By Robert M. Brzenchek | 09/23/2024
Analyzing and properly deciphering human behavior is not always an easy task. But when you’re analyzing human behavior, patterns and habits create a bigger picture.
When you’re around someone for a long period of time, for instance, you begin to notice nuances about their behavior. But in most situations in the field, law enforcement officers do not have the luxury of time for criminal investigative analysis to determine a criminal's behavioral profile and how that person will react in a certain situation.
To determine if someone poses a threat, police officers must make many split-second decisions based on the person’s body language or mannerisms. Ideally, officers should be trained to quickly assess and interpret a person’s behavior. It is beneficial for them to be trained in various forms of behavioral analysis, including criminal profiling, which can aid in solving crimes.
What Is Behavioral Analysis?
Behavioral analysis is the science and study of human behavior. Behavioral analysis follows the philosophy that improving the human condition is best achieved when focusing on behavior change (e.g., education, behavioral health treatment), rather than less tangible concepts such as the mind and willpower.
Behavioral analysts assess individuals with behavioral problems, study the influence of their environment on their behavior, or implement plans to fix unwanted behavior. Analysts often work in a research capacity or for professional organizations offering applied behavior analysis services.
Law enforcement officers don’t have to be behavioral scientists to apply behavioral science to their investigative work. The FBI has taken the lead in recognizing the value of behavioral analysis and providing valuable guidance to law enforcement agencies. It has integrated its scientific findings to better understand and predict the behavior of violent offenders through programs like the Violent Criminal Apprehension Program (ViCAP).
The BAU and Behavioral Analysis
In 1972, the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) was established. The BAU consists of five separate units:
- Unit 1 (analyzes criminal activity such as counterterrorism acts, bombing incidents, and arson cases)
- Unit 2 (analyzes threats, cyber crimes, white collar crime, and public corruption)
- Unit 3 (analyzes crimes against children)
- Unit 4 (analyzes crimes against adults)
- Unit 5 (conducts behavioral research and instruction)
The BAU is part of the National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime (NCAVC), managed under the FBI’s Critical Incident Response Group (CIRG). According to the FBI’s “Inside BAU Profilers” podcast, the BAU’s mission is to provide behavioral-based operational support to federal, state, local, and international law enforcement agencies investigating unusual or repetitive violent crimes, terrorism, and time-sensitive matters such as kidnappings.
BAU analysts aim to deconstruct and analyze the psychology of violent individuals through the use of case studies, criminal profilers, forensic psychology, and forensic science. BAU profilers use a two-pronged approach that combines the experiential evidence of law enforcement personnel with the outcomes of clinical studies to better understand the behavior of criminals who pose a threat to public safety.
Behavioral Analysis in Corrections
In addition to helping investigators solve countless violent crimes, the BAU constantly collects information on violent offenders. This information helps criminal profilers to better understand the minds of violent criminals and identify patterns of violent behavior.
Agents also conduct interviews with inmates to gain insight into every aspect of their lives. For example, an inmate serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole may be interviewed on his earliest childhood experiences and other life experiences. Information gained during an interview may provide insight into why the inmate abducted, sexually assaulted, and murdered a pre-teen girl.
While officers know that offenders may not tell the full and complete truth during such interviews, there are still lessons to be learned from both the truth and the lies. As part of the process, BAU analysts regularly record offenders on video, which allows them to further analyze the offenders’ behavior through crime scene analysis. These videos are instrumental in training researchers, social workers, medical staff, and law enforcement personnel about offender behavior patterns.
Sharing research findings and behavioral assessments is critical to the mission of the BAU. Through partnership with criminal investigators all levels of law enforcement, military branches, universities, and intelligence-based agencies, the BAU can share information about effectively assessing and identifying signs that an individual is potentially prone to violent actions.
Demonstrating how behavioral analysis can be applied to criminal investigations is helpful in solving what happened at crime scenes and providing closure to a victim's family and friends. It is also useful in educating police officers and medical staff about what behavioral traits to look for in potential criminals, so they can intervene in an individual’s path to violence.
American Military University’s Criminal Justice Degree Programs
Each of AMU’s criminal justice programs is thoughtfully designed to equip students with the knowledge and skills needed to seek various roles. Whether you're just starting out or looking to develop your professional skills, a criminal justice program at AMU can offer a way to pursue your professional goals. Our online learning format also offers flexibility, allowing students to balance their studies with personal and professional responsibilities.
