Jack the Ripper and the Rise of Criminal Profiling

by Amelia Gray

In the 1880s, a series of murders plagued London. Police in the area were completely unprepared to deal with the serial killer they called Jack the Ripper.

As Victorian newspapermen scrambled to cover arguably the first tabloid murder story in history, London police had a baffling problem. The series of murders were generally committed at night, in secluded areas. There were no witnesses, and the victims' bodies provided the only distinct evidence to link the crimes together. From this dearth of facts emerged a crime-fighting tactic that has evolved to become one of law enforcement's most powerful tools.

Listening to Silent Evidence

A police surgeon named Dr. Thomas Bond used the similarities between Jack the Ripper's victims to reconstruct the crimes. He determined that the killer had no scientific or anatomical knowledge, and Bond used the little evidence he had to determine that the killer was a daring and calm man. He advised investigators to look for a quiet, middle-aged man. He suggested the killer might be neatly dressed when police found him.

Though the Jack the Ripper file was never closed and remains one of the most famous cold cases in history, it led to the birth of criminal profiling. Today's criminal profilers use psychology and statistics to create accurate profiles of criminals based on the evidence left at crime scenes.

Criminal Profiling in the Media

Criminal profiling careers have recently gained a lot of media attention. Television crime dramas often focus on crime investigation. Though criminal profiling and other forensic pathology careers may not come with quite the same level of drama as you might see on CSI or Bones, those shows are raising awareness, attracting people who are looking for a way to make a hands-on difference in crime investigation. Partly due to its media spotlight, profiling techniques continue to improve with more attention and money spent on technology and research methods.

A Challenging Career

Because of the diversity of knowledge needed, criminal profilers can come from a number of disciplines. Profilers are often educated in law, forensic science, or criminal, social, clinical, or cognitive psychology. Technology is redefining the face of criminal profiling, and it's important for profilers to have a working knowledge of high-tech equipment and computer programs.

Specialized criminal profiling degree programs take a survey approach to the many aspects of profiling, giving students a broad base of knowledge to use in this and other essential law enforcement careers. With the right education and training, criminal profilers can apply their skills in the fight against crime.

Sources: CrimeLibrary

About the Author: Amelia Gray is a teacher and freelance writer in San Marcos, TX. Amelia earned a Bachelor??s Degree in English Literature from Arizona State University.