J Police Crim Psych (2008) 23:100–102
DOI 10.1007/s11896-008-9023-x
L. J. Alison (Ed.), The Forensic Psychologist’s Casebook:
Psychological Profiling and Criminal Investigation
Devon: Willan Publishing. 410 pages, paperback. ISBN 978–1843921011
Karla Emeno & Rebecca Mugford & Alyssa Taylor
Published online: 26 August 2008
# Springer Science + Business Media, LLC 2008
The Forensic Psychologist’s Casebook explores the com-
plexities surrounding offender profiling and police inves-
tigations. The book contains 16 chapters divided into two
parts, with Chapters 1–8 dealing with the context of
criminal investigations and Chapters 9–16 providing prac-
tical advice to investigators. The editor, Laurence Alison,
identifies several purposes of this casebook, including: (1)
to expose current misconceptions surrounding offender
profiling, (2) to develop a reference for practitioners and
researchers in the field, and (3) to encourage a more
systematic approach to police investigations. Overall,
Alison envisions that this book will be accessible to the
forensic community as a whole – including practitioners,
researchers, investigators, and students.
The first chapter, written by the editor, is effective in
setting the scene for the entire book. While it is not an
introductory chapter, it manages to clearly explain key
concepts and assumptions of profiling. For instance, Alison
explains the roots of profiling in trait psychology and
admits there is less than compelling empirical evidence
supporting its effectiveness. Also, Alison discusses specific
police investigative developments within the UK and
prefaces the way in which the book will advocate for
improved behavioural science for police.
Chapter 2 uses the infamous Jack the Ripper case to
demonstrate the difficulties of conducting complex police
investigations. The authors, Jonathan Ogan and Laurence
Alison, cite several of the challenges of this case, including
the high-profile nature of the case, managing the public,
and the competition for information across law enforcement
K. Emeno (*) : R. Mugford : A. Taylor
Carleton University,
Ottawa, ON K1S 5B6, Canada
e-mail: kbemn@mta.ca
jurisdictions. While this chapter is very comprehensive,
almost long-winded in the account of police investigative
difficulties, the use of only one rather well-known case was
mildly onerous. It might have made for a more interesting
read if multiple cases were included.
The basis for Chapter 3 was to explain the way research
can help police and to highlight challenges in accomplish-
ing this research. Emma Barrett believes there is a lack of
solid research to inform police policy and there is a need to
strive towards using more evidence-based approaches for
police decision-making. One problem is that certain areas
of police research lack results that are useful in naturalistic
settings. Barrett makes five suggestions about how
researchers can make more significant contributions to
policing, and while these suggestions are perhaps useful for
novice researchers, they likely offer little in terms of
innovative ideas for more established forensic researchers.
Chapter 4 discusses the progression of suspect prioriti-
zation in the investigation of sex offences over the past
50 years, beginning with early clinical classification
systems and concluding with the newer, more pragmatic
approaches. Georgia Wilson and Laurence Alison do an
excellent job of presenting the past approaches to suspect
prioritization and highlighting the problems associated with
each approach. However, considering that it is the newest
approach to suspect prioritization, the section discussing the
move towards pragmatism warrants a more in depth review.
Although this chapter often seems vague in terms of
relating the presented information back to practical appli-
cation, the final section is useful in that it offers insight into
the future of suspect prioritization.
In Chapter 5, Nina Cope discusses the expansion of
crime analysis in response to a call for a more proactive
approach to policing, as well as the challenges associated
with the field as a profession. Cope calls for training that
J Police Crim Psych (2008) 23:100–102
not only focuses on the information technology used, but
also on theory from psychology to support the understand-
ing of the analyses performed. Although interesting, parts
of this chapter are rather lengthy. Certainly, the most
appealing aspect of this chapter are the case studies Cope
provides, which bring her complex arguments into perspec-
tive by illustrating how analysts can assist police decision-
making in a multitude of ways.
Chapter 6 outlines the findings of one large, three-stage
study. Specifically, a research team examined police
interviewing tactics with officers from Australia, Canada,
Norway, and the UK. This chapter is fascinating because it
helps to shed some light on interviewing tactics used by
officers and perceptions of these officers about interviewing
suspects and witnesses. Laurence Alison and Joanne
Howard provide a comprehensive review of police inter-
viewing. This chapter is a must-read for those interested in
this area.
In Chapter 7, Louise Porter provides valuable insight
into aspects of police corruption. The chapter begins with a
discussion of how to define and research corrupt behaviour,
then moves on to present several contributory factors, and
concludes with an explanation of how each factor can be
addressed in order to prevent police corruption. Porter
makes it clear how psychologists can contribute to this area
by describing their role in police corruption as reviewers,
analysts, investigators, and advisors who act in an external
capacity with the goal of offering objective advice.
Although some of the information presented may already
be familiar to more knowledgeable readers, there is still
much to be learned from this chapter.
