Editing Behavioral Analysis Unit (section)

==Operation==

The BAU focuses on preventing targeted violence by identifying concerning behaviors. For example, [[active shooter]]s meticulously plan and prepare for acts of violence. Throughout this process, they frequently exhibit worrying behaviors, characterized as observable and identifiable actions suggesting potential progression towards targeted violence. While no individual behavior definitively signifies an individual's trajectory towards committing targeted violence, the presence of multiple behaviors may warrant attention and concern.<ref name=":1" />

The BAU receives requests for services from federal, state, local, and international [[law enforcement agency|law enforcement agencies]]. Responses to these requests for BAU assistance are facilitated through the network of field coordinators of the National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime. BAU services can consist of on-site case consultations, telephone [[conference call]]s, and/or consultations held at the BAU with case investigators.

BAU assistance to law enforcement agencies is provided through the process of "criminal investigative analysis." Criminal investigative analysis is a process of reviewing crimes from both a behavioral and investigative perspective. It involves reviewing and assessing the facts of a criminal act, interpreting offender [[behavior]], and interaction with the victim, as exhibited during the commission of the crime, or as displayed in the [[crime scene]]. BAU staff conduct detailed analyses of crimes for the purpose of providing two or more of the following services: [[crime analysis]], investigative suggestions, profiles of unknown offenders, [[Alert state|threat analysis]], critical incident analysis, interview strategies, major case management, [[search warrant]] assistance, prosecution and trial strategies, and [[Expert witness|expert testimony]].<ref name="fbi.gov">{{cite web|url=https://www.fbi.gov/hq/isd/cirg/ncavc.htm#bau |title=Federal Bureau of Investigation - Investigative Programs - Critical Incident Response Group |publisher=Fbi.gov |date=2011-11-30 |access-date=2012-02-10}}</ref>
In addition to the above services, the BAU staff produced the ''Child Abduction Response Plan'' to assist investigators faced with these investigations. Recently, the BAU released "The School Shooter: A Threat Assessment Perspective"<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fbi.gov/file-repository/stats-services-publications-school-shooter-school-shooter/view|title=School Shooter|website=Federal Bureau of Investigation}}</ref>  report to guide school administrators, [[teacher]]s, [[parent]]s, and law enforcement in identifying and evaluating threats in schools. The BAU maintains a reference file for experts in various forensic disciplines such as [[Forensic dentistry|odontology]], [[forensic anthropology|anthropology]], [[forensic psychiatry|psychiatry]], [[forensic entomology|entomology]], or [[forensic pathology|pathology]].<ref name="fbi.gov"/>