The implementation and management of behavioral criminological counseling in police organizations. A qualitative study

Abstract

During the police investigation process, it is essential to understand the crime and the perpetrator’s interaction with the victim and the crime scene. In this context, behavioural criminological counselling is gaining increasing relevance as a fundamental tool for law enforcement agencies. This study adopts a qualitative approach with the aim of examining various dimensions of criminal profiling. In particular, it focuses on the importance of criminal profiling in criminal investigations and the identification of the most appropriate approaches to its implementation in law enforcement institutions. In order to carry out this analysis, a survey of ten experts, both national and international, specialised in the field in question, from a variety of backgrounds, including the private sector and law enforcement agencies, was carried out. The results reveal a wide variety of perspectives on collaboration and the distribution of responsibilities between police crime behaviour analysts and other external specialists. However, they also reveal commonalities in the professional application of criminal profiling.