Criminal profiling has become a very popular and controversial topic. Profiling is used in different ways to identify a suspect or offender in a criminal investigation. “Criminal profiling is the process of using behavioral and scientific evidence left at a crime scene to draw conclusions about the offender, including inferences about personality characteristics and psychopathology” (Torres, Boccaccini, & Miller, 2006, p. 51). “The science of profiling is based on two fundamental elements: basic forensic science and empirical behavioral research. Forensic science includes blood spatter analysis, crime scene reconstruction, and autopsy evidence. Empirical behavioral research identifies offender typologies, links criminal behaviors to suspect identifiers, and determines base rates” (Cook & Hinman, 1999, p. 239). Criminal profiling is the main subject of many books, TV shows and films for entertainment purposes, which is why it is usually more fiction than reality. I think this could be a logical reason why criminal profiling is so widely used and why it is widely misunderstood and misinterpreted. Movies and TV shows portray criminal profiling as 100% accurate and widely accepted. Profiling is typically used in cases involving violent crimes such as murder and rape. Contrary to popular belief, criminal profiling applies to all types of crimes, not just murder (Bartol and Bartol, 2012). Most studies of criminal profiling focus on violent criminals (Cook & Hinman, 1999). That said, criminal profiling of serial killers has intrigued people more than any other investigative technique. I think it's because people find murderers more interesting than thieves. Entertainment...... middle of paper ......oi:10.1177/0306624X02239273Kocsis, RN (2003). Criminal psychological profiling: Validities and capabilities. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 47(2), 126-144. doi:10.1177/0306624X03251092Pinizzotto, AJ & Finkel, NJ (1990). Criminal personality profiling: A study of outcomes and process. Law and Human Behavior, 14(3), 215-233. doi:10.1007/BF01352750Snook, B., Eastwood, J., Gendreau, P., Goggin, C., & Cullen, RM (2007). Taking stock of criminal profiling: a narrative review and meta-analysis. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 34(4), 437-453. doi:10.1177/0093854806296925Torres, AN, Boccaccini, MT, & Miller, HA (2006). Perceptions of the validity and usefulness of criminal profiling among forensic psychologists and psychiatrists. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 37(1), 51-58. do I:10.1037/0735-7028.37.1.51