[12] Most commonly used for homicide and sexual cases, criminal profiling helps law enforcement investigators narrow down and prioritize a pool of suspects.
[14] However, there is a substantial lack of empirical research and effectiveness evaluations validating the practice of criminal profiling.
[13][15][16] Due to the lack of empirical research, it is important that criminal profiling is used as a tool in investigative cases.
(see also: FBI method of profiling) Profilers, or criminal investigative analysts, are trained and experienced law enforcement officers who study every behavioral aspect and detail of an unsolved violent crime scene, in which a certain amount of psychopathology has been left at the scene.
[19] Similar historical data supports the substantially higher incarceration of African American people.
[21] Negative ethnic stereotypes contribute to this disproportionate incarceration; it has served as a justification for the unofficial policies and practices of racial profiling by criminal justice practitioners.
[22] The cultural, environmental and traditional concepts of communities play a major role in individual psychology, providing profilers with a potential basis for behavioral patterns learned by offenders during their upbringing.
The effect of psychosocial factors on brain functioning and behavior is a central part of analysis for both forensic and criminal psychologists, under the category of applied psychology.
For forensic psychiatry, major areas of criminal evaluations include assessing the ability of an individual to stand trial, providing an opinion on what the mental state of the individual was at the time of offense risk management for future offenses (recidivism), providing treatment to criminals including medication and psychotherapy, and being an expert witness.
If declared insane, an offender may be committed to a secure hospital facility, potentially for much longer than they would have served in prison.
[24] There are several programs that attempt to help teens and young adults that are having disciplinary problems and involvement with the law.
[27] There is evidence that these tools help with violence and crime, but health professionals have mixed reviews on if they are effective.
[10] Some people that are in the system come from lower socioeconomic status and have childhood trauma that later results in mental illness, and this increases the likelihood of them being involved with the law at a young age.
[29] Criminal profilers require a master's degree or a doctorate, several years of experience and in some cases passing state examinations to become a licensed psychologist.
[30] Criminal profilers can work in various settings including offices and courtrooms and can be employed at a number of institutions.
[31] Some of the top paying states for forensic psychologists are New Hampshire, Washington, New York, Massachusetts, and California.