This book aims to demonstrate how forensic psychology contributes to police investigations, providing practical information about the type of reports provided by psychologists and behavioural advisors, and set within a broader theoretical context. It asks the question 'What do practitioners actually do when they provide advice for the police and the courts and how do they do it?'
The contributors to the book are all experts in the field of offender profiling and behavioural investigative advice. The chapters provide valuable insights into particular case details, the ethical and legal consequences of advice, coverage of the relevant theoretical context, explanations for conclusions drawn, practical difficulties in preparing reports, potential pitfalls, and an account of how cases are resolved.
Part 1: The Context of Criminal Investigation 1. From trait-based profiling to psychological contributions to apprehension methods 2. Jack the Ripper and the Whitechapel murders: a very Victorian critical incident 3. Psychological research and police investigations: does the research meet the needs? 4. Suspect prioritization in the investigation of sex offences: from clinical classification and profiling to pragmatism 5. The range of issues in crime analysis 6. The interpersonal dynamics of police interviewing 7. Policing the police: theoretical and practical contributions of psychologists to understanding and preventing corruption 8. Working with the courts: advice for expert witnesses Part 2: Advising on Investigations 9. Rhetorical shaping in an undercover operation: the investigation of Colin Stagg in the Rachel Nickell murder enquiry 10. Guidelines for profilers 11. Assessing the reliability of interviews with vulnerable witnesses 12. Malingering or memory loss in a major collision investigation: reconstructing accounts of suspects, victims and witnesses 13. Suicide or murder? Implicit narratives in the Eddie Gilfoyle case 14. A stalking management programme: preparing advisory material for non-psychologists 15. Consent, inference and patterns of abuse in a case of domestic violence 16. Conclusions: personal reflections on the last decade
