Profiling Homicide

This book deals with advanced issues relating to the empirical and scientific study, development and evaluation of offender profiling as an applied method for use in police investigations of homicide. It outlines the main psychological principles upon which offender profiling is based, including classification of criminal behaviour and behavioural change and consistency. The book builds on this by focussing on methodological questions relating to classifying crime scene behaviours related to homicide, linking crime scene behavioural types to offender characteristics, and linking serial homicide offences. Thoroughout the book the author is concerned to demystify erroneous ideas of what profiling is, to explain what it can offer to homicide research and investigations and to map out where the future lies in terms of key theoretical questions and practical research.