Hunting Serial Predators: A Multivariate Classification Approach to Profiling Violent Behavior

The majority of the available published accounts of serial murderers are not in scholarly or technical publications. Even such few academic reviews as do exist typically commence with reference to fictional accounts so that the profile of a serial murderer is typically far from clear or precise. Hunting Serial Predators is unique in that each chapter, written in detail, explains how to research and interpret, psychologically, the crime scene actions of serial killers. The book provides the reader an empirical facet model of the crime scene actions of American serial murderers based on information available to a police inquiry; an overview of the related scientific knowledge, introducing a new method to classify the serial predator, and accounts of the process and difficulties of profiling the serial murderer. By presenting a classification model of serial murderers and their crime scene behaviors based on empirical and repeatable studies, this book makes significant advances in the areas of police investigations, etiology, and treatment possible. The empirical process used to analyze serial murderers' crime scene actions described in Hunting Serial Predators makes it possible to make logical decisions about how to detect, apprehend, and eventually access their dangerousness.

Table of Contents:
Each chapter in this unique and detailed book explains how to research and psychologically interpret the crime scene actions of serial killers. It provides readers with an empirical facet model of the crime scene actions of American serial murderers; an overview of the related scientific knowledge; an introduction to a new method of classifying serial predators; and accounts of the process and difficulties of profiling the serial murderer. The process used to analyze serial murderers' crime scene actions described in this book makes it possible to make logical decisions about how to detect, apprehend, and eventually access their dangerousness.

Review :
"Dr. Godwin has written a thorough and eminently readable work that is unique in the growing literature on serial murder. Combining a judicious review of past approaches to crime scene behavior, crime reconstruction, and classification theory, with a meticulous presentation of the newest precision investigative methodology, he has made a contribution to the field that is essential reading for mental health and law enforcement professionals." -John Philpin, retired forensic psychologist and author of "Tunnel of Night" and "Stalemate" "Godwin's nonsubjective quantitative emphasis, with research-based findings, makes his book a major contribution to the field. It represents a significant step forward in bringing investigative profiling from a field largely dependent on the unique skill, intuition, and expertise of the profiler to one where conclusions are empirically derived from research. Members of law enforcement, forensic psychologists, psychiatrists, and criminologists who consult on serial murder investigations, and attorneys who will retain or cross-examine profiling experts-all need to be familiar with this very important book. Clearly Godwin has taken on an arduous task here, but by and large he has accomplished his goals." -The Journal of Psychiatry & Law 28/Winter 2000