Excerpt From Psycho-Sleuth by Randy Gonzalez - www.drgonzo.

org 1

Psycho-Sleuth:
Criminal Behavior Assessment
And
The Human Sexual Dimension
In
Crime Analysis

By

Randy Gonzalez

Randolph A. Gonzalez – All Rights Reserved

© 2007 Randolph A. Gonzalez (Pending). All rights reserved. This material may not
be reproduced, displayed, modified or distributed without the express prior
written permission of the copyright holder.
Excerpt From Psycho-Sleuth by Randy Gonzalez - www.drgonzo.org 2

Contents

Chapter 1: We think, therefore we commit crimes: Page 3

Chapter 2: Assessing the Criminal Mind – Why People Commit Crimes Page 11

Chapter 3: The Human Sexual Dimension Page 19

Chapter 4: The Nature of Crime - Crime Control Strategies Page 27

Chapter 5: The Investigative Processes – Getting Back To Basics Page 35

Chapter 6: The Nature of Evil Page 43

Chapter 7: Sexuality and Criminal Proclivities Page 51

Chapter 8: Sex, Aggression and Violence Page 58

Chapter 9: Motives, Means and Methods: Page 67

Chapter 10: The Folly of Profiling – Challenges of Solving Crimes: Page 75

Chapter 11: Crime Scene Interactive Assessment – Focus on Crime Analysis: Page 83

Chapter12: A Synopsis of Sexual Motivations and Inclinations: Page 91

Chapter 13: The Nature of Sexual Deviance and Connectivity to Criminality: Page 99

Chapter 14: The Seductive Nature of Crime and Criminality: Page 107

Chapter 15: The Gothic Nature of Criminal Behavior: Page 115

Chapter 16: Crypto-Criminology – A Transformation of Conventional Criminology: Page 123

Chapter 17: Psycho-Sleuth – Criminal Behavior Assessment and Cryptic Illusions: Page 131

Chapter 18: Obsession in a Multi-Murderer Mystery Matrix: Page 139

Chapter 19: Psycho-Sleuthing into the Criminality of Human Sexual Behavior: Page 147
Excerpt From Psycho-Sleuth by Randy Gonzalez - www.drgonzo.org 3

Chapter 1: We think, therefore we commit crimes:

People think, therefore they commit actions of choice. Criminals think, therefore they commit crimes.
This is not a very complicated notion, or is it a new concept. What becomes complicated are the processes
and actions that follow, coupled with academic attempts to explain the subsequent acts. In very broad
general terms, criminal behavior can be formatted and analyzed from the assessment of crime scene, but
not to a point of perfection. Assessment, profiling or whatever you want to call it, is no more and no less
just another tool for law enforcement. Just like lifting fingerprints, interviewing witnesses, or gathering
other physical evidence, criminal behavior assessment is basically guesswork. Human behavior is not
subject to strict codification or precise parameters by which exact measures can be deduced. Probabilities
can be asserted along a continuum, whereby we can understand the thinking processes of criminals to the
junction of potential prediction, but not absolute prediction. This is predicated, of course, on the
assumption that certain elements exist within the known environment by which such predictions can be
based. It is frequently suggested that criminals form pre-crime thoughts in an effort to individually and
collectively carry out their criminal behavior intentions. Interdicting at this point in time would be unique
and advantageous from a law enforcement perspective.
Motivations or personal agendas so to speak, set the stage for intentional selection for results that are
either good or evil. Evil is the darkness of the human mind that fosters all manner of opposition to the
positive and productive aspects of life. It is life negation in contrast to life affirmation. Conscious or
subconscious thoughts take relevance and manifest themselves into real levels of expression with a
significant probability of repetition. Thinking processes are the foundation of potential criminal behavior.
People can be inspired by their thoughts for doing both good and evil. The pursuit of certain thoughts is
grounds for criminal activity. People are a dichotomous expression of being on the one hand selfish, self-
indulgent and self-centered in nature, yet also law-abiding, decent and considerate on the other. From an
investigative standpoint, one can never underestimate the depravity of human beings. Human nature is not
to be trusted to an absolute sense in all situations, under all varieties of conditions. Yet, everyone is still
ultimately accountable and responsible for his or her actions, regardless of station or position in a given
socio-economic context. Of course, some would use their status to place themselves above the lawful
necessity of accountability and responsibility. And, as a result of one thinking that he or she can make
choices contrary to accepted legal policy or social acceptance, criminal behavior becomes probable.
Criminal actions are probable due to personal decision-making. Such actions devolve toward personal
choices associated with power and control issues. Criminals basically commit crimes because that is what
they want to do. A person’s code of morality is influenced by philosophical fallacies of belief. This affects
the thinking process. People basically do stupid things. The depravity of behavior is most likely
unfathomable to most people. Criminals think before they act. The thoughts are there long before the
event takes place. Thinking becomes the basis to rationalize the behavior and ultimately blame the
behavior on someone or something else. So, crime analysis is probably more descriptive of the actions.
Excerpt From Psycho-Sleuth by Randy Gonzalez - www.drgonzo.org 4

