While modern media often attributes its origins to the FBI, the roots of profiling stretch back further:
Criminal profiling is an investigative tool used by law enforcement to identify likely suspects by analyzing crime scene evidence and behavioral patterns. Often popularized as "investigative consulting," this practice aims to predict an offender’s personality, motivations, and modus operandi to assist in their apprehension and prevent future crimes. Criminal Profiling: Principles and Practice
: Cesare Lombroso is often credited with founding the discipline by studying how criminal minds differ from law-abiding citizens. While modern media often attributes its origins to
: Providing the profile to detectives to narrow suspect lists and develop interview strategies. Criminal Profiling: Principles and Practice