Editing Behavioral Analysis Unit (section)

==History and structure==
The Behavioral Analysis Unit was originally called the [[Behavioral Science Unit]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=George |first=James A. |date=2008 |title=Offender Profiling and Expert Testimony: Scientifically Valid or Glorified Results? |url=https://scholarship.law.vanderbilt.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1493&context=vlr |journal=Vanderbilt Law Review |volume=61 |issue=1 |pages=238}}</ref> The Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) was launched in 1972 as part of the [[National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite journal |last=Osowski |first=Kaylee |date=2018-12-11 |title=Investigating a Serial Killer: The Development of the FBI's Role Told Through Public Documents |url=https://journals.ala.org/index.php/dttp/article/view/6892 |journal=DTTP: Documents to the People |language=en-US |volume=46 |issue=4 |pages=19–24 |doi=10.5860/dttp.v46i4.6892 |issn=0091-2085|doi-access=free }}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Criminal Profilers {{!}} Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives |url=https://www.atf.gov/careers/criminal-profilers |access-date=2024-05-09 |website=www.atf.gov |language=en}}</ref>

The Investigations & Operations Support Section is a branch of the FBI's overall [[FBI Critical Incident Response Group|Critical Incident Response Group]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cirg/investigations-and-operations-support |title=FBI — Investigations & Operations Support |publisher=Fbi.gov |date=2011-11-30 |access-date=2012-06-10}}</ref>  It provides personnel and training to assist in investigations throughout the country and at US embassies worldwide.  It also supports other Critical Incident Response Groups within the FBI, FBI headquarters and field offices, FBI legal attaches (at embassies abroad), and all US law enforcement agencies.  The section is divided into two main sections: the National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime and the [[Operations Support Branch]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cirg/investigations-and-operations-support/investigations-operations-support#cirg_rdt |title=FBI — Investigations & Operations Support |publisher=Fbi.gov |date=2011-11-30 |access-date=2014-02-24}}</ref>

The National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime consists of five Behavioral Analysis Units, or "BAU"s:<ref name="Critical Incident Response Group (CIRG)">{{cite web|title=Critical Incident Response Group (CIRG)|url=https://www.fbi.gov/services/cirg|website=FBI Federal Bureau of Investigation|access-date=11 October 2017}}</ref>

* Behavioral Analysis Unit 1 (counterterrorism, arson and bombing matters)
* Behavioral Analysis Unit 2 (threats, cyber crime, and public corruption)
[[Cybercrime]] has been a problem for the FBI. In today's digital landscape, [[Cybercrime|cybercriminals]] share similar motives with traditional [[criminals]], but the complex technological aspect of cybercrime poses unique challenges for law enforcement.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Countering the Cyber Enforcement Gap: Strengthening Global Capacity on Cybercrime |url=https://heinonline.org/HOL/Page?handle=hein.journals/jnatselp10&div=24&g_sent=1&casa_token=&collection=journals# |access-date=2024-05-11 |website=heinonline.org}}</ref> There have been different approaches to reduce cybercrime through technological advances. Computer sciences and cybersecurity have applied this by using [[Intrusion detection system|Intrusion Detection Systems]] (IDSs), Intrusion Prevention Systems (IPSs), [[Firewalls and Internet Security|firewalls]], and [[Antivirus software|anti-virus]] software to mitigate [[cyberattack]] threats.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Kumar |first1=Sumeet |last2=Carley |first2=Kathleen M. |chapter=Approaches to understanding the motivations behind cyber attacks |date=September 2016 |pages=307–309 |title=2016 IEEE Conference on Intelligence and Security Informatics (ISI) |chapter-url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1109/isi.2016.7745496 |publisher=IEEE |doi=10.1109/isi.2016.7745496|isbn=978-1-5090-3865-7 }}</ref>  
* Behavioral Analysis Unit 3 (crimes against children)
<blockquote>Behavioral Analysis Unit 3 focuses on crimes against children and provides support to other law enforcement officials through criminal investigative analysis, a process through which analysts review, assess, and interpret offender behavior.<ref>{{Citation |last1=Hoffer |first1=Tia A. |title=IX. The FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit III: Crimes Against Children |date=2012-11-22 |work=Suicide Among Child Sex Offenders |pages=65 |url=https://doi-org.libaccess.sjlibrary.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-5937-8_9 |access-date=2024-05-09 |place=New York, NY |publisher=Springer New York |language=en |doi=10.1007/978-1-4614-5937-8_9 |isbn=978-1-4614-5936-1 |last2=Shelton |first2=Joy Lynn E.|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Behavioral Analysis Unit 3 also assists other units within the FBI that specialize in crimes against children, such as the Violent Crimes Against Children program (VCAC).<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009 |title=The Federal Bureau of Investigation's Efforts to Combat Crimes Against Children |url=https://oig.justice.gov/reports/FBI/a0908/exec.htm |access-date=May 8, 2024 |website=U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General}}</ref> The Violent Crimes Against Children program aims to provide quick and proactive responses to threats and/or acts of abuse and exploitation of children that fall within the FBI's jurisdiction.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024 |title=Violent Crimes Against Children |url=https://www.fbi.gov/investigate/violent-crime/vcac |access-date=May 8, 2024 |website=Federal Bureau of Investigation}}</ref>

