FBI Behavioral Science
Unit
Who+Why=Who
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Introduction
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The FBI Behavior Science Unit (BSU) was
formed in 1972. It is part of the Training
Division, Instruction Section, and is located
at the FBI Academy in Quantico,VA.
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The BSU’s mission is to:
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Develop and provide programs in training, research,
and consultation in the behavioral and social sciences
for Law Enforcement.
Conduct applied research on behavioral and social
science law enforcement issues for use in training,
consultation, and operational matters; and,
Provide consultation services to law enforcement when
requested.
The BSU is the unit of origin responsible for the
development of many of the FBI’s other
specialty units. These units include:
 the National Center for the Analysis of Violent
Crime (NCAVC)
 Behavioral Analysis Units (profilers)
 Hostage Rescue Team
 Special Weapons and tactics (Swat)
 Crisis (Hostage) negotiation
 Crisis management, and
 Employee Assistance
 Many of these units have since relocated to
other areas of the FBI such as the Critical
Incident Response Group
Training
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A primary responsibility of the BSU includes
training FBI National Academy students on a
variety of specialized topics concerning the
behavior and social sciences.
Another responsibility of the BSU is to provide
seven hours of instruction to new agent trainees
at the FBI academy on topics such as stress
management, dangerous individuals, and gangs.
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Some examples of BSU sponsored
conferences/symposia include:
domestic violence committed by law
enforcement officers;
advanced death investigation;
school violence—investigative, predictive
and preventative strategies for the 21st
century;
Suicide and law enforcement.
Research
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Current BSU research topics include:
crimes against the aging;
killing/assault of law enforcement officers;
the Computer Hacker Interviewing Research Project;
use of poison as a weapon;
reliability and validity of official crime statistics;
inferring offender characteristics from threatening
communication
gangs and gang violence
air rage; and
Emerging Technologies and Policing.
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The Behavioral Science Unit also
coordinates with and supports other FBI
units, such as the National Center for the
Analysis of Violent Crime (NCAVC), of the
Critical Incident response Group (CIRG),
which provides operational assistance to
FBI field offices and law enforcement
agencies.
The BSU also offers full time unpaid
internship opportunities to qualified
students during spring, and fall semesters.
The BSU also participates in the FBI’s
Honors Internship program
NCAVC
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The National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime (NCAVC) was
formed June 21, 1984 and is located at the FBI Academy and run by
the agents of the Behavioral Science Unit.
The mission of the NCAVC is to coordinate investigative and
operational support functions, criminological research, and training
for local, state, federal and international law enforcement agencies
investigating unusual or repetitive violent crimes (serial crimes).
The NCAVC also provides investigative support, expertise, and
consultation in non-violent matters such as national security,
corruption, and white-collar crime investigations.
President Regan gave it the primary mission of identifying and
tracking repeat killers (his term for serial killers).
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The NCAVC is supported by research and
training programs (BSU). Requests for NCAVC
services are facilitated through the NCAVC
coordinators assigned to each FBI field office.
The NCAVC was further divided into three
components: Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU)East/West regions; Child Abduction Serial
Murder Investigative Resources Center
(CASMIRC); and Violent Criminal Apprehension
Program (VICAP).
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The Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) mission is to
provide behavioral based investigative and
operational support by applying research,
training, case experience, and training to
complex and time-sensitive crimes usually
involving acts or threats of violence. The
program areas addressed include Crimes against
children, Crimes against Adults, Communicated
Threats, Corruption, and Bombing and Arson
investigations.
The BAU assistance is requested through the
network of field NCAVC coordinators. BAU
services are provided during on-site case
consultations, telephone conference calls, and/or
consultations held at the BAU with case
investigators.
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BAU assistance is provided through the process of
“criminal investigative analysis”.
Criminal investigative analysis is the process of
reviewing crimes from both a behavioral and
investigative perspective. It involves reviewing and
assessing the facts of a criminal act, interpreting
offender behavior, and interaction with the victim, as
exhibited during the commission of the crime, or as
displayed in the crime scene.
BAU staff conducts analyses of crimes for the purpose
of providing one or more of the following services:
crime analysis, investigative suggestions, and profiles of
unknown offenders, threat analysis, critical incident
analysis, interview strategies, major case management,
search warrant assistance, prosecutive/trial strategies,
and expert testimony.
The BAU also maintains a reference file on experts in
various forensic disciplines such as odontology,
anthropology, entomology, or pathology.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
(KSAs)
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Knowledge:
The investigator should have a minimum of a bachelor’s
degree preferably in criminal justice, sociology,
criminology, or psychology.
Knowledge in investigation, law, and the criminal justice
system
The investigator should have at least five years
experience, with a law enforcement agency principally in
the investigation of major crimes, interpersonal violence
including homicide or sexual assault.
Be computer literate and able to use excel, office, and
access
Be mathematically competent
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Skills:
Have demonstrated above average oral and written communication
skills
Have a superior level of investigative skill in the above investigative
areas
Have a documented high level of interpersonal skills
Have an Outstanding record
Have a documented amplitude for thoroughness in conducting
complex investigation
Demonstrated a proficiency in public speaking and presenting
Demonstrated court room experience such as testimony
Demonstrated search warrant experience
Have a demonstrated ability to write reports
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Abilities:
Pass an oral review
Pass an written examination
Be in good physical condition and pass a physical test
Pass a psychological evaluation
Pass a background investigation
Ability to work with outside private and law enforcement agencies
Ability to dedicate long hours to academic pursuits as required
Have an ability to master the basics of probability and statistics
Have the ability to learn psychological and geographical concepts and techniques
Have the ability to learn criminal analysis techniques
Ability to grasp abstract concepts and complex scenarios
Agree to remain on profiling duties, on a full-time basis for at least 5 years following
training
Have a high level of credibility in the law enforcement community, especially within
investigative units outside and within their agency
Needs Analysis:
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The needs analysis section will weigh the advantages and
disadvantages of having a profiling unit at the individual,
department, and community level.
