How to Become A Criminal Profiler South Africa

Criminal profilers, also known as criminal investigative analysts, compile and compare data from similar crimes and offenders to create a profile of a suspect.

Below are steps to Become A Criminal Profiler South Africa

Step 1: Graduate from high school (four years).

Successful candidates in this profession typically excel in secondary (or postsecondary) courses in psychology, government and may even volunteer through a local law enforcement agency.

For example, Houston offers the Volunteer Initiatives Program (VIP) to qualified high school students across segments of its police department, and the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) provides similar opportunities.

Step 2: Get a bachelor’s degree in forensics, criminal justice, psychology, or a related discipline (four years).

For those aspiring to work in the upper echelons of criminal profiling, such as the Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) at the FBI, criminal investigative analysts must have at least a bachelor’s degree before enrolling in the FBI Academy.

Step 3: Attend a law enforcement academy (three to five months).

Successful criminal profilers generally have extensive experience in investigations. Therefore, it’s crucial to get some hands-on training in the field.

Qualifications for these agencies vary but generally include being a US citizen; having some college (or military) experience; being at least 18 to 21 years old; having a driver’s license; and possessing no felony (or severe misdemeanor) convictions.

Step 4: Garner experience in the field (several years).

Mary Ellen O’Toole, PhD—a prolific author, forensic behavioral consultant, and retired FBI profiler reports that profilers in the BAU generally have seven to fifteen years of investigative experience before joining the unit.

Step 5: Engage in ongoing training (varies).

In its survey of experienced criminal profilers, the FBI found that respondents recommended several types of continued training for aspiring members of their field, including areas such as forensics, forensic pathology, human behavior, crime scene analysis, risk assessment, threat assessment, legal issues, interviewing skills, and crime typologies.

What is the role of a criminal profiler in South Africa?

Criminal profilers, also known as criminal investigative analysts, compile and compare data from similar crimes and offenders to create a profile of a suspect. They form logical hypotheses based on witness reports, victim testimony and crime scene evidence.

Is criminal profiler a real job?

The FBI does not have a job called ‘Profiler. The actual job is called criminal behavioral analyst and, using a mixture of psychology and good old-fashioned police work, they help the FBI and local law enforcement generate leads based on the type of person who commits a particular crime.

What do you need to become a profiler in South Africa ?

Criminal profilers need a minimum of a bachelor’s degree in psychology, criminal justice, or behavioral science. Forensic psychology is also a common field of study for this career, but it is usually only offered at the master’s level.

Is criminal profiling hard?

The criticism does not stop at police, however. These same critics say criminal profiling is not a hard science, and so it cannot be helpful.

Medical doctors use behavioral profiling. They ask you about your symptoms and make educated guesses based on their past cases and apply that knowledge to you.

What skills does a criminal profiler need?

Successful criminal profilers must possess excellent analytical and critical thinking abilities, good communication skills, and the ability to effectively analyze scientific and statistical data.

How long does it take to become a profiler?

Most profilers working in the BAU have between seven and fifteen years of investigative experience before transferring to the BAU. The FBI requires a four-year college degree in any major in order to apply for the Agent position. You will want to choose a degree that YOU like, so you will complete your education.

What does a criminal behavior analyst do?

As mentioned, the principal duty of a Behavioral Analyst is to use available data to recreate crime scenes and to develop criminal behavioral profiles that will be used to capture offenders and prevent further crimes.