The VCAC prioritizes the following violations against children:

# Child abductions: disappearance of a minor, typically 12 years or younger
# Contact offenses against children: production of [[child sexual abuse material]], [[sextortion]], and travel with the intention to engage in sexual activity with minors
# Sexual exploitation of children: producing, trading, distributing, and/or selling child sexual abuse material
# Trafficking of child sexual abuse material: either distribution or possession of the material
# International parental kidnapping: wrongfully keeping a child outside the United States with the intention of obstructing the lawful exercise of parental rights
The Violent Crimes Against Children program responds to the above violations by aiding the child victims and supporting federal, state, local, tribal, and international law enforcement in identifying, investigating, and deterring individuals and groups that exploit children.</blockquote>
*Behavioral Analysis Unit 4 (crimes against adults, [[Violent Criminal Apprehension Program|ViCAP]])
The [[Violent Criminal Apprehension Program|ViCAP]] (Violent Criminal Apprehension Program) is a computer program that was established in 1984 to help [[law enforcement]] solve and identify serial murders. The ViCAP uses a 15-page format that requests information about a crime that was committed.<ref name=":5">{{Cite journal |last=Rust |first=Lyle |date=1989-03-01 |title=The Violent Criminal Apprehension Program (VICAP) and its Application to Serial Murder |url=https://repository.stcloudstate.edu/cjs_etds/5 |journal=Culminating Projects in Criminal Justice}}</ref>

This includes information on:

* Victim
* Offender
* [[Crime scene]]
* [[Physical evidence]]

This report is then relayed to the [[National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime]] which is then put in the system of the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit in [[Quantico, Virginia]]. The report is analyzed by the agents to investigate the Criminal Investigation Analysis of a killer. This can help solve unsolved cases and/or new cases in the future, by identifying the suspects of the cases.<ref name=":5" />
* Behavioral Analysis Unit 5 (research, strategy, and instruction)
the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit 5 (BAU-5), relies on extensive training and law enforcement experience to develop and apply behavioral profiles. This unit focuses on research, strategy, and instruction, crucial elements that help understand and manage criminal behavior more effectively. The field of criminal investigative analysis, which includes behavioral profiling, had evolved significantly since the 1970s when the FBI's Behavioral Science Unit began offering profiling assistance to other law enforcement agencies. Initially, profiling was more about understanding unknown offenders' personalities and behavioral traits based on crime scene analysis. This method has since grown into a more comprehensive tool known as criminal investigative analysis, encompassing a variety of services such as investigative suggestions, interview strategies, and trial support.

One of BAU-5's core activities is conducting research and providing instructional courses that enhance the skills of law enforcement officers nationwide. The unit's efforts aim to educate officers on [[Applied behavior analysis]] applying behavioral analysis techniques effectively in their cases. This training often involves analyzing solved and unsolved cases to identify patterns suggesting similar offender behaviors.

The strategy aspect of BAU-5's work involves advising law enforcement agencies on various facets of criminal investigations. This could include developing [[Interview]] techniques, providing investigative leads, or assisting with media [[Strategy]] in high-profile cases. The unit's role is often advisory, providing the groundwork for local agencies to build their cases rather than actively participating in the investigation.

Despite its proven utility, criminal investigative analysis continues to face debates over its [[Methodology]] and practitioner qualifications. Critics and proponents alike discuss whether the practice should be more [[Empirical evidence]] driven or rely on the seasoned intuition of experienced investigators. This ongoing debate highlights the need for continuous research and evaluation to refine criminal profiling techniques and ensure they are practical and scientifically valid.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Scherer |first=Amber |date=June 10, 2014 |title=Criminal Investigative Analysis |url=https://leb.fbi.gov/articles/featured-articles/criminal-investigative-analysis-practitioner-perspectives-part-one-of-four |access-date=May 9, 2024 |website=Law Enforcement Bulletin}}</ref>

The headquarters for the BAU is located in [[Quantico, Virginia]].

The Operations Support Branch contains three main units:

* Crisis Management Unit
* Special Events Management Unit
* Rapid Deployment & Technology Unit