There are many jobs for those who are in the criminal justice field. Even criminal justice degree students can start thinking about what may interest them the most. One of the jobs that one may tend to be the most interested in after studying the field is the job of a criminal profiler. Although there is no position labeled "profiler," the FBI offers positions labeled as "Special Agents."
A profiler analyzes and profiles the way people think and act, and this is based on the criminal's personal characteristics that the profiler can narrow down in order to catch them. Profiling is a technique that is used to solve murder cases or even serial killer cases. This type of position takes special training because one needs to think logically and reasonably. It is important to be able to get inside of the head of the criminal to be able to analyze what he or she may be thinking and to get an idea of the type of person you would be dealing with.
The goals of a profiler are to assess the crime scene in order to give authorities an idea of how they can catch the criminal. The FBI requires a degree in Behavioral or Forensic Science. Your education will also help you in understanding the different types of profiling methods that are used. This is important because when one method fails you can always pick up on another type of profiling method. Profiling is not as easy as it appears to be on television.
Not everyone requires an educational background, but it is important to get appropriate training so that one can be more successful. It is important to remember that profiling is not 100 percent accurate and without training you could lose respect amongst your co-workers and the police departments. One can never go wrong with the proper education!
About the Author: This article was writte by Karyn Aspan, criminal justice degree student through Rasmussen College Online. When Karyn graduates from Rasmussen College, she plans on attending law school. Her goal is to help children and animals and find ways to better protect their rights.