How to Become a Private Criminal Profiler

A profiler learns about the criminal mind by studying and interviewing prisoners.

A criminal profiler is a law enforcement professional who reviews the actions and patterns of an unknown criminal and forms a hypothesis about the type of person who would commit such acts. Becoming a criminal profiler requires years of study and training. The FBI offers profiling classes to only the most highly-qualified applicants. Whether you study at with the Bureau at Quantico or with a state investigations unit, you will begin your career by building profiles for the police. A private criminal profiler has moved beyond this stage to work for defense attorneys as well as government entities.

Instructions

1. Obtain a bachelor's degree from a local community college or university. Focus your education on criminal justice, forensics and psychology. Choose one of these three subjects as your major.

2. Continue your college education until you receive a Ph.D. A bachelor's degree will allow you to become an FBI agent and apply for the forensics profiling training program. A private criminal profiler needs a Ph.D. to prove his expertise.

3. Apply for a position in a state or local law enforcement agency, or at the FBI. Work as a profiler for at least five years to get enough experience to strike out on your own.

4. Keep a detailed record of each case you work throughout your career. Make a synopsis of each of your records to use as a resume.

5. Contact local defense attorneys, law enforcement agencies and other government investigative entities. Offer your services as a contract forensic profiler. Give them each case synopsis for review and offer written as well as oral testimony consistent with your training.

References

• Intelicus: Criminal Profiler Career