Online Associate of Arts in Criminal Justice
The online associate of arts in criminal justice is an ideal starting point for students looking to enter the field of criminal justice or seeking foundational knowledge before advancing to higher-level degrees. This program is particularly well-suited for students who are new to criminal justice or who have some experience but want to formalize their education.
The program covers essential topics such as criminal law, criminal procedure, and criminology, providing students with a solid understanding of the criminal justice system. With this degree, graduates can pursue entry-level positions in law enforcement, corrections, or private security.
This program features courses such as “Introduction to Law Enforcement,” which explores the philosophy, history, and legal boundaries of law enforcement. Another course, “Introduction to the Courts,” provides a detailed look at the American court system from prosecution to sentencing.
Online Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice
The online bachelor of arts in criminal justice is designed for students who are interested in a broader understanding of the criminal justice system, including its sociological, political, and legal aspects. This degree is suitable for students who aspire to work in law enforcement, corrections, or related fields and are interested in exploring the theoretical and practical aspects of criminal justice.
Courses in this program delves into topics such as criminology, criminal justice ethics, and the criminal justice process. Graduates of this program may choose to pursue career opportunities as police officers, probation officers, or federal agents.
This degree program’s courses include “Criminology,” which examines criminal behavior through various criminological theories and societal responses, and “Criminal Law,” which familiarizes students with fundamental laws, procedures, and the Bill of Rights. These courses provide adult learners with a deep understanding of crime investigation techniques and the legal foundations of the U.S. criminal justice system.
Online Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice
For students who prefer a more technical and analytical approach to criminal justice, the online bachelor of science in criminal justice is an ideal choice.
This degree is tailored for students who are interested in areas such as forensic science, data analysis, and cybersecurity. It is a perfect fit for individuals aiming to seek career opportunities as forensic technicians, crime analysts, and cybersecurity specialists.
The program’s coursework emphasizes the application of scientific methods and data-driven decision-making in criminal justice scenarios. Noteworthy courses include “Ethics in Criminal Justice,” which explores the ethical dilemmas within the U.S. criminal justice system and "Crime Analysis," which examines contemporary practices for analyzing and mapping crime using tools like geographic information systems and the Scanning, Analysis, Responses, and Assessment (SARA) problem-solving model. These courses provide deep insights into the ethical complexities and analytical techniques essential for modern criminal investigations.
Online Master of Arts in Criminal Justice
The online master of arts in criminal justice is designed for adult learners seeking to pursue leadership roles related to the criminal justice field. This degree is best suited for students who already have experience in the field and want to deepen their knowledge and skills in areas such as criminal justice administration, policy analysis, and strategic planning.
The program explores complex issues like criminal justice reform, leadership in law enforcement, and advanced criminological theory. Graduates of this program may choose to seek senior roles in law enforcement, corrections, and criminal justice policy-making.
Key courses include “Police Administration,” which evaluates the policies, procedures, and leadership challenges in police organizations, and “Research Design and Methods,” which equips students with essential research skills, covering experimentation, survey research, and data analysis. These courses provide the tools needed to drive innovation and informed decision-making within organizations.
For more information about AMU’s criminal justice degrees, visit our program page.
Robert M. Brzenchek is a consultant, subject matter expert, and expert witness in the criminal justice and emergency management arenas. He holds a bachelor’s degree from George Mason University and a master’s degree in intelligence studies from American Military University. He is currently seeking a Ph.D. in public service leadership and criminal justice at Capella University with a proposed dissertation focused on gangs.
He has extensive cybersecurity experience as the current HLS/Cyber Chair for Strengthening the Mid-Atlantic Region (SMART). Mr. Brzenchek is also a member of the Spectrum Group Security Team consulting on ISO (27001, 28000) projects globally, a former member of the ASIS Investigative Standards Technical Committee. He has conducted ISO 27001 internal audits since 2005.
Mr. Brzenchek was a police officer for six years, where he performed suppression and intervention techniques with various gangs ranging from MS-13, Bloods, Crips, and Latin Kings. In the private sector since 2005, Mr. Brzenchek has worked with DHS, DOD, large corporations, ports, and public utilities on security matters, risk management, policy, and technologies. He is a nationally certified instructor with the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training (IADLEST).
