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CRIMINAL PROFILING BPS227

Duration (approx) 100 hours
Qualification
Statement of Attainment

Why Study Criminal Profiling?

By understanding how the criminal mind works, we can understand how to prevent criminal behaviour and why people behave the way that they do.

Crime isn't always extreme, nor is it always committed with serious, thought-out intent. People may harm others in a momentary loss of self-control.

Crimes can vary from soft crimes such as illegal possession of drugs to petty theft or slander; through to serious crimes such as murder, terrorism or sex trafficking.

Criminals can be motivated by many things from personality defects or mental illness through to circumstances beyond their control. 

Knowing the motivation that drives a criminal’s actions can be key to reducing criminal activity.

Who Is This Course Suitable For?

This course may be used as professional development training for employees; or as preparation for seeking employment in a wide range of situations including:

  • Security Guards
  • Crime writers
  • News reporters for print or broadcast media
  • Bouncers at a nightclub
  • Private Investigators
  • Insurance Agents investigating the validity of claims
  • Cybersecurity professionals
  • Social workers
  • Welfare workers
  • Law firm staff
  • Law enforcement officers and Prison guards 

Etc.

What Will You Learn in This Course?

During this course, you will learn more about –

  • How the criminal mind works.
  • How to prevent crime.
  • Law enforcement
  • Punishment
  • Rehabilitation
  • Profiling

It's easy to enrol...

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Course Structure

There are ten lessons in this course:

Lesson 1. Introduction to Criminal Profiling
Types of crime
Jack the Ripper
FBI behavioural science unit
What is criminal profiling?
Intelligence profiling
Other related terms
Investigative psychology
Crime scene profiling/crime scene analysis profiling
Premeditation
Crime of passion
MMPI
Victimology
Linkage analysis
Modus operandi
Signature behaviour
The criminal profiling process
What is included in a profile?
How are criminal profiles used?
Role of profiling
Who uses profiling?
Contributions of psychologists, psychiatrists

Lesson 2. Profiling Methods
Top down
Bottom up
Nomothetic vs. Idiographic profiling
Organised and disorganised offenders
Behavioural evidence analysis
Forensic analysis
Victimology
Crime analysis
Offender characteristics
Investigative psychology: statistical approach
Behavioural investigative advice
Geographical profiling
The main concepts of geographical profiling

Lesson 3. Crime Scene Analysis
Crime scene evidence
Crime scene location
Crime scene type
Choice of victim
Targeted victim
Opportunistic victim
Method of approach
Method of attack
Force
Method of control
Patterns and linkages
Method of operating
Signature
Case linkages
Writing a crime scene analysis

Lesson 4. Offender Characteristics
Who commits crimes?
Gender
Age
Relationships
Mental illness
Mental health and crime
Psychopathy
Sadism
Learning disabilities and crime
Gender and crime
Why are men more likely to commit crimes?
The general theory of crime
Nature & nurture
Sociological theories of why men commit more crimes than women
Sociobiological and evolutionary theories
Stereotyping and generalisations
Motives
Motivation
Understanding motive
Rapist motivational typology

Lesson 5. Victimology
Understanding victim profiles
Goal of forensic victimology
Victim backgrounds
Victim biases
Exposure of victims to crime
Lifestyle factors
Traits
Behaviours
Professions
Situational factors
Victim timelines
Case study – knife crime
Victims of serial killers
Offender-victim relationships
Problems with victim profiling
Incorrect profile
Stereotyping and generalisations
Reliability

Lesson 6. Offender Profiling – Sexual Crimes
Serial crimes
Types of sex crimes
Rape
Power reassurance type
Power assertive type
Anger retaliatory type
Anger excitement type (sadistic)
Serial rape
The use of profiling in rape cases
Finding the offender
Profiling rapists
Sexual murder
Cannibalism sexual murder

Lesson 7. Offender Profiling – Violent Crimes
Murder
Anger
Profit
Ideology
Mental illness
Serial killers or serial murderers
Visionary killers
Missionary killers
Hedonistic killers
Control or power killers
Organised killers
Disorganised Killers
Mixed killers
Stages of serial killing
Mass murder
Types of mass killers
Pseudo commando
Disciple
Disgruntled employee
Family annihilator
Set and run killer
Genocide
Terrorism

