Final answer:
Criminal profilers use geographic profiling to predict future crimes and potentially identify a criminal's residence. They rely on data analysis, DNA sequencing, and improved interview and lineup procedures to help in suspect identification, which is often depicted in popular crime television dramas.
Step-by-step explanation:
Criminal profilers play a critical role in aiding investigators to identify an unknown suspect by analyzing crime scenes and applying principles such as geographic profiling and distance decay. These analysts observe the spatial patterns and modus operandi (M.O.) of a criminal, predicting where future crimes could occur and potentially the suspect’s residence, taking into account that criminals avoid committing crimes very close to their home or workplace. Geographic profiling involves mapping serial offenses like arson, murder, and car theft, and also employing advanced techniques like Rossmo's Formula, which can help to make predictions about a criminal's behavior.
Researchers also analyze crime through various data sources such as court records, police databases, and interviews with individuals in the criminal justice system. Formulating hypotheses based on societal behaviors further assists in understanding and predicting crime trends, such as relating crime unemployment to an increase in crime rates. Additionally, DNA sequencing can help identify suspects when physical evidence is present.
To avoid errors in the identification process, interview practices and police lineup procedures have been improved. Less suggestive questioning, blind photo lineups, and informed juries help reduce witness misidentification, which is important as courts often rely heavily on eyewitness accounts. Systems like GIS have become more popular for their effectiveness in crime analysis, bolstered by their depiction in crime television dramas.