The formulation of criminal plans (thinking processes) begins with the thought of doing the acts upon
which one desires. Plans to do harm are not sudden and impulsive. They occur over a distinct period of
time in the brain, or “mind”, of the thinker. And, there is a high probability that since we are biologically
oriented individual, our sexual drives and desires may influence our decision-making (choice we make) in
terms of the crimes we commit and additions we create.
The thought processes emerge in some behavioral aspect, such as physically, verbally, and nonverbally,
as well as symbolic behavior. Outward behavior is indicative of the inner thoughts of the person.
Interpersonal communication is one of the keys to dealing with aspects of criminal behavior. People in
general use various forms of communication to suggest their feelings, value system, lifestyle, attitude and
thoughts. From tattoos to bumper stickers, to physical gestures and slogans, people, and in particular
criminals, reveal indications of one sort or another as to their inclinations. Physical being is an expression
of presence and that presence translates into wants and presumed needs. Whether by word, symbol or
deed, the inner thoughts surface and become the outer actions of mind over matter so to speak. And,
sometimes these outer actions become anti-social in nature. There is a deliberate desire to do the thing
contemplated, whether the thoughts are short-term or long-term in transformation. Thinking is doing,
acting, believing and experiencing. Various acts of criminal behavior range from the simple to the
complex, depending on the linkage between thought and action, as well as the sophistication of the
criminal. For instance, the amount of physical expression required for a particular act of deviance is related
to the ability, skill and desire of the criminal. Opportunity is a given factor. From thought to action, the
criminal is always looking for opportunistic forms of expression. Desire, opportunity and ability mix
together in order that the desired action is executed. The “evil”, as a concept of human behavior, concerns
the malevolent things that people do to others. It reflects the inner composition of the human being. The
connectivity evolves around the compendium of crime analysis and criminal behavior assessment.
It is associated with the ideation of preemptive actions toward the outer world, while one struggles with
the inner world. Whether making bombs and blowing up buildings, robbing banks and raping people, the
thinking facilitates the transformation into the criminal behavior. Evil opposes life and seeks to kill or
otherwise destroy life.1 Acting out the actions is indicative of the internal “warfare” within the imperfect
structure of human nature. As such, “evil” is human nature, and reflects the various personifications and
proclivities down through history. No matter what the reason or suggested excuse, aberrant behavior
begins with the individuals and then extends outward into the community of people. Whether minor or
major, everyone commits some act of deviance against another. Such acts may be symbolic, verbally
expressive or physical in actuality. The behavior may be overt or covert depending on the individual
tendencies and preferences. Evil is characteristic of the state of human beings and the nature of their
ongoing quest to fulfill selfish endeavors. This means others must suffer the consequences of what
criminals do. Criminal activities extend from the human passion for adverse self-indulgent needs.