Lesson 8. Offender Profiling – White Collar Crimes
Blackmail and extortion
Intimidation
Cybercrime
Phishing scams
Identity theft
Intellectual property infringement
Cyberstalking
Online harassment
Hacking
Fraud
Insurance reports
Unlawful sackings
Arson
Common profiles of white-collar offenders
Shoplifter profiler
Offender profile – hackers

Lesson 9. Offender Profiling – Victimless Crimes, Consensual Crimes and Other Crimes
Theft & robbery crime
Workplace bullying
Corporal punishment
Domestic violence
Initiation ceremonies
Hazing
Self-defence
Neighbourhood disputes
Softer crimes
Case studies
The case of the Unabomber (Ted Kaczynski)
The case of the Beltway Snipers (John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo)
The case of the Boston Strangler (Albert Desalvo)

Lesson 10. Profiling in Action
Profiling in action – Jeffrey Dahmer
Gathering information
Writing reports for divorce cases
Criminal profiling as expert witness testimony
Jury decision-making
Accuracy issues
Public perception
Miscarriage of justice in criminal profiling
The case of Richard Jewell (1996)
The case of Colin Stagg (1992)
The case of Ronald Cotton (1984)
The case of Gary Dotson (1977)
Why is criminal profiling important to society as a whole?
Outlook on profiling
Uses of profiling
The future of criminal profiling
Criminal profiling and artificial intelligence

Each lesson culminates in an assignment which is submitted to the school, marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.

Aims

  • Describe the nature and scope of criminal profiling.
  • Explain different methods used for criminal profiling.
  • Describe how a crime scene may be analysed.
  • Describe criminal offender characteristics.
  • Describe different types of victims.
  • Describe the common profiles of sex crime offenders and victim profiles.
  • Describe the common profiles of violent crime offenders.
  • Describe common profiles of white-collar crime offenders.
  • Apply criminal profiling to victimless crimes, consensual crimes, and other crimes.

Discuss the application of criminal profiling, and its importance to society.

What Are the Advantages of Studying Criminal Profiling with ACS Distance Education?

  • You can start at any time to suit you.
  • The courses are self-paced.
  • You can study when and where suits you. They are flexible to fit in around you and your lifestyle.
  • It is not just a course, it is a package of learning that includes – course notes, tutor feedback, self-assessment tests, research tasks and assignments.
  • Our tutors are all experts in their field, with years of experience in psychology and counselling.
  • They are also keen and enthusiastic about their subject and enjoy working with students to improve their knowledge and skills.
  • Courses are also updated regularly to meet the demands of the changing needs for knowledge and to keep our courses up to date.

What Next?

Study criminal profiling to understand more about how the criminal mind works. This could be for professional/career development, CPD or personal interest. 

You can enrol today by clicking the “Enrol Now” button above.

Or

Click here to Contact a Psychology Tutor.

Or Request a Prospectus Here.

Courses can be started anytime from anywhere in the world!

Meet some of our academics

Jacinda Cole B.Sc.,M.Psych.Psychologist, Educator, Author, Psychotherapist. B.Sc., Psych.Cert., M. Psych. Cert.Garden Design, MACA. Jacinda has over 25 years of experience in psychology, in both Australia and England. She has co-authored several psychology text books and many courses including diploma and degree level courses in psychology and counselling. Jacinda joined ACS in 2001.
Jade SciasciaBiologist, Business Coordinator, Government Environmental Dept, Secondary School teacher (Biology); Recruitment Consultant, Senior Supervisor in Youth Welfare, Horse Riding Instructor (part-completed) and Boarding Kennel Manager. Jade has a B.Sc.Biol, Dip.Professional Education, Cert IV TESOL, Cert Food Hygiene.
Tracey Jones (psychology)B.Sc. (Hons) (Psychology), M.Soc.Sc (social work), DipSW (social work), PGCE (Education), PGD (Learning Disability Studies) Tracey began studying psychology in 1990. She has a wide range of experience within the psychology and social work field, particularly working with people with learning disabilities. She is also qualified as a teacher and now teaches psychology and social work related subjects. She has been a book reviewer for the British Journal of Social Work and has also written many textbooks, blogs, articles and ebooks on psychology, writing, sociology, child development and more. She has had also several short stories published.


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