Hunting Serial Predators: A Multivariate Classification Approach to Profiling Violent Behavior

FROM THE PUBLISHER

The majority of the available published accounts of serialmurderers are not in scholarly or technical publications. Even such few academic reviews as do exist typically commence with reference to fictional accounts so that the profile of a serial murderer is typically far from clear or precise
Hunting Serial Predators is unique in that each chapter, written in detail, explains how to research and interpret, psychologically, the crime scene actions of serial killers. The book provides an empirical facet model of the crime scene actions of American serial murderers based on information available to a police inquiry; an overview of the related scientific knowledge, introducing a new method to classify the serial predator; and, accounts of the process and difficulties of profiling the serial murderer
By presenting a classification model of serial murderers and their crime scene behaviors based on empirical and repeatable studies, this book makes significant advances in the areas of police investigations, etiology, and treatment possible
The empirical process used to analyze serial murderers' crime scene actions described in Hunting Serial Predators, makes it possible to make logical decisions about how to detect and apprehend them.

SYNOPSIS

The majority of the available published accounts of serial murderers are not in scholarly or technical publications. Indeed, even such few academic reviews as do exist typically commence withreference to fictional accounts, such as the X Files or Millennium. It is therefore not surprising that a robust profile of the serial murderer as described in current serial murder books is far from clear or precise.Therefore, what makes this book unique, is the fact that it does not cloud the topic with fictional and semi-autobiographical accounts based on particularexperiences or hunches of the writer. Each chapter is clearly written explaining in detail how to research and interpret, psychologically, the crime scene actions of serial killers. The thrust of the book is to provide the reader an empirical facet model of the crime scene actions of American serial murderers based on information available to a police inquiry. Serial murder is a controversial subject, full of potent myth, and the object of thisbook is to provide an empirical overview of the related scientific knowledge, introducing a new method to classify the serial predator, as well as accounts of the process and difficulties of profiling the serial murderer. It will be useful and interesting to most scientists and professionals in the field of criminology, psychology, criminal justice and police studies. It is the applied side of the book which will make it a standard reference book for many years to come for detectives and police officers.

FROM THE CRITICS

Booknews

Presents a facet classification of serial murderer and their crime scene actions based on empirical and repeatable studies, and argues that such an empirical process to analyzing their behavior is necessary to make logical decisions on how to detect and apprehend them. Introduces an approach which encompasses all applications of psychology that have the objective of improving the investigation of serial murder, and crime in general. Draws on data from crime scene actions of 107 US serial killers, and provides a real-life case study. The author is affiliated with Vermont College of Norwich University. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

Dr. Godwin has written a thorough and eminently readable work that is unique in the growing literature on serial murder. Combining a judicious review of past approaches to crime scene behavior, crime reconstruction, and classification theory, with a meticulous presentation of the newest precision investigative methodology, he has made a contribution to the field that is essential reading for mental health and law enforcement professionals. — (Dr. John Philpin, Retired forensic psychologist and author of Tunnel of the Night and Stalemate)  — John Philpin