The International Criminal Investigative Analysis Fellowship (ICIAF)operates as the only organisation in the world to train and certify police Criminal Profilers and Geographic Profilers. The mission of the ICIAF is to provide quality Criminal Investigative Analysis services to law enforcement agencies internationally. It establishes standards for conducting assessments and providing expert testimony. Accredited Criminal Profilers and Geographic Profilers are members of the ICIAF.
The ICIAF was formed in 1992. During 1986-1991 the FBI trained 32 Police Officers from around the world in Criminal Investigative Analysis. These "Police Fellows" underwent 10 months of intensive training at the
FBIAcademy. The FBI Police Fellowship training program then ceased and this remains the last Criminal Investigative Analysis training program the FBI provided to law enforcement outside its own organisation.
In 1992 the ICIAF became the training and accreditation authority for the certification of Criminal Investigative Analysts. This organisation undertook the responsibility of ensuring that future Analysts would meet a minimum standard of competency prior to offering their opinions as Criminal Investigative Analysts to the police or courts.
The International Criminal Investigative Analysis Fellowship has the following purposes:
To professionalise Criminal Investigative Analysis
To provide a consistent standard of excellence in the services provided to law enforcement
To share members' knowledge, skills, and experience within the Fellowship
To pass on the collective knowledge, skills, and experiences of the Fellows to new Criminal Profilers through the ICIAF Understudy Program
To train and accredit new Criminal Investigative Analysts and Geographic Profilers through the Understudy Programs
To contribute to research into criminal behaviour analysis
To provide training to law enforcement in Criminal Investigative Analysis and Geographic Profiling topics.
Today, the ICIAF is comprised of two divisions - the Criminal Profiling and Geographic Profiling Divisions - and is governed by one executive board. The ICIAF enjoys a membership of about 110 professionals from the Criminal Profiling, Geographic Profiling and Forensic Psychologist and Psychiatrist fields and is comprised of FBI agents, ATF agents, law enforcement officers and private practitioners from the
United States,
Canada, The Netherlands,
United Kingdom, and
Australia.
ICIAF Understudy Program
The minimum entry requirements for candidates into the ICIAF Criminal Investigative Analysis Understudy Program are as follows:
Law enforcement officer
Minimum three years experience in interpersonal violent crime Investigation
Sponsored by an ICIAF Fellow
Sponsored by the Candidate's agency
The Understudy Program leads to international accreditation as a Criminal Investigative Analyst (Criminal Profiler). Understudies must successfully complete the following training program to become accredited:
Train in a variety of specialised fields (see below)
Undertake readings and review of video materials
Satisfactorily complete field placements with ICIAF accredited profilers
Successfully sit the ICIAF accreditation examination
The specialised fields of training include the following topics:
Homicide Investigation
Homicide Offender Typologies
Sexual Assault Investigation
Sex Offender Typologies
Child Abduction & Molestation
Equivocal Death Analysis
Stalking
Serial Arson
Bombings
Statement Analysis
Forensic Linguistics
Threat Assessment
False Allegations
Serial Crime Linkage
Sexual Deviance
Role of Fantasy in Violent Crimes
Abnormal Psychology/ Psychopathology
Forensic Pathology
Anatomical Terminology
Wound Pattern Analysis
Blood Spatter Interpretation
Forensic Procedures and Capabilities
Interview Techniques/Strategies
Investigative Strategies
Media Awareness
Instructional Techniques
Accreditation is achieved after successfully undertaking a Test Case in which the Understudy analyses a violent crime case; writes their analysis in a detailed report; and is examined orally about their case findings and knowledge of the above training topics before an ICIAF Examination Board.
Once accredited, the understudy becomes an Associate Fellow. If in good standing at the end of the 12 months, the membership may elect the Associate Fellow to Full Fellow status. Full Fellows are eligible to sponsor and train understudies.