Criminal+Profiling+Video+KS


 * Define Criminal Profiling:** Criminal Profiling is an investigative technique used to help create a better idea of the type of person that police are searching for in different investigations. A profile can include anything from socioeconomic background, to height and or weight. It is important to remember that these profiles do not provide police with an exact suspect, but rather help to narrow down the possibly large number of suspects they may have. Criminal Profilers, like John Douglas in the Williams case, can also help prosecutors or the defense during an actual trial. The profilers can help to predict what might make a suspect look guilty, or snap. The technique of profiling is one that is relatively new, and wasn't accepted as an important piece of an investigation until recently. Profiles can be especially useful when searching for a serial killer, because patterns may be more prominent due to the large amount of possible evidence.

In an Atlanta suburb, many black children and teenagers are found dead. When police called investigators in to help try to locate any suspects, the criminal profilers helped create a profile that would eventually help lead to a conviction. From the location of the kills, the profilers were able to determine that the suspect would probably be a black male in his mid 20s. They also predicted that he would be a police buff, because he needed to be able to lure children in. This was the original profile that profilers created, and it was used to help confirm any possible suspects. After the original murders, police were able to pull fiber evidence from many of the bodies, and so the profilers also helped to predict what the killer would do next. The profilers predicted that the next victims would be found near water, due to the fact that water is the perfect place to hide evidence. So, when Wayne Williams was pulled over on the bridge over the river where the last victims were found, the investigators used the profile that they used in order to help determine whether Williams was their suspect. Williams was a black male, in his mid 20s, and he had been arrested several times for impersonating an officer. He matched.
 * Pick one killer/case and describe how criminal profiling was used to catch him/her -**

During the trial, the profiles also were able to help predict what would make Williams tick, and how to get him to appear guilty. When he was behaving incredibly calm on the stand, the profiling team told prosecutors to ask him what it was like to strangle the little boys. When Williams snapped and inadvertently admitted to killing the boys, the prosecution knew they had won. However it is clear that the investigators would not have won the case without the help of the profiling team.

Wayne Williams - 28 children and teenagers dead - complaint of a foul odor in Atlanta - victims were shot and strangled - unique opportunity to use new and controversial investigative technique - criminal profiling - suspect is probably a black male - someone who could move through the predominantly black neighborhood unnoticed - patterns of behavior and background - Profile doesn't solve the case by itself. It's a piece in the puzzle. - What areas did the offender feel comfortable abducting/leaving the children? - Black male, early mid 20s, police buff living in community ^ atlanta police officers were outraged that the suspect was supposedly black - hair and fiber evidence pulled from bodies of at least 10 victims proved the cases were connected. - predicted that next victims would be found near water - the investigators were finding bodies with evidence, and water would be a good way to wash this evidence away. - all of the new victims were strangled - Wayne WIlliams pulled over on the bridge - fit profile ^ police buff: impersonating a cop to gain access to victims; kids thought he was a cop because he still held a badge - grown up in same place he lived now in Atlanta - music promoter Williams became the prime suspect - murder spree came to a halt - search warrant for matching hair and fiber evidence - positive evidence of hair and clothing for 12 of the murders. - Arrest was a vindication of the new idea of investigation - only had enough evidence to prosecute two of the murders - second profile of Williams: angry young man seeking power, wears a mask to cover personal inadequacies, used a script - John Douglas: jury was losing interest ^ one week from today, williams is going to fake illness. they're losing the case, and it will be a sympathy case called back again to make predictions - take the stand in his own defense, keep him on the stand as long as possible to see if williams would break. on the third day of cross examination, douglas suggested that the prosecution, "violate william's body space." And ask "what was it like?" - insight from criminal profiling - william's defense team never recovered Feb. 27 1982 - guilty of murders, and two life terms in prison.
 * Movie Notes:**