Criminal Profiling: Theories and Practice

This criminal profiling course will give you an understanding of the development of various profiling methods and the ways they are applied to cases. Learn how a profile of a law-breaker may be formed under each, and understand some of the areas a profile can be applied to such as linking serial crimes. You will also learn about the history of criminal and enemy profiling, the CIA, motives and crime mapping. Perfect for staring a career as s forensic scientist or crime scene investigator

Certificate of completion

Digital certificate - Included

Course Highlights

• Includes 40 lectures and over 2 hours of content.
• Uses various case studies to highlight certain points and theories as well as supportive PDF material.
• Learn about the development of individual profiling methods, and what each method is based on.
• Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each profiling method.
• Suitable for anyone interested in understanding the offender motive and linking the crimes of a serial offender.

Course Overview

This course is ideal for anyone interested in criminal profiling, forensic psychology or the history, techniques and methods utilized for identifying criminal suspects. You will understand the difference between the types of logic and reasoning used to develop profiles and the theories behind your favourite crime cases, documentaries, and even TV shows.

Instructor Bio

This course is taught by Dr. Wayne Petherick, a forensic criminologist and an Associate Professor of Criminology in the Faculty of Society and Design at Bond University. He teaches Criminal Profiling, Criminal Motivations, Forensic Criminology, Profiling and Crime Analysis, Crime and Deviance, and Applied Crime Analysis and has published textbooks in those areas.

Curriculum

Introduction

• Introduction to this course
• The History of Offender Profiling
• Handout - Course Handbook
• Types of profiling
• The history of offender profiling
• Serial offenders: Developmental problems
• A history of Witchcraft
• The Salem witch trials
• Identifying witches
• Judicium Dei (Judgement of God)
• Water trials
• Fire trials

Crime Analysis

• Crime analysis - who did what to whom?
• Intelligence analysis
• Types of crime analysis
• Crime Linkage
• Categorisation
• Current Approaches to Offender Profiling
• The difference in approach between the UK and the USA
• David Canter
• Profiling techniques
• Investigative psychology
• Victimology
• Typological profiling
• Typographical offender profiling
• Psychological profiling
• Geographical profiling
• Handout - Activity 1, profile the crime scene

Profiling the Offender

• Profiling the offender
• Psychopathy
• Stages of profiling
• Paraphilia
• Psychologist place in profiling
• Traits of offenders
• Types of serial killers
• Serial, mass and spree killers
• Types of annihilators
• Ireland's serial killers
• More on the history of Irish serial killers
• Characteristics of serial killers
• Modus Operandi and Signature
• Handout - Activity 2, identify the type killer in the crime scene

Profiles of Serial Killers

• Jack The Ripper
• Cayetano Santos Godino
• The Babes of Inglewood
• Adolf Hitler
• The Mad Bomber of New York
• The Yorkshire Ripper
• The Future of Offender Profiling
• The future of offender profiling
• Strengths and weaknesses of offender profiling
• Conclusion to the course

Course Assessment

• Quiz - End of course assessment

Course Highlights

• Includes 40 lectures and over 2 hours of content.
• Uses various case studies to highlight certain points and theories as well as supportive PDF material.
• Learn about the development of individual profiling methods, and what each method is based on.
• Discuss the strengths and weaknesses of each profiling method.

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Suitable for anyone interested in understanding the offender motive and linking the crimes of a serial offender.

This course has no prerequisites

This course can prepare you for a career as a criminal investigator, detective, or general law enforcement work.