1
Peck, M.S., People of the Lie: The Hope for Healing Human Evil, (New York: Simon and Schuster, 1983), page 42;
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The transmutation of the thought processes are continually structured around personal intentions, some
evil and some good. Compulsion to action generally reflects aspects of the personality, which typically
favor the inclination to leave a “signature” upon one’s behavior. As such, the various patterns of behavior
are built upon a foundation of prior thought and consideration. Regardless of the socio-economic
circumstances, criminals postulate their criminal intentions through their own framework of ideation.
Committing acts of evil are from within the person and subsequently carried out in acts of violence, theft,
cheating, and a host of deceptive behaviors.
Analysis and assessment are essential in developing crime prevention and interdiction efforts to prevent
or identifying criminal actions. All human beings are potentially evil (i.e. prone to criminal behavior) and
have the capacity for the commission of hideous acts of aberrant behavior. The only difference between
the so called “law abiding citizen” and the criminal, is the “law abiding citizen” controls their criminal
inclination. When we so often speak of “what a nice person he was”, or “she wouldn’t hurt anyone”, how
do we really know? What scale of perception do we use to assess the inner workings of person’s mind,
which we can see or measure by normal means. How do we really know who a person is by looking from
the outside?
Since there are at least two versions of every person’s personality and behavior extensions, one private
and one public, what do we really know about the people? For that matter, it is even more complex to
suggest we know something about people we don’t know. Analysis, study and assessment are essential in
laying the foundation for more definitive answers. Crime prevention through proactive intervention
strategies is the main objective of this focus. By attempting to identify the basic ingredients in criminal
activity and behavior, the mission is to interdict where possible, as well as identify and apprehend the
criminal to every extent feasible. Law enforcement personnel want to stop the criminal before he or she
commits the crime. If that fails, then the law enforcement practitioners want to solve the case in the most
expedient manner possible.
Listening to convicted criminals serving time in facilities may not be the most efficient way to go
about developing proactive strategies for crime prevention purposes. In most cases, criminals will tell you
whatever you want to hear in order to satisfy their self-serving needs. For this reason, criminal behavior
studies may be significantly flawed due to the deception and manipulation that most criminals act out on a
regular basis. And, given the gullible and often naïve nature of many researchers, the problem of data
reliability is even more seriously affected. One must ponder the overall validity of information obtained
from people who spend their lives deceiving others, making up their own rules and scapegoating at every
opportunity. Self-serving, clever and deceptive, criminals will seek to justify every aspect of their
behavior. Their actions will be rationalized to the extent necessary to shift focus from them to someone
else. Criminals are very good at transferring blame from themselves to something or someone else. They
typically will assert that they are the victims and the real victim is actually the cause of the criminal’s
suffering. Their thinking processes should be of more interest than their environment, personal history or
socio-economic surroundings.
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Criminals are selfish people who only want to make themselves happy at the expense of someone’s
unhappiness. Their self-centeredness is part of their thinking process. As such, contemporary socio-
economic theories, or positivistic approaches are not effective in assessing criminal behavior for law
enforcement purposes. Criminal behavior rests upon the central aspect of motives, by which a person
moves toward usurping the rights of others in favor of the rights of him or herself. Criminals may differ in
the types of crimes they commit. Yet, they all share a commonality in that they are all criminals and they
plan their crimes. We catch them because they leave clues to which we need to be attentive and alert.
Yet, their underlying ideation or thinking patterns remain essentially similar in nature. Their
commission of a crime is the end result of they way by which they are thinking about life and the world
around them. Thinking precedes the act of commission. Yet, given the many different criminological
perspectives in debate throughout society today, confusion abounds.
And, as a result of such misinformation and confusion, an essential understanding of the criminal and
his or her motives is clouded by overly complex theories that often mislead the criminal justice system.
But, in the quasi-reality of all the theories, there exists the fundamental aspect that a criminal is simply a
criminal regardless of all the socio-economic influences that may surround him or her. He or she chooses
to do “evil” acts of hideous proportions, because that what he or she wanted to do. Criminal behavior
