Profiling does not take place in a vacuum and investigators rely on any evidence found at a crime scene to draw conclusions. Other important aspects police consider are the crime location, the circumstances of the crime, whether it is similar in nature to another crime (using the same modus operandi), if there is any physical evidence left behind, or weapons used that may have been used in other crimes. Police use blood spatter analysis, fingerprinting and casting on scene as well to get a picture of the individual who may have committed the crime.

Criminal profiling also goes by another name, offender profiling. It is defined as the method or process used to attempt to get a handle on the characteristics and mindset of an unknown offender or unsub (unknown subject/suspect).

Solving crimes takes more than 40 minutes with commercials thrown in and major luck getting big breaks. It is a long process involving a number of tools, and one of them happens to be criminal profiling. Police use it most often to assist in solving particularly egregious crimes, such as murder, kidnapping and sexual assault. When it comes to attempting to put together a profile, all aspects of the crime come into play, from the smallest, seemingly inconsequential detail, to the possible discovery of a weapon with fingerprints.

Part of the benefit of criminal profiling is that the results may indicate a pattern that helps narrow down many facets of the case. Profiling can elucidate details about the unsub, such as whom the individual might be and what risks he or she took to commit the crime, the latter indicating intelligence and planning versus a crime of passion.

In addition, elements of setting can come to light, like where the suspect usually carries out the crimes, and what the motive for the crime appears to be. The preliminary answers to these, and other questions, usually provide investigators with a good sense of whom they may be hunting.

Forensic evidence is not the only element that makes up a criminal profile. It involves, but is not limited to, victim characteristics, crime scene evidence and even detective/profiler intuition. Information gleaned from a criminal profile can include intelligence, sex, approximate age, race, religious beliefs and psychological traits. Though this methodology is useful, it has its flaws, because it produces educated guesses rather than exact answers. It also opens the door to stereotyping, which could lead to false profiles. Some view criminal profiling as a pseudoscientific technique.

This tool has many advantages, including the ability to detect criminal behavior patterns, which saves time hunting for the perpetrator, and predicts where the criminal could be active in the future. Profiling cannot take place without a very detailed analysis of the crime scene done by forensic investigators.

Thomas C .Grajek is a criminal defense lawyer in Tampa, Lakeland, and Polk County Florida. To contact a Lakeland criminal defense lawyer or to learn more, visit http://www.flcrimedefense.com/ or call 863-688-4606.

Divorce can have a profound effect on children. And children do not really have a say in whether their parents stay together. Obviously, having children gives parents an enormous incentive to work things out. But in the end, the decision to keep the family together or split it up rests with the parents.

Health scientists and social scientists want to know exactly how divorce affects children. A pair of recent studies on the consequences of divorce showed harm, but those problems can be solved, mitigated or avoided altogether by a loving, but divided, family.

The first study showed that children of divorced parents may be at greater risk of health problems. Researchers at the University College of London studied the blood of 7,462 people age 44. They found that the subjects whose parents had divorced before they reached age 16 showed elevated levels of a protein that is associated with increased risk of adult-onset diabetes and heart disease.

Dr. Rebecca Lacey, who led the study, said that it is not necessarily the divorce itself that caused the physiological changes, but rather the socioeconomic hardships that often accompany divorce when compared to two-parent households. For instance, children of divorced parents can face greater economic challenges and more limited educational opportunities.

The second study indicated that children of divorced parents regard their relationships with their parents as weaker than other children’s. Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign surveyed 7,335 men and women averaging 24 years old. Those from divorced families less often saw their current relationship with their parents as “secure.” The effect was more pronounced in those whose parents divorced before they reached age 5.

Studies like this can be disheartening to families contemplating divorce, because they feel conflicted about the actions that are best for their children and for themselves. But not every divorce or troubled relationship or child is the same.

Notice one thing both the studies mentioned have in common: the negative effects of divorce on children are worse for younger children. No divorce at all gives kids the best chance, but if divorce must happen, later is better than sooner. If you and your partner can stay amicable and on the same team for the sake of your child – even for just a couple more years – the benefits can be significant. Couples therapy can go a long way to help you make this happen.

If divorce is inevitable, at the very least, it can be peaceful. “Collaborative divorce” is a process by which couples agree from the outset to cooperate and negotiate toward a solution that is satisfactory to both parties and their children. They agree not to litigate against each other. The process is not only often faster and less expensive than litigious divorce, but far less emotionally draining.

Many couples with prenuptial agreements find that the documents give a certain peace of mind and help them avoid fights. If you are considering divorce, it is too late for a prenuptial agreement, of course, but not for a postnuptial agreement. “Postnups” are just like prenups, but for couples already married. Sometimes it can help prevent conflict to have a written agreement in place, and if a divorce still comes to pass, the outcome is largely prenegotiated and the process can be relatively quick and painless.

When a divorce is finalized, parents can still give their children enormous advantages by actively maintaining healthy, happy relationships – both with your children and your ex. Children who see their parents maintain civility and cooperation and keep close ties with both of them will fare far better than those who do not.

