Profiling Violent Crimes: An Investigative Tool

About the Book

"Excellent book, I have used this for my Criminal Behavior course for a number of years. Very authoritative."
-Harry Cramer, Quincy University

The Fourth Edition of this best-selling text provides students with the most up-to-date information on the increasingly popular field of psychological profiling. Well-known authors Ronald M. Holmes and Stephen T. Holmes build upon their continued research and involvement in field investigation as a source of relevant and often high-profile case studies to illustrate theory and application of the methods discussed. The text is particularly readable and engaging, making frequent use of illustrative tables and figures and presenting occasional photos.

New to the Fourth Edition

• Offers a new chapter on Lizzie Borden (Chapter 14), analyzing this historic murder case with fresh insight and a unique analysis while retaining the chapter on Jack the Ripper, a classic unresolved serial murderer
• Covers more recent events such as the killings at Northern Illinois University and Virginia Tech
• Provides a new section on Santeria and the occult to understand the dogma and icons of these teachings and investigates reasons behind crimes committed by some followers
• Offers guidance to students for online graduate programs, seminars, and degrees in criminal profiling
• Includes updated tables and crime statistics throughout the text
• Presents new photos to offer authentic representations of violent crimes and offenders

Intended Audience
This best-seller has long been a successful supplemental text for undergraduate criminology and criminal justice courses, including Criminal Investigation, Criminal Profiling, Violent Crimes, Criminal Behavior, Field Investigation, and Forensic Psychology.

Table of Contents:
Preface 1. Psychological Profiling: An Introduction Inductive Versus Deductive Profiling Goals in Profiling Profiling: An Art, Not a Science Conclusion 2. Profiling in Fantasy and Fact Introduction Sherlock Holmes: The Master Detective Will Graham and The Red Dragon Clarice Starling and The Silence of the Lambs Zoe Koehler: A Female Serial Murderess Alex Cross Dr. Laszlo Kreizler: The Alienist and Angel of Darkness Other Works of Fiction and Psychological Profiling Profililng in Fact Profile of a Rape Case Case Profile: Mrs. Charlene L. Miller Conclusion 3. The Rationale for Psychological Profiling Personality and Crime Biology Culture Environment Common Experiences Unique Experiences New Ways of Viewing the Personality Assumptions of the Profiling Process Conclusion 4. Criminal Theories and Psychological Profiling Theories of Crime and Criminality Inidividual Theories of Crime Social/Ecological Theories of Crime Combining the Disciplines 5. The Analysis of the Crime Scene Beyond the Physical Evidence Psychological Profiling Typology Crime Scene Differences Conclusion 6. Arson and Psychological Profiling What Is Arson? Statistics on Arson A View of the Firesetter Typologies of Firesetters Firesetting Experience Organized Versus Disorganized Personality Conclusion 7. Profiling Serial Murderers Typology of Serial Murderers Spatial Mobility of Serial Killers Serial Murderers: General Characteristics Profiling A Serial Murder Case Conclusion 8. Psychological Profiling and Rape Definitions of Rape Statistics on Rape Selected Characteristics of Rapists Psychology and Rape Typology of Rapists Conclusion 9. Pedophilia and Psychological Profiling Definition of Terms: Child Molester or Pedophile Types of Pedophiles Profiling Child Molester Types Common Threads Among Child Molesters Conclusion 10. Autoeroticism What Is Autoerotic Sexual Behavior? Traits and Characteristics fo Autoeroticism Practitioners Autoerotic Scene Indicators Conclusion 11. Profiling Satanic and Cult-Related Murders Roots of Satanism Satanism in the United States The Satanic Bible Types of Personal Involvement in Satanism General Beliefs in Satansim Satanic Masses Satanic Ceremonies Crime Scene Elements Santeria and Occult Crimes Conclusion 12. Geography, Profiling and Predatory Criminals The Elements of Geographic Profiling The Nature of Geographic Profiling Computerized Geographic Analysis Conclusion 13. Jack the Ripper Introduction Victim: Mary Ann "Polly" Nichols Victim: Annie Chapman Victim: Elizabeth Stride Victim: Catharine Eddowes Victim: Mary Kelly Who Was Jack the Ripper? Conclusion 14. Lizzie Borden Key People in the Lizzie Borden Case The Murders The Crime Scene Additional Thoughts Conclusion 15. The Victim in Criminal Profiling Elements in the Victim Profiling Process Conclusion 16. The Future of Criminal Profiling Additional Uses for Profiling Education and Training for Profiling Computerized Monitoring Computerized Profiling Online Graduate Programs, Seminars, and Degrees Conclusion

About the Author :
Ronald M. Holmes is Coroner, in the Jefferson County Coroner′s office and Professor Emeritus of Justice Administration at the University of Louisville. He is the author of several books, among them Profiling Violent Crimes, Sex Crimes, and Serial Murder. He is also the author of more than 50 articles appearing in scholarly publications. He is Vice President of the National Center for the Study of Unresolved Homicides and has completed more than 500 psychological profiles for police departments across the United States. He received his doctorate from Indiana University. is Coroner, in the Jefferson County Coroner′s office and Professor Emeritus of Justice Administration at the University of Louisville. He is the author of several books, among them and He is also the author of more than 50 articles appearing in scholarly publications. He is Vice President of the National Center for the Study of Unresolved Homicides and has completed more than 500 psychological profiles for police departments across the United States. He received his doctorate from Indiana University. Stephen T. Holmes is Assistant Professor of Criminal Justice at the University of Central Florida. Prior to this position, he was a social science analyst for the National Institute of Justice in Washington, D.C. He has authored 6 books and more than 15 articles dealing with policing, drug testing, probation and parole issues, and violent crime. He received his doctorate from the University of Cincinnati.

Review :
"Excellent book, I have used this for my Criminal Behavior course for a number of years. Very authoritative." This is a really interesting book written by authors with clear expertise in the area. Although I enjoyed the book, the approach is not quite suitable for my undergraduate audience who would have to try to apply the theoretical frameworks they are being taught to the content. It does provide some really useful case studies though which will be useful for students who want a better understanding of core topics. I will add this to their supplementary reading list though as I think students will find the book very accessible. Provides excellent information on categories of behaviors. Text is right on topic for the class I am developing. Easy to read, easy to follow and extremely informative. This book was found to be very practical and applicable to the subject field. This book is easy to read and understand and will most definitely add value to students registering for all investigation of crime modules and forensic investigation modules. This book will most definitely be recommended to the University of South Africa Library as well as the library of the South African Police Services.

An interesting read with some high profile cases This book is an excellent suggested reading book for my criminology course. "Profiling Violent Crime" is an extensive yet easily accessible book that discusses the various applications of offender profiling. Clear, concise, and making frequent use of the authors′ case files to illustrate the application of theory to practice, the book is highly recommended to students of forensic and investigative psychology. This book is a phenomenal read. i found it very interesting and the information was clear and easy to read for all levels of learners. specifically the psychological theories for profiling criminals was very usual and has been adopted. Also it has been placed on the essential reading list. An engaging book, with some high profile case studies make this an interesting read. Looking at a range of crimes and historical profiling and how this is carried out and to what ends, a great book to aid psychology a,d personalty profiling. The "science" of profiling crimes is examined in a US context that is both historical and contemporaneous context. There are very good examples and insightful observations upon the subject matter." One of the best texts that I′ve read. Still trying to encourage adoption, but may be unsuccessful. A help for violent crime understanding This text will be particuarly useful for analysts working in or hoping to go into the criminal field. It provides an understanding of profiling for a number of crime types that will be useful to analysts.