comes from within the person and stems from the ideation of the individual. In spite of the so called
educated attempts to explain such behavior, we are left with the individual who decided he or she was
going to do exactly as he or she pleased with the lives of other people. In law enforcement, as a branch of
criminology, we are continually distracted with the academic thought processes that try to explain away the
criminal behavior. Policing takes the theoretical and applies the practical necessities of solution.
Along these lines of reasoning, we need to keep in mind that the fact that a criminal has committed a
criminal act is not representative of behavior that suddenly happened. Such behavior is not “in the heat of
passion” or “a sudden uncontrolled impulse”. Criminals do not instantly commit criminal acts upon
reaching adulthood. They plan their acts according to what they feel they want. They are determined get
their way regardless of others. Often, the uninformed citizenry, the politician and others who should know
better, upon learning of bizarre criminal behavior, tends to ask why such a tragedy occurred. The
mainstream news media is very good at stirring up such mindless and often stupid questions in a few sound
bites. Then, over the next week or so, news reports will continue to carry the same story over and over
until they can be distracted by the next incident. Part of this “questioning of why” is the result of simple
minded thinking that does not want to believe that criminals are capable of the most heinous and horrific
acts of violence against others. More often that not, we have a very short memory when it comes to the
history of human behavior through the centuries. Another part of the “public-news media mindset” is the
thinking that everyone is basically good. And, as the mindset goes, if given a chance and the right
opportunities, everyone will do the “right thing”. Nothing could be further from the truth when it comes to
human behavior in the exercise of free will. This is essential to investigating criminal behavior.
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If you hold this viewpoint of the innate goodness of all human beings on the face of the earth, you will
always be disappointed in human behavior. Some public officials fall for this sociological trap. Many
times, in the aftermath of a gross tragedy, the public effort is made to tie in the perpetrators past. In the
process, behavior is explained away in far too simplistic terms. The incident is seen as somehow abnormal
and out of the scheme of human behavior. Excuses abound and criminal behavior theory is typically
pronounced in ways that are childishly erroneous. The general focus tends to be on mitigating the criminal
behavior by looking at factors or influences external to the individual. As such, criminal behavior theory
tends to revolve around therapeutic intervention, rehabilitation strategies and socio-political policy.
Most of this fails through major fallacies of logic and conclusions not based in the facts of the case. Much
energy is often expended after the fact in pursuit of nebulous notions about criminal behavior. Instead of
assessing the inappropriate choices people have the freedom to make, the external environment is examined
to “justify” the aberrant behavior and otherwise excuse the grotesque act of violence. The criminal escapes
accountability and responsibility for his or her behavior and thereby promotes acts of evil. Various
“experts”, from academicians to public officials often present an array of excuses for criminal behavior.
Among public officials, police administrators, who ought to know better, sometimes join forces with
“expert excusers” and spout off an assortment of not so well-defined reasons why someone committed a
crime. In very broad general terms, excuses usually involve the following notions:
1. Poor social conditions (poverty, circumstances vs. choices), or the “socio-economic excuse”;
2. Ineffective Parents (role model vs. personal agenda), or the “blame the parents excuse”);
3. Abuse (internalizing the abusive behavior and then acting out vs. accepting responsibility), or the
“I was abused, therefore I’m destined to abuse you” excuse;
4. Environmental Influences (e.g. “peer pressure”, “others are doing it”, guilt by association, crime in
the schools, violence in the media, etc, vs. controlling personal behavior), or the “blame
everything else but me” excuse;
5. Biological factors (the “born” criminal, genetic predisposition), or the “my genes made me do it”
excuse;
6. Cultural factors (different countries, different norms and social conditions), or the “I didn’t
understand the laws in this country” excuse;
The “cultural factors” difference excuse can sometimes be found in the news media.
Reporters, who ought to know better, but don’t really want to do a lot of research, or spend the time an
effort thinking through the causative factors, cut corners in reporting. Illegal immigrants (a key word here
is “illegal”) are sometimes excused because they “just didn’t know” what the law were in the U.S. As
result, they may have blown up a building, committed murder or carried out a kidnapping. The front page
headline might even question whether or not a crime has been committed, as opposed to a
misunderstanding of cultural differences.2

