Criminal profiling has effectively served to help in solving some criminal cases. Criminal profiling has, however, received some criticism due to the problems it presents, as mentioned by the student. One right problem mentioned by the student is the lack of assurance by the investigators that someone will meet the criteria that the psychologists use in trying to figure out who the culprit might be. The student, therefore, rightfully points out that the process of criminal profiling might not be 100% effective, thereby acknowledging that criminal profiling has its flaws. I will add that another disadvantage is that it will be hard to arrest criminals using criminal profiling as eyewitnesses may not easily observe specific characteristics, thereby not being able to identify the criminal (Costanzo & Krauss, 2018). Information used in criminal profiling can be 100% effective when interviewing the suspect (Costanzo & Krauss, 2018). Certain information might not be useful in cases where the criminal is not known and is on the run. For example, in the case involving the BTK killer, Costanzo and Krauss noted that the killer’s characteristics were a complete opposite of what the investigators had anticipated him to be. It is, therefore, a positive observation that the student acknowledges that criminal profiling still has its weaknesses, thus questioning its effectiveness. For example, the BTK killer case was not solved by profiling but by painstaking police work and a slipup by the criminal. It is also true that profiling has led investigators to wrong suspects. Like in the case of Olympic park bombing that the traits described by the FBI led police to one innocent Richard Jewell, who was a security guard at the Olympic Park. With all the weaknesses involving profiling, it is right that the student has noted that a solid scientific basis should be used during investigations. It will be vital to note that profiling should be employed when other investigation procedures, such as the use of DNA evidence, have proved futile. Criminal profiling merely depends on assumptions about the criminal’s motive, behavior, personality, and demographics due to the crime scene (Costanzo & Krauss, 2018). The student also rightfully notes that criminal profiling is not 100% effective. I, therefore, strongly agree with the student that criminal profiling has many flaws. It is also true that profiling can lead to loss of tunnel vision, as seen in the case involving the Olympic Park bombing, where the profilers lost a more comprehensive vision and concentrated centrally on traits that only described an innocent lad (Costanzo & Krauss, 2018). The example given by the student about a shooting carried out by two black men. At the same time, the profilers had earlier described the shooter as a white man who is also a shred of substantial evidence that profiling can lead to tunnel vision. I will agree with the student that DNA testing is a more sure way to catch criminals than the use of profiling (Morton & Hilts 2017). I strongly agree with the student disputing the notion according to the mental health professionals’ assumptions that every criminal has some mental illness. It is not true that every criminal has a mental illness. Costanzo and Krauss (2018) reported that the BTK killer was of sound mind, had a family, had a job, and was well educated. I would add that this assumption by mental health professionals further points out the weaknesses of criminal profiling. The student rightfully notes that in as much as mental health professionals would not make good profilers, they can significantly provide great addition that would add more insight into a criminal case. In conclusion, I would like to commend both students for acknowledging that criminal profiling still has its flaws. Both students, therefore, states that investigators should primarily rely on DNA evidence during investigations (Morton & Hilts, 2017). I would also like to add that criminal profiling should be the last method used by investigators in cases where other methods of investigations have failed. Is criminal profiling the right way to go despite all its flaws?
References
Costanzo, M. & Krauss, D. (2018). Forensic and Legal Psychology [Kindle version]. Retrieved from Amazon.com
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Morton, R.J & Hilts, M.A. (2017). Criminal Profiling; Encyclopedia of Forensic and Legal Medicine (Second Edition).