Individual Officer
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Advantages
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Good pay
Recognition
Promotion potential
Training
Excitement
Training
Self-fulfillment
Disadvantages
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Extremely challenging
Interferes with personal life
Danger
Stress
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Department
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Advantages
Frees up investigators and officers
 Increase in training
 Public relations
 Save time and money on uncoordinated
investigations
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Disadvantages
Hard to find qualified individuals
 Cost
 Restructure of department
 Liability
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Community
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Advantages
Catch dangerous offenders
 Saves cost to citizens by reducing serial property
crimes
 Sense of pride and security to citizens
 Saves citizens costs related to drawn out
investigations
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Disadvantages
Cost
 Loss of tax dollars to the program
 Start up cost
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Personnel Analysis:
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Profilers require about a year of in-depth training, an academic background
in psychology or another social science is helpful. However, the most
important trait of an FBI profiler is extensive experience working on
investigations. The initial BSU staff handpicked agents that seemed to have
a knack for behavioral analysis. When asked what traits a profiler should
possess, former BSU agent Roy Hazelwood said: “Common sense. Another
term for that is practical intelligence. An open mind- you have to be able to
accept other people’s suggestions. Number three is life experience.
Number four is an ability to isolate your personal feelings about the crime,
the criminal and the victim. Number five would be an ability to think like
the offender thinks not get into his mind. All you have to do is reason like
he does. You don’t have to get into his mind.”
Once an agent is selected into one of the behavioral analysis units,
they go through a 16-week class classroom-based program, taught by both
agents and outside professionals. Hilts says, “We try to start with a basic
foundation of psychology and then go to specifics. By the last several
weeks, we get into the specialties of specific types of crimes.”
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The coursework involves subjects such as:
Basic psychology
Criminal psychology
Forensic science
Body recovery
Criminal Investigative Analysis
Death Investigation
Threat assessment
Statement/document analysis
Crimes against children
Child abduction and homicide
Sexual victimization of children/Internet issues
Interview and interrogation procedures
Serial murder
Cost Analysis:
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The estimated initial cost of the unit would be an approximately $5.09 million dollars. The
estimated cost would include:
training ($500,000)
Computer Equipment ($250,000)
Office equipment ($200,000)
consultants ($100,000)
Vehicles ($585,000)
office space ($300,000)
other equipment ($200,000)
initial salaries ($1.74 Million)
Total: $5.09 Million
The estimated recurrent costs would be about $2.74 million dollars. This would consist of
maintenance and office supplies ($1 million), and Salaries ($1.74 Million). The estimated salaries
are as follows:
Unit chief ($150,000)
Forensic Psychologist ($100,000)
Technical Information Specialist ($70,000)
Management Analyst ($50,000)
Investigators ($85,000)
Crime Analyst ($50,000)
Technician ($45,000)
Secretary ($35,000)
History
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History
When the Behavioral Science Unit was opened in 1972, it was initially formed
with eleven agents, and Jack Kirsch was their first official chief. The initial BSU staff
handpicked agents that seemed to have a knack for behavioral analysis. By 1977 the
unit had a three-pronged purpose: crime scene analysis, profiling, and analysis of
threatening letters. The Behavioral Science Unit, which was part of the Training
Division, became the Behavioral Science Investigative Support Unit. Then in 1994,
The Critical Incident Response Group (CIRG) integrated the FBI’s crisis management,
behavioral, and tactical resources into one entity. The unit again changed its name
to the Investigative Support Unit. During this time the Director of the FBI created
the Child Abduction and Serial Killer Unit. So the unit had several multiple operation
units which were: the Profiling and Behavioral Assessment Unit, Child Abduction
Unit, and the Serial Killer Unit. Three years later it became the Behavioral Analysis
Unit, East and West. The units were divided geographically east and west of the
Mississippi River. In 1999, based on the Protection of Children from Sexual Predators
Act of 1998, the FBI received mandates for crimes against children and serial murder,
and the creation of the Child Abduction and Serial Murder Investigative Resource
Center (CASMIRC). For a while, CISMIRC was a training and research entity
supporting the BAU East and West.
History Con’t.
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Then after 9/11 the BAU started to get more involved in counter-terrorism
responsibilities. So they restructured once again. Today, the BAU is
divided into Behavioral Analysis Unit 1 [counter-terrorism and threat
assessment], Behavior Analysis Unit 2 [crimes against adults], Behavioral
Analysis Unit 3 [crimes against children] and the VICAP unit, which was
separate from the Profiling and Behavioral Assessment Unit for a few years
before the restructure. The BAU decided to restructure itself by crime
problem rather than geographically, that way they can have a concentration
of personnel in each unit that has specialized training and experience in
their areas of responsibility. The BAU moved out of the Academy in 1997.
Eventually the NCAVC and CIRG were moved to the same area as the BAU.
For awhile the BSU did not exist like it did in 1972, but eventually the
Training Division recreated the Behavioral Science Unit. The BAU
collaborates with the BSU on research and training matters. But the BSU is
primarily involved in training and research mostly at the National Academy
level and are not operationally involved in the cases as the BAU is; this has
became a source of confusion because that is the name of the program
where all of these programs all started from.
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The End