2
Sarasota Herald Tribune, an article entitled “”Crime or Cultural Collision?”, by Bart Pfankuch and Lisa Rab, Sunday, May 1, 2005,
(Sarasota: Multimedia Publications, 2005), page 1;
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No doubt the list of excuses could be subdivided and probably others could be added to the list. It is
arguable that some of these items could be influential, but they are by no means definitive in determining
choices, actions and behaviors that we carry out everyday of our lives. Some might argue, for example, the
“peer pressure”, or being “picked on” in school could be precursors to criminal behavior. Yet, in realty, we
all face “peer pressure” in just about every aspect of our lives, from birth to retirement and every stage in
between. What remains essential to the investigative processes and final sanction of the criminal justice
system is what was in the mind of the person who committed the crime. In reference to the so-called
“genetic predisposition”, there is no credible evidence of a link between criminal behavior and a person’s
genetic code. All the theories of modern times seek to offer explanations. Unfortunately, they all fall short
of anything definitive.
Many contemporary criminologists allow themselves to be seduced by clever and deceptive reasons for
criminal behavior that simply do not explain anything substantial. Such theories are based on fallacies of
inference, which lead to illogical conclusions. Anyone can make up anything about anyone and make it
sound academic and scientific.
However, in the real world of law enforcement, criminals continue to commit heinous acts of violence
and destruction, regardless of which theory is popular. Instead, errors in thinking are at the core of criminal
behavior. Those errors relate to bad decision-making in terms of individual choices. A couple of key
points should be considered:
1. A person’s personal history in terms of obstacles and challenges do not condemn them to a life of
crime. People are not predestined to be criminals. They simply make choices based on personal
self interests. Criminals commit crimes because that’s what they want to do. Motives are
essentially self-generated.
2. Any theorist can make up any theory of criminal behavior and base it on just about anything in a
person’s background, personal experiences and so forth. To naively assert that all people are
basically good, does not adequately explain the capacity for evil. Bad behavior obviously comes
from somewhere. Each person has decision making capabilities. As such, he or she can choose
good or evil.
3. A frequent argument that substance abusers commit crimes in order to get more of the substance
of choice. This is an example of a flawed argument and poor excuse for criminal behavior.
Criminals take substances in order to build up the confidence to carry out the crime. They were
criminals before the fact. That is, they committed crimes before becoming substance abusers.
4. Criminals commit crimes because that is what they want to do. In the criminal mindset, you have
something they want. And, as far as they are concerned, whatever “it” is that you have, really
belongs to them.
5. For researchers who think it’s a neat idea to interview criminals in jails or prisons warning signals
should go off. Criminals will tell you whatever you want to know. They’re happy to share their
thoughts about crime causation.
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6. It is too simple minded to think that all of a sudden someone decides to commit a crime. Crimes
are part of thought processes and extend into action as a result of pre-planning. There is no such
thing as an “out of character” crime.
7. Unfortunately, some practitioners, academics, politicians and reporters sometimes conduct a
public role reversal for the criminal. After some heinous act, the criminal suddenly is transformed
into a “victim”.
Perhaps, we as the public see the criminal as a mirror reflection of our inner selves, and that is simply
too repugnant to accept at face value. As a result, we tend to blame the victim and find excuses for the
criminal. Could this account for making a “hero” out of the criminal? Could this also be a reason why
those of us who allege our religious convictions suddenly call for “forgiving” the criminal?
Forgiveness is one thing, moral retribution is yet another. Maybe we’re just not smart enough to pick up
on the fact that the criminal is playing us with one of his or her “con” games. In addition to the seven
points for pondering, others could easily be added to the list to debunk all the stressed notions of criminal
behavior. Criminals do not respect personal boundaries or property rights. Gender, race, ethnicity or
socio-economic status is of little concern to them. They conduct themselves in accordance with their
particular personality. Stress, while influential and no excuse for criminal behavior, may serve as a
mechanism by which the true personality surfaces. Addictions, likewise, may be used by the criminal to
open the door more dangerous forms of behavior.
Criminal behavior is not a disease that is contracted by living within the social context of human
interaction. Such behavior is not like the common cold. You don’t “catch criminal behavior” from
criminals. Criminals create criminal behavior to satisfy their selfish wants and desires regardless of who
gets in the way. You simply create it out of your unique ideology. It cannot be reduced to simplistic
assertions about a criminal’s psychological, biological or sociological characteristics. Such theoretical
constructs, no matter how convincing, ignore environmental opportunities associated with personal
behavioral choices. In the modern context of academia, there is a great inability to definitively determine
the true nature of criminal behavior. Yet, in spite of this shortcoming in the field of the social sciences, a
number of causation theories persist. Many assertions about criminal behavior go without question or
careful analysis. All the theories tend to be spin offs of basically two historic approaches to criminal
behavior, dating back at least to the eighteenth century. Essentially, the debate revolves around the classic
dichotomy between the historic views of criminal behavior. These fundamental viewpoints stem from the
way by which we view the criminal within society. The discussion includes the positivistic school of
thought versus the classical school of thought. Generally, speaking the Positive School of Thought (PST),
and there are many versions of this today, focuses on the individual with an aim toward reform and
rehabilitation. By contrast, the Classical School of Thought (CST) focuses on the rule of law and asserts
that people have free will to make choices about their actions. CST addresses issues of accountability,
responsibility as well as the ways and means to prevent criminal behavior. PST, on the other hand, does
not necessarily see the law as a way by which people can be controlled.
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As a theory of criminology, PST prefers the rule of people over the rule of the law. It asserts a sense of
“scientific determinism”, and seeks to apply the “scientific method” to criminal behavior. PST continues in
various manifestations today which assert biological, psychological and sociology causations that
predispose the individual to criminal behavior. CST advocates a position that suggests people are
responsible for their actions and must be held accountable. From this view comes the assertion that there is
an aspect of moral blameworthiness to the commission of unlawful acts. Punishment, with regard to the
CST, must be sure, swift and certain in order to have the appropriate impact on the individual.3 And, if
only this were the case. Punishment is typically just the opposite in so-called modern societies. Our
system of dealing with criminal behavior is a mixed bag of tricks, encompassing a variety of approaches
and strategies, most of which is not successful in implementation.
From the classical perspective, criminals are criminals because that is what they choose to do. They
think about it, look for opportunities, assess the consequences, make plans and then they do it. Criminal
behavior is the result of choosing what is in “the best interest” of the criminal for selfish personal gain.
This naturally collides with any of the PST versions that would immediately complain about all the
hardships the criminal experienced through life. Attacking the CST view, the argument probably would
suggest that there are things outside the criminal’s control that predisposes him or her to commit the
criminal actions. Sometimes, we even blame the victim so that the criminal is relieved of the
responsibility. The challenge for the law enforcement community is to rethink the basic notions of why
people commit crimes. And, while this restructuring of the mind-set is taking place, it is essential to pursue
the skills, tactics, techniques and technology to bring about problem solving processes. Crime and
corruption rips across the fabric of each layer of the community. To strike back against such challenges,
law enforcement must lead the way through visionary strategies and innovative actions. Each member of
the organization must be utilized more efficiently and effectively. Law enforcement administrators must
transform into daring leaders as opposed to just managers of police organizations. In addition, as agency
chief administrators, they need to stop pandering to special interests and trying to remain “political
correct”. Law enforcement criminal intervention strategies are not for the “faint of heart”. Bold, daring
and imaginative police actions that are clever and creative are needed in every aspect of police operations.
Police leaders need to focus on giving their officers every possible training, tool, technology and so on,
to do their job as professional real-world practitioners. Successful agencies will invest significant resources
into their patrol force as the first line of defense to interdict criminal behavior. Forensic sciences will also
play a key role in the modern successful police agency, along with training and education of the officers
and staff. Criminals commit crimes because that is what they do. Of course, there are numerous excuses
for such behavior that many so called “experts” would assert. Yet, behind every criminal act, there is a
criminal with unique motives for doing the act. Criminals leave physical and psychological clues behind
every time they commit a criminal act. The skill of the art is to figure out the clues. Follow the evidence.

