The Role of Criminal Psychology in Understanding Serious Crimes

What motivates the perpetrators to commit a serious crime? While the answer varies, understanding an unacceptable situation is a task for psychologists, especially for the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit(BAU). BAU is a part of a specialist FBI department that was launched in 1972. Their tasks include criminal investigative analysis, interview tactics, investigative approach, and treatment evaluations. 

In the field of mental health, criminal psychologists work with criminals who may struggle with various mental illnesses. Their work often involves evaluating and treating individuals who have committed crimes due to mental health problems, aiming to reduce the risk of future criminal behavior as well as address immediate mental illness problems. The role of criminal psychologists extends to legal proceedings and mental health, with most criminal psychologists making significant contributions to both fields. Their expertise helps ensure fairness in legal proceedings and adequate treatment of individuals involved in the criminal justice system. 

People in the field of criminal psychology usually work in offices and courts. A criminal psychologist may devote a significant amount of time to interviewing people, examining a criminal’s life history, or providing expert testimony in court. In some cases, criminal psychologists may work closely with police and federal agents to help solve crimes by developing profiles of murderers, rapists, and other violent offenders. Those show how psychology works to examine criminals. BAU is one of the biggest departments in the criminal field.

By. James Yoon