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Academy of
Behavioral Profiling

Profiling General Knowledge Exam

The Academy of Behavioral Profiling (ABP) has developed a Profiling General Knowledge Exam (PGKE). The PGKE was developed during 2001 by a committee assembled within the ABP membership consisting of accomplished representatives from the investigative, forensic, behavioral, and general member sections. After undergoing scrutiny and testing via the PGKE committee, exam questions were ratified by the ABP Board of Directors. The PGKE consists of 75 questions relating to forensic science, victimology, crime scene analysis, criminal profiling, expert testimony, and professional ethics. Those taking the PGKE are given 90 minutes within which to complete it. Those registering to take the PGKE must be current ABP members, and should study at least the following approved publications:

ABP: Ethical Guidelines for Professional Conduct

Baeza, J., Chisum W.J., Chamberlin, T.M., McGrath, M. & Turvey, B. "Academy of Behavioral Profiling: Criminal Profiling Guidelines," Journal of Behavioral Profiling, January, 2000, Vol. 1, No. 1

Baeza, J. , & Turvey, B. , "False Reports in Cases of Sexual Assault: Literature Review and Investigative Suggestions," Journal of Behavioral Profiling, December, 2000, Vol. 1, No. 3

Chisum, W.J. & Turvey, B. "Evidence Dynamics: Locard's Exchange Principle & Crime Reconstruction," Journal of Behavioral Profiling, January, 2000, Vol. 1, No. 1

DiMaio D. & DiMaio V. (2001) Forensic Pathology, 2nd Edition, CRC Press

Hare, R. (1998) Without Conscience, Guilford Press

Inman, K. & Rudin, N. (1997) An Introduction to Forensic DNA Analysis, CRC Press

Saferstein, R. (2000) Criminalistics: An Introduction to Forensic Science, 7th Ed., Prentice Hall

Spitz, W. (Ed.) (1993) Spitz and Fisher's Medicolegal Investigation of Death: Guidelines for the Application of Pathology to Crime Investigation, 3rd Ed., Charles C. Thomas Publishers

Turvey, B. (2002) Criminal Profiling: An Introduction to Behavioral Evidence Analysis, 2nd Ed., London: Elsevier Science

Turvey, B. "Criminal Profiling and the Problem of Forensic Individuation," Journal of Behavioral Profiling, May, 2000, Vol. 1, No. 2

The PGKE was first administered on December 15, 2001 during the ABP's 3rd Annual Meeting at the Sheraton Meadowlands Hotel in East Rutherford, NJ. It has been administered at each Annual Meeting since. The PGKE will be administered again at the ABP's 6th Annual Meeting, to be held in Oakland, CA during August of 2005.

NOTE: Passing the PGKE is an important step in advancement of membership status within the ABP, and signals that a certain level of knowledge has been achieved, but it should not be misconstrued nor presented as providing certification of any kind in the field of criminal profiling.