3
Jeffery, C.R., Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design, (Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications, 1971) pages 18 – 33);
Excerpt From Psycho-Sleuth by Randy Gonzalez - www.drgonzo.org 11

Chapter 2: Assessing the Criminal Mind – Why People Commit Crimes:

Profiling has become the latest fad affecting the criminal justice system. Such efforts are not perfect be
all and end all techniques for solving crimes and identifying criminals. Assessing criminal behavior is
simply one more tool or weapon, in the law enforcement inventory. There is no magic or special voodoo
that goes along with such endeavors. Combined with other law enforcement strategies and tactics, such
assessment assists in helping define the investigative process a little further.
More to the point though, people commit crimes because they want. So, now with that issue settled, its
time to focus on whom they are, what they do, and how do we catch them. Humans propagate violence in
various forms, from the mental to the physical, as well as anything else the mind can conjure. Some
control their violence potential and other do not. People experience a range physical and psychological
abuse. Yet, the vast majority does not commit heinous acts of deviance from what is normally expected in
modern society. Given the state of human nature, anything is possible. No matter what, people are capable
under certain circumstances of committing the most horrendous acts imaginable. The objective then, is to
devise ways, means, tactics and techniques to interdict at some point in the criminal’s activities. The
proper training (education and skill development), tools, tactics, techniques are essential for modern law
enforcement operations. And, the investigator, in the application of his or her capabilities, must be
prepared to deal with the most bizarre possibilities. Those who do not control themselves may carry out all
manner of depravity against other people, animals and objects. The ones who choose to become criminals
adapt a style to their handiwork and develop patterns that go along with their motives. They plan, practice
and implement a strategy of action designed to coincide with their own particular uniqueness and thinking
patterns. Criminals act out their fantasies and predilections through a variety of expressions. These may be
‘written’ upon the crime scene template. Minute traces of the perpetrators presence may have been left
behind as an indelible impression. The initial trek toward an assessment in the aftermath of a criminal act
begins with arriving on the scene and thinking. From this point, collecting and analyzing evidence, as part
of the crime scene development protocols, continues the process. It is a continuum of a mind-set devoted
to problem solving in a very real sense provides the basis for a hypothesis or theory of the case. Naturally,
protection of the crime scene is of the utmost importance in all cases. And, no small piece of the puzzle is
too insignificant to be overlooked, as long as you distinguish its relevance. The investigator tries to apply
the full-range of his or her mental faculties and sensory awareness to visualize and think through the series
of events that took place. Information gathering becomes crucial to fact finding. The basis for developing
the investigative foundation falls upon the classic basic formula of the ‘5WHAT’, or Who, What, Where,
When, Why, How and Action Taken. As such, this formative development receives its building blocks
from an information development process which includes information from: Interview/Interrogations,
Identification, and Instrumentation (forensics, criminalistics, etc). The instrumentation aspect is important.
Don’t misunderstand the intention here. Scientific aspects of criminal investigation are critical. Yet, they
are only as good as the investigators who use or other employ the unique range of forensic tools.
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Nothing should ever replace the value of creative and critical thinking skills that require a significant
degree of logic. Such efforts must also be tempered by an appreciation for the extreme possibilities of
bizarre human behavior. Good cops should know that people, given the right conditions and
circumstances, are constrained only by the stretches of the imagination.
A cause-effect relationship of realistic certainties is structured in a flexible thinking format. The
investigative mind-set must be open to new information and follow a logical framework of thought and
action. In order to discern the chain of events and ultimately solve the case, a rigid close minded thinking
capacity must be avoided. In short, logical deduction (or, abduction if one prefers) in every case at hand,
should be supported and reinforced by competent forensic analysis. To this, add well-trained and
experienced skill levels. Plus, all available resources must be provided to ensure discovery of evidentiary
facts to prove the truth. In short, problem-solving must be ensured by a wide-range of supportive
infrastructure resources. Investigative skills and abilities must be advanced through effective education and
training of an ongoing nature. We can learn something every day.
At the basic recruit law enforcement and correctional training level, entry level officers should be
instructed in a wide range of criminological issues. They should be taught about the various aspects of
criminal behavior and the various associated criminological issues. Yet, warm and fuzzy feel-good
curricula have failed to advance the professionalism so greatly needed in the field of criminology. Political
agendas have aided in the “dumbing down” of the educational and training process. What we often find in
the realm of training can be characterized as a “kinder and gentler” approach to dealing with criminological
issues. Criminal behavior cannot be adequately assessed or dealt with, unless first responders receive
highly advanced training components, coupled with exceptional resources. Simply stated, we get what we
pay for. And, at the present time, from a training perspective, we are not advancing very fast. Instead, we
might be going backwards. The field of forensics, along with a few good cops, may be the only aspects
that keep our criminal justice system from completely collapsing. Collectively, on a national scope, we
simply do not cultivate a high level of professional expertise in the field of criminology. Law enforcement
is one of the most important pillars of the three main branches of the field (crime prevention, penology and
the law). But, academia (the college environment) mainly teaches theory and not practical application. A
significant number of “clinicians”, special interest groups, bureaucrats and politicians have adversely
affected the law enforcement training and education process. Often, we see a predilection toward quantity
versus quality in recruitment and retention of competent personnel. And, many police academies fail to
insist upon high standards for admission. As police administrators, we often say what is “politically
correct”, as opposed to what really needs to be said about criminals and the crimes they commit. At the
same time, as cops, we often accept things at “face value”, without looking further at patterns of behavior
and lifestyle choices. Sometimes, we are quick to accept the latest psychological or sociological
interpretation of why someone did a certain act. We do this without pursuing seriously probing questions
beyond the news reports. This broad generalization is directed toward present and subsequent generations
(post “baby boomers”) entering the field of law enforcement (criminology).
Excerpt From Psycho-Sleuth by Randy Gonzalez - www.drgonzo.org 13

