FBI - Behavioral Science Unit

[Sky]

Hi,

I'm curious as to what the FBI's requirements are to apply to their BSU team. I believe this unit comprises the otherwise known as "profilers" team, if I'm not mistaken.

I cannot seem to find any information on the FBI's web site. Is that considered a special agent position?

Thank you for your help.

Sky

[AndrewTx]

Hey fellow, I was bored so I did a quick search. I hope this info helps.

http://www.fbi.gov/employment/bsuintern.htm
http://www.fbi.gov/hq/td/academy/bsu/bsu.htm
http://www.usatoday.com/community/ch...-02-15-fbi.htm

From online Q&A chat:

Boston, MA: Would you explain a bit more about what the Behavioral Analysis Unit does and maybe when it helped recently capture somebody?

Special Agents Larry Ankrom and Steve Etter: The Behavioral Analysis Unit examines a wide variety of cases at the request of State, local or federal law enforcement authorities. The cases are examined based on the specific facts and circumstances of the case. The goal is to identify offender behavior exhibited during the commission of the crime and develop investigative strategies, interview recommendations, offender characteristics and traits and other suggestions that can be applied by the the case investigators. Our services constitute one of many tools available to investigators to help solve cases. It is through the diligent work of the case investigators and often
cooperation from the public that capture criminals and solve cases.



From FBI website:

The unit's personnel are primarily Supervisory Special Agents and experienced instructors and veteran police officers with advanced degrees in the behavioral science disciplines of psychology, criminology, and sociology. The Behavioral Science Unit professional personnel also include a clinical forensic psychologist, research analyst, a management analyst, and a technical information specialist.

The Behavioral Science Unit conducts specialized and applied training in the above disciplines as they pertain to law enforcement for New Agents, FBI inservices and symposia, as well as for the FBI National Academy Program, international police officers, field police schools, and criminal justice‑related organizations and conferences consistent with goals and objectives, and available resources.

In its research, the Behavioral Science Unit focuses on developing new and innovative investigative approaches and techniques to the solution of crime by studying the offender, and his/her behavior and motivation. Some of this research is conducted in partnership with outside researchers and through interagency agreements with the Office of Justice Programs, and the Department of Justice. Some of the current research initiatives include: Intuitive Policing, Homicide Clearance, Law Enforcement Officers Killed and Assaulted, Structure of Hate Crime, Reliability and Validity of Official Crime Statistics, Gangs and Gang Violence, Emerging Technologies and Policing, Future of Law Enforcement, Guidelines for Interviewing Juveniles, Quantifying Lethal Injuries, Countering Terrorism, Use of Deadly Force, Juvenile Crime, Spirituality and the Law and Air Rage.

[Sky]

Thank you so much for all this information. I appreciate your time greatly!

[Redman]

Hi,

I'm curious as to what the FBI's requirements are to apply to their BSU team. I believe this unit comprises the otherwise known as "profilers" team, if I'm not mistaken.

I cannot seem to find any information on the FBI's web site. Is that considered a special agent position?

Thank you for your help.

Sky

Ah, been watching Criminal Minds have we? :D

[Sky]

Ah, been watching Criminal Minds have we? :D

Sure have! I hope this show lives to see a second season.

[retdetsgt]

Criminal profiling is a waste of human energy.

Suspects are caught by following leads, not looking for individuals who live with their mothers, didn't get along with their fathers, were loners, etc.:rolleyes:

It's interesting to see after the person is caught if they match the profile, but otherwise they're useless. No decent investigator is going to dismiss a suspect because he doesn't match the profile.

[Group9]

The FBI "mind hunters" were primarily responisble for most of the law enforcement officers in Maryland and Virginia looking for "two angry white male racists between 20 and 40" when the Beltway snipers were on the loose.

They were also responsible for the arrest of Richard Jewel for the Olympic bombing when GBI investigators were telling them they were crazy to even think Jewell could have done it. I was partnered up with a GBI agent during that investigation who told me when GBI finally walked out of the Task Force over the Jewell issue because they couldn't get the FBI agents pried away from the profilers who said Jewell did it because he craved attention.

[jarobins]

Suspects are caught by following leads, not looking for individuals who live with their mothers, didn't get along with their fathers, were loners, etc.:rolleyes:

I thought suspects were caught because a math professor writes an algebraic equation that leads you right to the suspect's front door. ;)

(i.e "Numbers" on CBS).