Behavioral Science Unit
Encyclopedia
The Behavioral Science Unit (BSU) is one of the instructional components of the FBI's Training Division at Quantico, Virginia
. Its mission is to develop and provide programs of training, research, and consultation in the behavioral and social sciences
for the Federal Bureau of Investigation
and law enforcement
community that will improve or enhance their administration, operational effectiveness, and understanding of violent crime
. The BSU was established in 1972 at the FBI Academy
.
Through its legacy of training, research, and consultation activities, the BSU developed techniques, tactics, and procedures that have become a staple of behavioral-based programs that support the law enforcement, intelligence, and military communities. It is here where the term "serial killer
" was coined and where criminal investigative analysis and "profiling" were developed. Many of these programs eventually developed into stand-alone programs, units, and centers such as the National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime
(NCAVC), Behavioral Analysis Unit
(BAU), Undercover Safeguard Unit, Crisis Negotiation Unit, Hostage Rescue Team, and Employee Assistance Unit.
The mission of the BSU is to be the premier unit for developing and facilitating relevant programs of training, research, and consultation in the behavioral sciences for the FBI workforce, including the law enforcement, intelligence, and military communities that will improve their effectiveness in furtherance of the strategic priorities of the FBI. This is accomplished through the creation of innovative bodies of knowledge in specialty areas and applied research on significant behavioral science issues for use in training and consultation in support of academic, program, and operational matters. The BSU conducts specialized and applied training for new FBI Special Agent
s, Intelligence Analysts
, and in-services; the FBI National Academy; domestic and international field schools; the criminal justice community; and national security-related organizations consistent with priorities and available resources.
The BSU conducts training, research, and consultation activities in the following areas: Applied Behavioral Science for Law Enforcement; Conflict and Crisis Management: Theory and Practice; Futuristics and Law Enforcement: Foreseeing, Managing, and Creating the 21st Century; Juvenile Crime and Behavior; Managing Death Investigations; Psycho-Social Behavior, Mindset, and Intelligence Trends of Violent Street and Prison Gangs; Spirituality, Wellness, and Vitality Issues in Law Enforcement Practices; Stress Management in Law Enforcement; Terrorism: Mindset and Methodology; Group Dynamics; Problem Solving/Crisis Intervention; Psychology of Perception and Memory; and Psychopathology.
The BSU also houses the Evil Minds Research Museum, which was founded in 2008 with the mission to "study serial killer and other offender artifacts for the purpose of developing a deeper understanding of offender motivation, personality, and intent in order to assist and enhance investigative strategies and techniques." Simply put, the vision of the museum is to assist in mitigating and preventing future victimization through understanding the meaning behind offender behavior. The BSU Evil Minds Research Museum is located in the basement of the FBI Academy. Access to the museum is limited to law enforcement personnel, special guests of BSU, or other designated persons by appointment only. This approach is used—first and foremost—out of respect for the dignity of the victims of these horrible crimes and to ensure that the offenders are not glamorized.
Quantico, Virginia
- Demographics :As of the census of 2000, there are 561 people, 295 households, and 107 families living in the town. The population density is . There are 359 housing units at an average density of .-Racial composition:...
. Its mission is to develop and provide programs of training, research, and consultation in the behavioral and social sciences
Social sciences
Social science is the field of study concerned with society. "Social science" is commonly used as an umbrella term to refer to a plurality of fields outside of the natural sciences usually exclusive of the administrative or managerial sciences...
for the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
and law enforcement
Law enforcement
Law enforcement broadly refers to any system by which some members of society act in an organized manner to promote adherence to the law by discovering and punishing persons who violate the rules and norms governing that society...
community that will improve or enhance their administration, operational effectiveness, and understanding of violent crime
Violent crime
A violent crime or crime of violence is a crime in which the offender uses or threatens to use violent force upon the victim. This entails both crimes in which the violent act is the objective, such as murder, as well as crimes in which violence is the means to an end, such as robbery. Violent...
. The BSU was established in 1972 at the FBI Academy
FBI Academy
The FBI Academy, located in Quantico, Virginia, is the training site for new Special Agents of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation. It was first opened for use in 1972 on 385 acres of woodland. It is a relatively small government academy, housing three dormitory buildings and...
.
Through its legacy of training, research, and consultation activities, the BSU developed techniques, tactics, and procedures that have become a staple of behavioral-based programs that support the law enforcement, intelligence, and military communities. It is here where the term "serial killer
Serial killer
A serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
" was coined and where criminal investigative analysis and "profiling" were developed. Many of these programs eventually developed into stand-alone programs, units, and centers such as the National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime
National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime
In November 1982, following a meeting between members of the Criminal Personality Research Project advisory board and other specialists, the concept of a single ' was put forward. This elite investigative branch was never envisaged as a replacement for traditional crime investigation by local law...
(NCAVC), Behavioral Analysis Unit
Behavioral Analysis Unit
The Behavioral Analysis Unit is a component of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime that uses behavioral sciences to assist in criminal investigations...
(BAU), Undercover Safeguard Unit, Crisis Negotiation Unit, Hostage Rescue Team, and Employee Assistance Unit.
The mission of the BSU is to be the premier unit for developing and facilitating relevant programs of training, research, and consultation in the behavioral sciences for the FBI workforce, including the law enforcement, intelligence, and military communities that will improve their effectiveness in furtherance of the strategic priorities of the FBI. This is accomplished through the creation of innovative bodies of knowledge in specialty areas and applied research on significant behavioral science issues for use in training and consultation in support of academic, program, and operational matters. The BSU conducts specialized and applied training for new FBI Special Agent
Special agent
Special agent is usually the title for a detective or investigator for a state, county, municipal, federal or tribal government. An agent is a worker for any federal agency, and a secret agent is one who works for an intelligence agency....
s, Intelligence Analysts
Intelligence analysis
Intelligence analysis is the process of taking known information about situations and entities of strategic, operational, or tactical importance, characterizing the known, and, with appropriate statements of probability, the future actions in those situations and by those entities...
, and in-services; the FBI National Academy; domestic and international field schools; the criminal justice community; and national security-related organizations consistent with priorities and available resources.
The BSU conducts training, research, and consultation activities in the following areas: Applied Behavioral Science for Law Enforcement; Conflict and Crisis Management: Theory and Practice; Futuristics and Law Enforcement: Foreseeing, Managing, and Creating the 21st Century; Juvenile Crime and Behavior; Managing Death Investigations; Psycho-Social Behavior, Mindset, and Intelligence Trends of Violent Street and Prison Gangs; Spirituality, Wellness, and Vitality Issues in Law Enforcement Practices; Stress Management in Law Enforcement; Terrorism: Mindset and Methodology; Group Dynamics; Problem Solving/Crisis Intervention; Psychology of Perception and Memory; and Psychopathology.
The BSU also houses the Evil Minds Research Museum, which was founded in 2008 with the mission to "study serial killer and other offender artifacts for the purpose of developing a deeper understanding of offender motivation, personality, and intent in order to assist and enhance investigative strategies and techniques." Simply put, the vision of the museum is to assist in mitigating and preventing future victimization through understanding the meaning behind offender behavior. The BSU Evil Minds Research Museum is located in the basement of the FBI Academy. Access to the museum is limited to law enforcement personnel, special guests of BSU, or other designated persons by appointment only. This approach is used—first and foremost—out of respect for the dignity of the victims of these horrible crimes and to ensure that the offenders are not glamorized.