Do not misconstrue what has just been said. There are many outstanding, dedicated and hard-working
veteran street cops and detectives valiantly serving the public at the state and local levels. Their tireless
and faithful efforts prove the value of experienced local law enforcement officers who are the real
practitioners of the field of criminology.
The neat scientific surgical precision found within the walls of the crime lab, or the medical examiners
office, do not work the same way in dealing with people outside a controlled environment. From a
criminological perspective, viewed from a human behavior standpoint, the “scientific method”, or models
proposed by alleged “clinicians” often cloud the issues related to criminal activity. A so called “scientific
approach”, such as the excitement over “profiling”, can only provide helpful guidelines as working tools to
other strategies in the investigative process. A good investigator will prefer to rely on experience,
education, training and skill level. These aspects, coupled with practiced intuitive ability offer greater
possibilities in problem solving and decision-making. For instance, what do your senses tell you? What
does your ‘intuitive decision making system’ reveal? Important questions need to be asked over and over
until the pieces fit together. For instance, we want to know: What the evidence says (today, tomorrow, the
next day, the day after that, on so on)? What the victims/witnesses/complainants say? What the suspects
say? What is the truth and how do we know? Whose got the information and how do we get it? This goes
on an on as part of a process whereby we think in a rational manner to asses the range of variables relevant
to the issues at hand. In this regard, the following checklist is only suggestive and not all inclusive.
Modus operandi or method of operation is highly personal and selective for each person. To assess the
potential for criminal behavior, we need only look into our own minds. Criminals are people just like us.
If we look in the mirror, we can discern what criminals are thinking. The only difference between the so
called “law abiding citizen” and the criminal, is the “law abiding citizens” decides not to commit a crime.
In discerning an approach to the assessment of criminal behavior a few key factors may be considered:4

Basically, people commit crimes for personal gain, either for mental or material reasons;
 Personal relationships – Background history and personal sketch assessment
 Business interests – Commercial interactions
 Political associations – Community activities
 Emotional-mental proclivities and inclinations, beliefs/philosophical pursuits
 Combination of Risk versus Gain, Opportunity, Desire and Ability

There is no single best process of reasoning so long as the correct results are achieved;
 Deductive versus Inductive Reasoning – Logic, reason and rationality
 Alternative logical approaches – Critical Thinking/Practical Assessments

Every possible relevant aspect of the incident must be critically reviewed:
 Time, date, location, persons involved – Reality versus Fantasy
 Relationships, psychological history, “Love or Money” – Fact or Fiction
 Physical evidence – circumstantial evidence – forensic applications

4
O’Hara, C. E., Fundamentals of Criminal Investigation, Sixth Edition, (Springfield: Charles C. Thomas, Publisher, 1994) pages 22-
23;
Excerpt From Psycho-Sleuth by Randy Gonzalez - www.drgonzo.org 14

An eye for detail is essential to the investigative continuum;

 Observations and perceptions
 Intuitive decision making
 Critical thinking skills
 Interviews and Interrogation – Body language assessment, verbal skills, word usage,
facial expressions, eye movements, etc.

Laborious, methodical and comprehensive collection of evidentiary data;
 Crime scene searches – physical evidence
 Complainants, witnesses, victims and suspects
 Information – Identification – Instrumentation
 Forensic analysis – bag it, tag it, analyze it…
 Tools – Tactics – Techniques
 Proper planning prevents poor performance

Methods of Operation – Modus Operandi – Habits – Techniques – Behaviors
 Personality and behavioral descriptors
 Crime scene arrangement
 Witness, Victims testimony
 Background of victim and type of crime committed
 Physical evidence available

Why people commit crimes is a fundamental question for the investigative process. Once we know the
why, then we can probably uncover the who. Some simplistic approaches to the techniques of profiling
tend to be vague, general and very broadly interpreted. What is necessary for practical law enforcement is
a process that is more specific and definitive. This involves a comprehensive reconstruction of the criminal
incident that took place. The focus of solving the crime should revolve around what happened at the
scene, who was involved and what was the target. People do things for a reason. Discerning what the
reason was is crucial. There can always be hidden motives, personal agendas, and complex relationships.
Sometimes, this process is call “crime scene reconstruction”. And, it goes hand in hand with crime
analysis. Or, the assessment of patterns, behaviors and techniques used to commit similar types of crimes.
In this case, the term “profiling” might be a misnomer. What should occur in the investigative process
should be a blending of crime scene reconstruction, forensic analyses, and criminal behavior assessment.
This becomes a multi-faceted continuum in which deductive reasoning attempts to collate as much data as
possible. From such reasoning, it becomes probable that a profile of the perpetrator can emerge.
Deduction strives toward an understanding of physical evidence, behavioral activities and what happened at
the scene of the crime. Why a person commits a specific type of crime depends on their internal
motivation. Plus, the person also possesses certain abilities to commit a certain type of crime. Abilities,
coupled with opportunities, become the basis for the commission of the crime.
Excerpt From Psycho-Sleuth by Randy Gonzalez - www.drgonzo.org 15

