ADJ 164 - Case Studies in Murder/Violent Crime (3 CR.)

Introduces the student to the investigation of murder and other violent crimes by means of classic case studies and, to the extent feasible, local case files. Includes methodology, strategy and tactics, analysis, relevant law, and future trends. Covers evidentiary techniques and technologies with a primary focus on how critical thinking is applied to serious violent crime. Lecture 3 hours per week.

General Course Purpose
The purpose of this course is to provide the student with an understanding of inductive and deductive criminal profiling techniques, as well as their strengths and weaknesses in applying them to criminal investigations.

Course Objectives
Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:

Critically analyze inductive and deductive profiling methods.
Compare and contrast profiling techniques of individuals and agencies tracking organized and disorganized serial murderers or other serial violent crimes.
Examine aspects of the crime scene and behavioral patterns indicated at the crime scene.
Critically asses the modus operandi of various criminals.

Major Topics to be Included

Terminologies used in criminal investigations.
Assess inductive profiling techniques (statistical data compilation methods) and deductive profiling techniques (investigative inferences from factual circumstances using case studies).
Critical thinking exercises involving serial violent criminals.
Discuss psychological and sociological aspects of serial violent criminals.
Differentiate between mass, spree, and serial violent crimes.
Examine evidence left at crime scenes and proper methods of collecting and preserving the evidence.
Review historical and current case studies involving murder and violent crime.

Extra Topics (optional)

Related subjects at the discretion of the instructor.

Revised 11/2021