The term "criminal profiler" likely conjures images of popular characters such as Hannibal Lecter of The Silence of the Lambs or Dr. Samantha Waters from The Profiler. While television and movies have raised awareness of crime profiling as a profession, as with most careers it's important to separate fact from fiction.
The notion of a brilliant but deranged psychiatrist and murderer who spends his time in prison assisting rookie FBI agents on major cases is intriguing, but reality TV it's not. Nonetheless, a career as a criminal profiler can be a tremendously fascinating and intellectually stimulating pursuit.
Job Functions and Work Environment
Criminal profilers work closely with detectives and criminal investigators, helping them develop leads and suspects of high-profile crimes. Profilers look at a number of factors to help them determine everything they can about a particular criminal.
Profilers meticulously analyze information from crime scenes. They read reports from ballistics experts, bloodstain analysts and other forensic investigators, looking at every aspect of the crime to gather important insights into a suspects identity.
In a sense, a profiler is very much like a modern-day Sherlock Holmes, though they rely far more on deductive reasoning, hard facts and accepted principles. Criminal profilers take into consideration important details, such as:
- The manner in which crimes were committed
- The location of crimes
- The choice of victims
- The type of crimes
- The timing of crimes
- Any communications from the suspect
- The condition of the crime scenes
In addition to those listed, profilers look at a host of other factors to determine suspect characteristics such as age, race, residence and mental state.
The job of a criminal profiler often includes:
- Visiting and analyzing crime scenes
- Reading reports from investigators and other analysts
- Writing reports
- Providing court testimony
- Working with police officers and detectives
- Studying human behaviors and characteristics
Police are able to use the information gathered from criminal profilers to help them narrow their search for suspects. In high profile criminal cases, especially cases with multiple victims spread out over time, such as that of the D.C. Sniper, profilers are indispensable components of a criminal investigation.
Education And Skill Requirements
Criminal profiling is one of many professions within the field of forensic psychology. Profilers undergo extensive education and training. A successful profiler will need to have, at a minimum, a master's degree.
- Read more about forensic psychology
In actuality, though, profilers most often hold doctorates in psychology, with specializations in human and criminal behavior. In addition, profilers will attend other training and schooling to hone their trade, such as that conducted but the FBI in their Behavioral Science Unit.
Crime profiling requires critical thinking skills and the ability to deduce information from a variety of facts. It is very detail-oriented work. At the same time, a profiler must be able to "see the forest for the trees," maintaining a focus on the big picture. Strong analytical skills are also necessary.
Job Growth and Salary Outlook
Criminal profilers may work full time for a large investigative agency, such as the FBI, but more often they are private-practicing clinical psychologists who provide consulting services.
The top end of the salary scale for all forensic psychologists is above $100,000 dollars annually. Those in private practice are able to set their own hourly consulting rates, based on market factors within their geographic location.
Those interested in a career as a criminal profiler should consider becoming a clinical psychologist first, and begin branching out and specializing in human behavior. They may also look into the FBI's Behavioral Science Unit to find work and training.
Is a Career as a Criminal Profiler Right for You?
Criminal profiling is a highly analytical field, requiring tremendous attention to detail. It can also be an extremely intellectually stimulating career. Working as a criminal profiler is the perfect criminology career choice for those people interested in studying and analyzing deviant human behavior. People who enjoy puzzles and problem solving will be especially interested in a criminal profiler career.
- Criminal profiling not for you? Learn all about the highest paying jobs in criminology and criminal justice
- Want to know more? Learn all about the many great federal law enforcement careers available to people looking for jobs in criminal justice and criminology.
