crime is one of a series of landmark articles written by members of the Behavioral Science Units, National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime, at the FBI Academy.

See following link for full details.

Criminal Profiling: A Viable Investigative Tool Against Violent Crime

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