Behavioral Science Unit – Part II


January 8, 2010

A continuation of the discussion of the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit and the analyses, reports and studies this entity conducts on behalf of the FBI and its partners.


Audio Transcript

Mr. Schiff: Profiling serial killers. That’s how it all started in the 1970s at the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit, which is located at the FBI Academy, Quantico, Virginia.

Dr. Vecchi: “We are all about doing something that can help the law enforcement officer, the military person, or the intel (intelligence) agent do their job.”

Mr. Schiff: That’s FBI Special Agent Dr. Greg Vecchi. He’s the chief of the Behavioral Science Unit.

Dr. Vecchi: “We’ve moved into the national security area for the first time. And n ow we are supporting the military because the FBI is embedded in the military overseas in Afghanistan and Iraq.”

Mr. Schiff: Dr. Vecchi says his staff still deals with issues that have been on the books for years.

Dr. Vecchi: “We of course, still maintain, I guess, our bread and butter, which is what we are known for—research in the area of violent crime, death investigations, aberrant behavior, are some examples.”

Mr. Schiff: Dr. Vecchi says more studies and training on hostage taking are in his unit’s future. Learn more about behavioral science at fbi.gov. I’m Neal Schiff of the Bureau and that’s what’s happening at the “FBI, This Week.”

Audio Download