How Does a Profiler Read a Crime Scene? Behavior Versus Physical Evidence

crime scene contains more than fingerprints, DNA, and physical objects—it may also preserve traces of human decision-making. Profilers examine patterns of behavior to develop cautious hypotheses about an offender’s choices, priorities, and relationship to the victim. But behavioral evidence is fundamentally different from physical evidence, and understanding that distinction is essential to understanding what profiling can—and cannot—do.