Is Profiling Dead?

What is criminal profiling?

• A practice used to predict features of an unknown suspect based on behaviors at the crime scene

• A technique used to analyze fingerprints and DNA evidence

• A method of identifying criminals through facial recognition technology

• A process of interviewing witnesses to gather information about a crime

Which TV shows and films have depicted criminal profiling?

• Criminal Minds, The Silence of the Lambs, Cracker, and Mindhunter

• CSI, Law & Order, and NCIS

• Breaking Bad, The Sopranos, and The Wire

• Friends, The Big Bang Theory, and Game of Thrones

What was the case of the Mad Bomber?

• A case in which a profiler accurately predicted the identity of a bomber

• A case in which a profiler failed to accurately predict the identity of a bomber

• A case in which a profiler used psychic-like talents to catch a bomber

• A case in which a profiler developed a profile based on statistical analysis

What did psychiatrist James Brussel predict about the Mad Bomber?

• He predicted the bomber's age, ethnicity, and occupation

• He predicted the bomber's favorite color and food

• He predicted the bomber's favorite TV show and music genre

• He predicted the bomber's shoe size and height

What percentage of criminal profiling publications were authored by FBI Special Agents and profilers?

• 7%

• 43%

• 17%

• 26%

What methods were used to develop offender profiles?

• Scientific process involving statistical analysis and clinical process involving experience and intuition

• Psychic-like talents and educated guesswork

• Interviewing witnesses and analyzing fingerprints

• Using facial recognition technology and analyzing DNA evidence

What percentage of police officers felt that offender profiles were operationally useful?

• 83%

• 17%

• 40%

• 14%

What was the success rate of profiles applied in the field according to the 'Coals to Newcastle' study?

• 2.7%

• 66%

• 17%

• 5%

What did the experiment on the effect of profiles used in active police investigations find?

• The police department using the profiles solved over 260% more crimes compared to the departments not using the profiles

• The police department using the profiles solved the same number of crimes compared to the departments not using the profiles

• The police department using the profiles solved fewer crimes compared to the departments not using the profiles

• The experiment did not yield any significant results

What is the conclusion about the accuracy of offender profiling?

• Statistically generated profiles are more likely to lead to positive results than profiles created using subjective clinical methods alone

• Profiles created using subjective clinical methods are more likely to lead to positive results than statistically generated profiles

• Offender profiling is a pseudoscience and should not be used in police investigations

• Bartenders are better than profilers at predicting human behavior