ABSTRACT
In this chapter we look at offender profiling. This is an aspect of forensic psychology which has become increasingly widely known, largely through fictionalised accounts in films and on television, as well as accounts of high-profile cases which have used this method. It is also an approach which has increasingly interested police forces and the Home Office. We begin by outlining what the term ‘offender profiling’ means. We then go on to look at the research and practice base for this work focusing initially on detailed studies of incarcerated offenders. We then review the analysis of crime scenes and how this is used to produce profiles. Finally, we consider the application of theories from environmental psychology to offender profiling.
