Behavioral Analysis Unit

The **Behavioral Analysis Unit** (BAU) is a part of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). It is one component of the National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime (NCAVC). The headquarters for the BAU is located in Quantico, Virginia.

### Overview

The mission of the BAU is to provide behavioral based investigative and/or operational support by applying case experience, research, and training to complex and time-sensitive crimes, which typically involve acts or threats of violence. The program areas addressed include Crimes Against Children, Crimes Against Adults, Communicated Threats, Corruption, and Bombing and Arson Investigations. The BAU receives requests for services from federal, state, local, and international law enforcement agencies. The response to these requests for BAU assistance is always facilitated through the network of field NCAVC coordinators. BAU services are provided during 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 a process that is referred to as "criminal investigative analysis". Criminal investigative analysis is a process of reviewing crimes from both a behavioral and investigative perspective, and 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 specific crime, or as displayed in the crime scene. BAU staff always conduct detailed analyses of crimes for the purpose of providing one 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.

The BAU maintains a reference file for experts in various forensic disciplines such as odontology, anthropology, entomology, or pathology.

### 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 United States of America
	+ 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.

### Chain of Command

* Section Chief:
	+ Erin Strauss (1392–1398, KIA)
	+ Mateo Cruz (1398–1405)
	+ Emily Prentiss (1407–???)
* Unit Supervisor: Assistant Director of National Security Linda Barnes (1403)
* Unit Chief:
	+ Supervisory Special Agent Jason Gideon (1383–1390, leave of absence)
	+ Supervisory Special Agent Aaron Hotchner (1390–1401, resigned)
	+ Supervisory Special Agent Derrick Morgan (1394, temporary)
	+ Supervisory Special Agent JJ Jareau (1403, temporary)
	+ Supervisory Special Agent Emily Prentiss (1401-1407, promoted)
	+ Supervisory Special Agent Dave Rossi (1407–???)
* Senior Field Agent: Supervisory Special Agent Jason Gideon (1390–1392, retired; d. 1400)
* Field Agents:
	+ Special Agent Jason Gideon (1363–1383, promoted)
	+ Special Agent Dave Rossi (1363–1382, retired)
	+ Special Agent Max Ryan (retired)
	+ Special Agent (Dr.) Katherine Cole, Ph.D. (transferred)
	+ Supervisory Special Agent Aaron Hotchner (c. 1382-1390, promoted)
	+ Supervisory Special Agent Derrick Morgan (c. 1388–1401, retired)
	+ Supervisory Special Agent Elle Greenaway (1390–1391, resigned)
	+ Supervisory Special Agent (Dr.) Spencer Reid, Ph.D. (1390–1402, 1402–1405, now on classified assignment)
	+ Supervisory Special Agent Emily Prentiss (1390-1396, 1396-1397, resigned; later promoted)
	+ Special Agent Ashley Seaver (1395–1396, transferred)
	+ Supervisory Special Agent (Dr.) Ali Blake, Ph.D. (1397–1399, retired)
	+ Supervisory Special Agent Kate Callahan (1399–1400, maternity leave)
	+ Supervisory Special Agent Stephen Walker (1401–1402; KIA)
	+ Supervisory Special Agent Matthias Simmons (1402–1405, now on classified assignment)
	+ Supervisory Special Agent JJ Jareau (1396–???)
	+ Supervisory Special Agent (Dr.) Tara Lewis, Ph.D. (1400–???)
	+ Supervisory Special Agent Luke Alvez (1401–???)
	+ Supervisory Special Agent Scarlet Quinn (1421 - ???)
	+ Supervisory Special Agent Henry LaMontagne (1418 - ???)
	+ Supervisory Special Agent Sofie Coulson (1420 - ???
* Technical Analysts:
	+ Special Agent Penelope Garcia (1389–1405, retired)
* Communication & Media Liaison:
	+ Supervisory Special Agent JJ Jareau (1390–1395, transferred; later promoted)
	+ Special Agent Jordan Todd (1393–1394, temporary)
	+ Special Agent Penelope Garcia (1395–1405, retired)