How Forensic Psychologists Assist Police with Profiling

Provide some examples of how psychologists assist police with profiling. Does mental illness play a part in profiling?
© BrainMass Inc. brainmass.com March 21, 2019, 4:23 pm ad1c9bdddf
https://brainmass.com/psychology/abnormal-psychology/how-forensic-psychologists-assist-police-with-profiling-183842
Solution Preview

Hi,

Interesting question! Let’s take a closer look.

RESPONSE:

1. Provide some examples of how psychologists assist police with profiling. Does mental illness play a part in profiling?

For example, let’s assume that the police are trying to solve a case but need information about the criminal mind that is responsible for the crime. Criminal psychology comes into play. for example, requests for psychological assistance may come from specific investigative units within the department such as the homicide unit, sex crimes unit or “violent crimes committed against persons” division for the purposes of “criminal investigative analysis” or “criminal psychological personality profiling.”

To assist the police in this example, psychologists would be called to help with profiling. For example, a psychologist who has the training and knowledge with the understanding of criminal minds will detail the different elements that lead to a criminal committing these crimes. The profiler is based on the criminal psychology to help the police to discover the next hit or the next target for criminals. This investigative method is also of great help to the police in stopping the criminally insane. http://hubpages.com/hub/Criminal-Psychologist-Profile

Examples of what the psychologist does to help the police in profiling:

· Helps with the crime scene analysis, criminal investigative analysis or what is often referred to as “profiling,” which involves carefully detailing the crime scene area identified by officers, detectives, coroners, …