Criminal Profiling While many cases have evidence that provides clues to the offender, some cases leave investigators with no apparent information at all. In these situations, criminal profilers are often assigned to the investigation. In many cases, the developed profiles may help detect, apprehend, and convict the offenders. There also are situations where the profile of an offender might be off the mark. As a result, it is important to bear in mind that while criminal profiling might be useful in tracking down offenders before they commit another crime, profiling should not be viewed as being 100% accurate. Much of the success of profiling hinges on whether profilers accurately identify key characteristics of offenders, such as age, race, gender, and lifestyle. Missing the mark on these characteristics might lead investigations down the wrong path and ultimately allow offenders to inflict additional harm on society. For this Discussion, search the internet for violent offenders, and choose two. Consider how criminal profiling might have been effective in earlier detection and apprehension of the violent offenders you selected. Next, consider specific factors that might be important to include in a criminal profile. Describe the two violent offenders you selected. Include a citation for at least one article, website, video, or another source for each violent offender you selected. Explain how criminal profiling could have been effective in earlier detection and apprehension of each violent offender. Describe at least three factors for each violent offender that might be important to include in a criminal profile and explain why for each. Learning Resources Note: To access this week’s required library resources, please click on the link to the Course Readings List, found in the Course Materials section of your Syllabus. Identify Factors that Contribute to Crime Required Readings Schram, P. J. (2017). Introduction to Criminology. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, Inc. Chapter 12: Feminist Theories of Crime Time Estimate: 90 minutes Introduction to Criminology, 2nd Edition, by Schram, P. J. Copyright 2017 by Sage College. Reprinted by permission of Sage College via the Copyright Clearance Center. Gavin, H., & Porter, T. (2014). Female aggression. Retrieved from http://ebookcentral.proquest.com Time Estimate: 180 minutes Farrell, A. L., Keppel, R. D., & Titterington, V. B. (2011). Lethal ladies: Revisiting what we know about female serial murderers. Homicide Studies, 15(3), 228-252. Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases. Time Estimate: 30 minutes Simon, Ü. G. (2015). The traits and the thrill of serial killers. Internal Security, 7(2), 33-42. doi:http://dx.doi.org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/10.5604/20805268.1212110 Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases. Time Estimate: 20 minutes Biography.com. (n.d.). Aileen Wuornos biography.com. Retrieved from: https://www.biography.com/people/aileen-wuornos-11735792 Time Estimate: 10 minutes Required Media FilmRise Documentaries. (2014, September 18). Aileen: Life and death of a serial killer [Video file]. Retrieved from https://youtu.be/IsgVFplffl0 Time Estimate: 90 minutes Apply Criminological Theories to explain criminal behavior Required Readings Harrison, M. A., Murphy, E. A., Ho, L. Y., Bowers, T. G., & Flaherty, C. V. (2015). Female serial killers in the United States: means, motives, and makings. The Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology, 26(3), 383-406. Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases. Time Estimate: 30 minutes Gurian, E. A. (2011). Female serial murderers: directions for future research on a hidden population. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 55(1), 27-42. Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases. Time Estimate: 30 minutes Chan, H. C. O., Beauregard, E., & Myers, W. C. (2015). Single-victim and serial sexual homicide offenders: Differences in crime, paraphilias and personality traits. Criminal behaviour and mental health, 25(1), 66-78. Note: You will access this article from the Walden Library databases. Time Estimate: 30 minutes Optional Resources Microsoft. (n.d.). Add and delete audio in your PowerPoint presentation. Retrieved March 9, 2018, from: https://support.office.com/en-us/article/Add-or-delete-audio-in-your-PowerPoint-presentation-C3B2A9FD-2547-41D9-9182-3DFAA58F1316