In the consult, we discuss cases that are violent and sexually violent in nature.

Listener discretion is advised. Welcome to the consult. I'm Julia Cowley, retired FBI agent and profiler, and former

special agent forensic scientist with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation.

I'm Angela Serser, a retired FBI agent and profiler, and I was previously a special agent

with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and

firearms. I'm Susan Costler-Drew, retired FBI agent and profiler. And I'm Bob Drew, also a retired FBI

agent and profiler. Today's episode is going to be a little different because we're not going over a case.

Instead, what we thought we do is talk in detail about the process involved in criminal profiling.

As we discuss cases on this show, the investigative details, crime scene dynamics, victimology, and the behavior exhibited

before, during, and after the commission of a crime, we want our listeners to begin

developing their own ideas about the type of person responsible or the motive or even how

you think you'd interview that person.

So we thought it would be useful if we went over some of the basic concepts involved

in profiling.

First, let's talk about what profiling is not.

It's not an exact science.

It is not.

When you talk about human behavior, there are no

exacts, there are no absolutes. There are limitless variations in personal psychology and in the

resulting behaviors. And so there can never be a valid claim of an exact profile of an individual's personality or their

psychological state. There are indicators, behavioral indicators, things that can be gleaned from an

investigation that do shed light on the personality responsible for the crime. But there again, those are

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