Learn How to Investigate
The aspiring amateur sleuth has plenty of resources for learning how to analyze crime or investigate unsolved cases.
Training Courses
- bell¿ngcat How-to GuidesSeveral guides on how to use various OSINT investigation methods.
- bell¿ngcat Online Investigation ToolkitA treasure trove of OSINT tools for the aspiring investigator.
- COPS Training PortalDespite the name, you don't have to be a police officer to take most of these online courses in criminology and law enforcement.
- FEMA EMIThe FEMA Emergency Management Institute offers many free, self-paced courses online. While mostly focused on emergency and disaster operations, there are some courses that are public safety related.
- Linkedin LearningA free learning resource available to current Rollins students, faculty, and staff. While most crime courses here are about cybercrime, coursework on ethical hacking, OSINT, and data science are useful to the would-be amateur investigator.
- Open UniversityOffers several free, online, self-paced courses. Of particular use for an amateur investigator are: Forensic Psychology, An Introduction to Crime and Criminology, Intoduction to Critical Criminology,
Crimes of the Powerful, Critical Criminology and the Social Sciences, and Forensic Science and Fingerprints. - UdemyUdemy offers several criminology and investigation courses, but nearly all of them have a fee.
- WikipediaNever underestimate how much you can learn here. For example, there's an excellent article explaining how bloodstain pattern analysis works.
There are several free, in-person ways to learn more about law enforcement and crime. Most of the academies below don't require you to be a resident of their jurisdiction but some do. Nearly all require a background check prior to enrollment.
- Citizen Police Academies - Many police departments and sheriff's offices conduct regular citizen's academies that are free and open to the public. These typically meet one night a week and last for several weeks with a mix of classroom instruction and hands-on learning. Graduating one of these academies doesn't certify you to be a law enforcement officer, but they're fun and informative.
- Citizen Corrections Academies - Some corrections institutions offer an academy similar to the police ones, but these are comparably rare. Topics are focused on jails and prisons.
- State Attorney Academies - Also fairly uncommon, some prosecutors offer an academy experience as well. Instruction is focused on the prosecution of criminals.
- Cons - There are some conferences and conventions held around the country, such as CrimeCon.
Helpful Books & Journals
American Serial Killers by ISBN: 9780593198810Publication Date: 2021-02-09Focusing on the so-called "Golden Age of Serial Killers"
Crime Signals by ISBN: 9780312362195Publication Date: 2009-05-26A very readable discussion of behaviors and body language that are strong markers of criminal intent or guilt.
Dangerous Personalities by ISBN: 9781623361921Publication Date: 2014-10-07A former FBI profiler discusses the major personality traits and types possessed by criminals.
Don't Be Deceived by ISBN: 9780967999852Publication Date: 2012-04-01Excellent source for learning how to detect deception in witness statements and suspect interviews.
Geographic Profiling by ISBN: 0849381290Publication Date: 1999-12-28A comprehensive introduction to geographic profiling and investigating serial crimes.
Mastermind by ISBN: 9780143124344Publication Date: 2013-12-31A useful guide on how to get into the proper mindset to be a successful sleuth.
Serial Killers by ISBN: 9780425196403Publication Date: 2004-10-05Quite possibly the best book for a beginner looking to study the pathology of serial killers.
Available as an e-book from the library.
Serial Murder by Publication Date: 2008This document summarizes findings at a profiling symposium in 2008.
Sons of Cain by ISBN: 9780425276976Publication Date: 2018-08-14An examination of serial killing throughout history.
Spy the Lie by ISBN: 9781250005854Publication Date: 2012-07-17Three former CIA interrogators provide an excellent overview of how to spot deceptive behavior and build a psychological profile of someone.
A Tangled Web by ISBN: 9780806539973Publication Date: 2020-04-28
Trail of the Lost by ISBN: 9780306831973Publication Date: 2023-08-22
You can also find criminology books in most academic and public libraries in the following call number ranges:
Dewey - 364
LC System - HV 6001-7220.5
- Criminology Books from the Olin LibraryThere are over 200 print and e-books on the subject of criminology available through Olin.
- Criminology Journals from the Olin LibraryThe Olin Library offers access to hundreds of criminology journals. You can use this saved search to browse them.
- CrimRxivAn open source repository of pre-publication criminology journal articles.
These articles are good places to begin learning the fundamentals of crime analysis and profiling based on offender behavior:
Andresen, Martin A, Richard Frank, and Marcus Felson. “Age and the Distance to Crime.” Criminology & criminal justice 14.3 (2014): 314–333. Print.
Andresen, Martin A., and Jen-Li Shen. “Journey to Crime: How Far Does the Criminal Travel?” CrimRxiv (2019): CrimRxiv, 2019-08. Print.
Godwin, Maurice, and David Canter. “Encounter and Death: The Spatial Behavior of US Serial Killers.” Policing : an international journal of police strategies & management 20.1 (1997): 24–38. Print.
Johnson, Shane D. “How Do Offenders Choose Where to Offend? Perspectives from Animal Foraging.” Legal and criminological psychology 19.2 (2014): 193–210. Print.
Keppel, RD, and JG Weis. “Time and Distance as Solvability Factors in Murder Cases.” Journal of forensic sciences 39.2 (1994): 386–401. Print.
Leong, Kelvin, and Anna Sung. "A review of spatio-temporal pattern analysis approaches on crime analysis." International E-Journal of Criminal Sciences 9 (2015). Online.
Luo, Fei, Yan Zhang, and Larry T. Hoover. “The Journey to Crime and Victimization.” International journal of police science & management 23.3 (2021): 211–221. Print.
Ratcliffe, Jerry H. “The Hotspot Matrix: A Framework for the Spatio-Temporal Targeting of Crime Reduction.” Police practice & research 5.1 (2004): 5–23. Print.
Snook, Brent et al. “Serial Murderers' Spatial Decisions: Factors That Influence Crime Location Choice.” Journal of investigative psychology and offender profiling 2.3 (2005): 147–164. Print.