What exactly is criminal profiling and what are the different approaches used by police forces all over the world? Best selling writer David E. Malocco, author of Forensic Science: Crime Scene Analysis and How to Commit the Perfect Murder has published the fourth book in the hugely successful Student Guides Simplified series. Following on from A Brief History of Criminal Profiling which deals with the evolution of profiling this book discuses, examines and analyses four different approaches to criminal profiling. The Diagnostic Evaluation approach began in the 1950s with New York psychiatrist Dr. James Brussel being asked to input on two high profile cases, the Mad Bomber of New York, and the Boston Strangler. The first case proved to be a spectacular success with Brussel providing a classic text book profile right down to how the suspect dressed. But the failure of a high profile team of psychiatrists, psychologists and anthropologists to catch the Boston Strangler or even identify whether the authorities should be looking for one or more suspects damaged the credibility of the diagnostic evaluation approach. The FBI then decided that a retreat to good old classic detective work was necessary and from this the Crime Scene Analysis approach developed. The author examines three serial killer cases where this approach was used, Richard Trent Chase, Gary Ridgway and Dennis Rader. However, in respect of the above three case studies the profile for Richard Trenton Chase was accurate and the case was solved; the profile of Gary Ridgway was inaccurate and the profile did not lead to the arrest of the suspect; and in the Dennis Rader case the profile was ambiguous and it did not lead to the arrest of the suspect. The FBI continue to develop their model and currently take the lead in research on the development of criminal personality profiling. But, while the FBI model of profiling still remains highly influential, another form of profiling, emanating from Britain, and called investigative psychology (IP), pioneered by Professor David Canter, is now beginning to rival and some argue, surpass, the FBI approach. Investigative psychology is now the new kid on the block. The Investigative Psychology approach otherwise known as the statistical-research approach to criminal profiling, claims to be grounded in scientific methodology and, is based on the multivariate analysis of the behavioral and other crime scene data to infer the characteristics, and psychological process of the unsub. Meanwhile, the fourth approach, Geographical Profiling, pioneered by Kim Rossmo appears to be the front runner with Police agencies around the world using several major software programs to perform geographic profiling tasks, such as Rigel(r), Predator, CrimeStat, and Dragnet. These software programs can help in identifying if a series of crimes are linked, that is, carried out by the same offender or offenders. Each approach is examined in detail making this book an essential introduction to anyone studying or interested in criminal profiling.