=Forensic psychology may seem like a niche branch of law enforcement, but its contribution over the last few decades cannot be understated. Criminal profilers have helped capture some of the country's worst criminals, as well as prove the innocence of people in several police investigations. Below are some of the biggest criminals ever caught thanks to forensic psychology. Dr. John Denboer . Image source: history.com Image source: goodhousekeeping.com Ted Bundy : Before news ever broke of Ted Bundy, no one suspected him of heinous acts due to his charisma and personality. A murderer, rapist, and necrophiliac, Bundy confessed to 36 murders while experts believe his victims were more than 100. He was initially arrested after a search of his car revealed to paraphernalia such as ropes, crowbars, a face mask, and handcuffs. Further investigation into the items led law enforcement to link Bundy to his actual crimes. Dr. John Denboer . John Wayne Gacy : Gacy was a
Even though both their disciplines entail working closely with the law, and as professionals, they’d need a doctorate in psychology, forensic and criminal psychologists focus on different things. This blog will look at their specializations. Dr. John Denboer . Firstly, a forensic psychologist will work will all kinds of court cases, even those involving civil matters that do not involve dealing with criminals. A criminal psychologist is tasked to exclusively evaluate criminal cases. It’s important to note here that the majority of the work being done by a criminal psychologist is theoretical in nature, meaning they are evaluations that occur before a perpetrator has been identified. Conversely, forensic psychologists will more than likely work with persons who’ve already been identified by the authorities. Dr. John Denboer. Because of the need to profile criminals and identify patterns by looking at cases of known offenders, criminal psychologists often conduct extensive rese