BAU

BAU Logo

The Behavioral Analysis Unit is a department of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime that uses behavioral analysts to assist in criminal investigations.

## Overview

The BAU receives requests for services from federal, state, local, and international law enforcement agencies. Responses to these requests for BAU assistance are facilitated through the network of field NCAVC coordinators. BAU services can consist of on-site case consultations, telephone conference calls, 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, threat analysis, critical incident analysis, interview strategies, major case management, search warrant assistance, prosecutive and trial strategies, and expert testimony.[7] 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"[8]report to guide school administrators, teachers, parents, and law enforcement in identifying and evaluating threats in schools. The BAU maintains a reference file for experts in various forensic disciplines such as odontology, anthropology, psychiatry, entomology, or pathology.[7]

## BAU Involvement

The BAU may become involved in a serial criminal investigation for a variety of reasons. These may include:

* The State, County, and/or Local Authorities are unable to gain any headway in a serial crime case
	+ Exemption: Illinois and California have their own State Bureaus of Investigation but may still request assistance, if needed
* The criminal(s) cross(es) state lines
* The criminal(s) cross(es) into any other country in the Americas
	+ If passing to an overseas location, Interpol has jurisdiction
* The offender(s) is/are already on the FBI's wanted list
* There are suspicions of terrorist activity; in which case, multiple branches of the FBI may be involved (including the Counter-Terrorism Unit)

## Child Abduction Response Plan

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" report to guide school administrators, teachers, parents, and law enforcement in identifying and evaluating threats in schools.

## On Science of the Tortured Minds

The films features a fictionalized group of BAU investigators.

### Current Chain of Command

*The BAU in Science of the Tortured Mind follows this chain of command:*

* Section Chief: Kane Corsetti (1999–Present)
* Unit Chief:
	+ Supervisory Special Agent Justin Brown (2002–Present)
* Senior Field Agent: Supervisory Special Agent Liam Anderson (2004–Present)
* Field Agents:
	+ Supervisory Special Agent (Dr.) Gray Smith, Ph.D. (2007–Present)
	+ Agent in Training William Johnson (2019–Present)
* Communication & Media Liaison: Special Agent Becky Johnson (2004–Present)
* Technical Analyst: Special Agent Becky Johnson (2004–Present)

### Former Members

* Supervisory Special Agent Noah Williams (2004-2019)

## See Also

* Federal Bureau of Investigation
* Innocent Images Unit

## References

1. ↑ Federal Bureau of Investigation - Investigative Programs - Critical Incident Response Group
2. ↑ Federal Bureau of Investigation
3. ↑ Federal Bureau of Investigation - Investigative Programs - Critical Incident Response Group