Contact a Tampa divorce lawyer and Brandon child custody attorney with the Osenton Law Offices, P.A. To learn more, visit http://www.brandonlawoffice.com/

By Chris Berry

Insufficient funding is threatening imperative research work into dementia. A number of projects are facing closure while arduous scientists may have to quit as a result of not being able to make a regular living wage.

(Related: Obamacare’s Impact on Medicare Advantage)

According to Shadow Health Minister Andrew Gwynne the government is largely to blame for the struggle.

“Despite David Cameron’s public commitment to fund dementia research, it’s heading in the opposite direction. He must also be straight with people about how his cuts to social care budgets have hit dementia sufferers hardest. They aren’t getting the support they need at home. Older people are paying the price of Cameron’s broken promises – they deserve much better,” Gwynne said.

Word leaders are meeting for the first G8 Summit on dementia in London, hosted by the Prime Minister, in hope thats they will increase funding for research into the illness. Experts anticipate that dementia will affect 135 million people worldwide by 2050.

(Related: How to Choose a Caregiver)

Currently, the condition costs the UK £23 billion annually in medical and care costs. Dr Simon Ridley, head researcher for the Alzheimer’s Research UK, said: “Dementia is one of the greatest challenges facing society and we are not doing enough. Because of ageing populations, the scale of dementia will continue to rise. Lack of funding can interrupt projects and, although scientists are driven by their interests and desire to make the world a better place and to fight disease, they need to live.”

Close to 200 research projects are being conducted in the UK, all of which are funded by grants from the Government, charities and medical trusts. Most of these studies are short term without the assurance of being extended even if they produce promising results.

(Related: VA Initiative Could Increase the Dollar Benefit for Disability Claims)

“This system of funding is not sensible. Researchers work very hard but their work comes to an end and they have to go elsewhere,” Dr Ridley said.

Read more: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/government-cuts-dementia-research-under-2906832

Christopher J. Berry is a Michigan elder law attorney Dedicated to helping seniors, veterans and their families navigate the long-term care maze. To learn more visit http://www.theeldercarefirm.com/ or call 248.481.4000

Divorce can have a profound effect on children. And children do not really have a say in whether their parents stay together. Obviously, having children gives parents an enormous incentive to work things out. But in the end, the decision to keep the family together or split it up rests with the parents.

Health scientists and social scientists want to know exactly how divorce affects children. Let’s look at a pair of recent studies on the consequences of divorce and then discuss how those ill-effects might be mitigated or avoided altogether.

The first study showed that children of divorced parents may be at greater risk of health problems. Researchers at the University College of London studied the blood of 7,462 people age 44. They found that the subjects whose parents had divorced before they reached age 16 showed elevated levels of a protein that is associated with increased risk of adult-onset diabetes and heart disease.

Dr. Rebecca Lacey, who led the study, said that it is not necessarily the divorce itself that causes the physiological changes, but rather the socioeconomic hardships that often accompany divorce when compared to two-parent households. For instance, children of divorced parents can face greater economic challenges and more limited educational opportunities.

The second study indicated that children of divorced parents regard their relationships with their parents as less strong than other children. Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign surveyed 7,335 men and women averaging 24 years old. Those from divorced families less often saw their current relationship with their parents as “secure.” The effect was more pronounced in those whose parents divorced before they reached age 5.

If you think a divorce may be in your future, studies like this can be disheartening because you feel conflicted about what is best for your children and yourself. But not every divorce or troubled relationship or child is the same.

If divorce is inevitable, at the very least, it can be peaceful. “Collaborative divorce” is a process by which couples agree from the outset to cooperate and negotiate toward a solution that is satisfactory to both parties and their children. They agree not to litigate against each other. The process is not only often faster and less expensive than litigious divorce, but also far less emotionally draining.

Many couples with prenuptial agreements find that they give a certain peace of mind and help them avoid fights. If you are considering divorce, it is too late for a prenuptial agreement, of course, but not for a postnuptial agreement. “Postnups” are just like prenups, but for couples already married. Sometimes it can help prevent conflict to have a written agreement in place, and if a divorce still comes to pass, the outcome is largely prenegotiated and the process can be relatively quick and painless.

Notice one thing both the studies mentioned have in common: the negative effects of divorce on children are worse for younger children. No divorce at all gives kids the best chance, but if divorce must happen, later is better than sooner. If you and your partner can stay amicable and on the same team for the sake of your child – even for just a couple more years – the benefits can be significant. Couples therapy can go a long way to help you make this happen.

Remember, when a divorce is finalized, you can still give your children enormous advantage by actively maintaining healthy, happy relationships – both with your children and your ex. Children who see their parents maintain civility and cooperation and keep close ties with both of them will fare far better than those who do not.

Joshua Law is a divorce lawyer in Brandon and Tampa with the Osenton Law Offices, P.A. To learn more, visit http://www.brandonlawoffice.com/