Chapter 8, by David Ormerod and Jim Sturman,
thoroughly examines the use of offender profiles as
evidence in court and explains the legal qualifications for
expert witnesses. This chapter helps bridge the gap between
law and profiling by drawing upon legal cases involving
profiling evidence. Finally, it outlines the five categories
whereby profiling evidence can contribute to legal proceed-
ings. This chapter is refreshing because it demonstrates the
limited uses and skepticism surrounding the use of profiles
in court.
Chapter 9 introduces Part Two of the book, whereby
Laurence Alison and David Canter examine the investiga-
tion of the UK murder of Rachel Nickell, particularly in
terms of an undercover officer’s implicit use of rhetorical
devices to obtain information from the primary suspect,
Colin Stagg. Through an analysis of case materials, the
authors dispute the claim that the rhetorical devices
employed did not influence the information obtained from
Stagg. Overall, Alison and Canter succeed in balancing
between audiences. They provide the uninformed reader
with sufficient explanations of ambiguous rhetorical terms
(e.g., eulogizing), while sustaining the interest of those who
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are more knowledgeable by adopting a novel approach to
examining the dynamics of persuasion surrounding under-
cover police operations.
In Chapter 10, Laurence Alison, Alasdair Goodwill, and
Emily Alison outline potential guidelines for professional
profilers – undertaking a crucial step toward filling the void
that exists in terms of monitoring how profiles are prepared
for, and assessed by, police agencies. The authors acknowl-
edge that a primary concern in the profiling field is the
degree to which scientific evidence is provided in support
of profile assertions. They provide a comprehensible layout
for structuring profiles, as well as suggestions to balance
the inclusion of empirical evidence with logical inferences
based on the facts of the case. The chapter concludes with
an illustration of a real profile that was constructed by the
authors, offering the reader a unique glimpse into the real
world of profiling – a valuable feature that is too often
lacking in literature belonging to this field.
Chapter 11 focuses on assessing the reliability of
interviews with vulnerable witnesses. Katarina Fritzon
begins with a brief overview of: (1) key issues relating to
interviewing people with learning difficulties, (2) assessing
the reliability of their accounts, and (3) process and
professional issues associated with writing a recommenda-
tion. The chapter further demonstrates these issues by
drawing on specific examples from a case study involving
two individuals with learning difficulties. Although this
chapter raises valid concerns with interviewing vulnerable
witnesses, the case study provided inadequate background
information to engage the reader.
Chapter 12 consists of a report provided to police by
Laurence Alison concerning the veracity of a defendant’s
claim of memory loss following a major car accident, which
claimed the life of his passenger. To improve the transpar-
ency of the report, Alison provides critical side notes
throughout the chapter, where he outlines the processes he
employed to construct each part of the report, and sheds light
on the fact that much of the process is concerned with
questions that the expert may be asked in a court of law.
Overall, Alison provides the reader with a comprehensive
overview of the difficulties associated with advising on cases
of this nature by drawing on research examining the
uncertainties surrounding malingering and memory loss.
In Chapter 13, David Canter offers a compelling
evaluation of the dominant discourses surrounding the UK
case of Eddie Gilfoyle, a man convicted of the murder of
his pregnant wife. By drawing on both later conversations
with Gilfoyle and recent research developments in the area
of personality and suicide, Canter questions the assump-
tions inherent in the case proceedings. By doing so, he
successfully portrays a modified, plausible narrative of
suicide that could have significantly altered the process and
implications of the investigation.
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Chapter 14 presents a detailed description of a stalking
management programme that aims to provide an overall
support system and remove the need for the victim to
facilitate communication between several different agen-
cies. The programme described by Emily and Laurence
Alison contains four phases meant to assess and educate
potential or current victims of stalking: (1) background
information and initial assessment, (2) determination of risk
of harm, (3) assessment of symptoms and methods of
coping, and (4) determining a plan of action. Although this
chapter provides useful information concerning the effects
of stalking and what steps need to be taken to prevent or
cease stalking behaviour, it does get a bit repetitive at times.
Chapter 15 presents a fictional report prepared on behalf
of a police constabulary that assesses a set of documentary
evidence. The report reviews consent, inference, and
pattern of abuse in an allegation of grievous bodily harm
J Police Crim Psych (2008) 23:100–102
and rape within a domestic relationship. The use of a
fictional report provides an interesting way of demonstrat-
ing how practitioners and academics can both contribute to
informing the courts. Emily and Laurence Alison provide
sufficient background information to engage the reader in
the fictional scenario. Overall, this chapter was well written,
interesting, and informative.
While the concluding remarks in Chapter 16 do not
provide an overall summary of the book, Laurence Alison
and Adrian West do offer personal reflections in an attempt
to bridge the gap between practitioners and researchers.
This book provides a comprehensive review of the
complexities surrounding criminal investigations and pro-
filing, as well as useful recommendations for practitioners
when advising in an applied forensic setting. Overall, The
Forensic Psychologist’s Casebook is successful at achieving
its various aims, and is a worthwhile read.