Understanding the criminal’s motives concerns an analysis of his or her behavior before, during and
after the crime. Thought processes, decision-making capacity and implementation strategy are part of this
deductive process. The ‘why’ of criminal behavior can be found in the inner structure of the human mind.
As a way to understand and discern the proclivities of such inclinations, the discipline of criminology has
evolved. Criminology, by necessity, is an interdisciplinary field of study. This realm of balancing theory
and practice with the real world draws from many areas within the so called social sciences. Criminology
is pseudo-scientific. It is called “pseudo-scientific” because it is not scientific in the same sense as the
natural sciences, such as physics. Therefore, the answer to the question ‘why do people commit crimes’ is
based on subjective conclusions. We will never know the ultimate answer. However, we can come close
when we focus on the criminal and his or her behavior. The study of criminal behavior requires real world
experience, support by education, training and wisdom. Criminology is a blending of both art and science
to the extent probable in dealing with human behavior. Solutions to acts of criminal behavior remain pretty
basic in terms of approach. That is, much hard work and critical thinking are required in order to be an
effective sleuth in the realm of practical criminology.
The field of inquiry known as criminology only makes efforts to replicate the realm of science. And,
when it comes to applying scientific methods to criminal behavior things become spurious and confusing.
Science is greatly helpful in the more narrow application of forensics to crime scenes and the analysis of
physical evidence. Yet, when it comes to human behavior, motives, intentions and actions, criminology
falls short of scientific accuracy. In terms of hard fixed rules of predictability and certainty, the reasons
why people do things remains elusive. Sociology, psychology, penology and so forth, can only offer
tentative guidelines. These endeavors offer a useful mix to the field of criminology. They are at best art
forms attempting to apply scientific methods. But, they remain sometimes deceptive and misguided in their
attempts to predict criminal behavior. Never underestimate the ability of academicians to make up a good
story. Academia can foster a myriad of misguided theoretical constructions.
Success in dealing with criminal behavior requires competent use of the criminology practitioner. He or
she is actively engaged in the law enforcement or corrections realm. It is from the posture of experience
and reality in dealing with human problems that answers will be found. The police officer or the
corrections officer deals with criminal problems every day. He or she confronts a range of sociological and
psychological issues in his or her daily encounters with people. The police officer is on the cutting edge of
realistic criminological perspectives. This is the realm of the true or authentic criminological practitioner.
Most academicians have never seen the inside of a patrol car, or worked in a jail. Police officers operate in
a mobile field office of inquiry, where knowledge, skill, and competence are tested every day. It is not the
narrow world of academia, but the concrete jungle of mortal combat, where life and death struggles can be
deadly. They engage the decision-making process in a matter of seconds. This is a domain of deviant
opportunity sub-worlds. There exists here a diversity of cultural experiences and modes of expression.
The police officer deals with a host of criminological issues every day. Most theorists do not. Within this
world, law enforcement officers come to realize people make conscious decisions.
Excerpt From Psycho-Sleuth by Randy Gonzalez - www.drgonzo.org 16

People willfully disobey authorized sanctions of society in general and the community in particular.
Criminals weigh the balance between gain and risk, and subsequently decide a course of action contrary to
accepted standards of civil conduct. From the beginning to the end of their “careers” in life, the criminal
makes a series of choices. Such decision-making becomes the basis of criminal behavior. And, such
actions taken become the basis for the existence of crime in our society. The choices that criminals make
are free-will exercises of thought and action. People at each level of the socioeconomic structure of society
make choices. Crimes and criminal behavior exist at all levels of society. Criminal behavior spans the
spectrum from property crimes to crimes against other people. At some point in time, a person plans the
nature and extent to which he or she will commit a crime. The orientation to criminal behavior balances
pain versus pleasure in the calculation of the act to be carried out. Education, knowledge, personal
preference, opportunity, ability and gain potential enter into this mix of criminal decision-making. Once a
target is selected, they freely choose to commit these acts contrary to what society has established as lawful
behavior. Moral, ethical and legal constraints are violated in order to satisfy personal gain issues. Such
behavior runs against what the federal, state and local governments have specified in respective statutes and
ordinances. Aside from the “normal” affinity for personal self-interest, criminals tend to unleash their inner
selfishness to a significant degree. While such childhood preoccupations are part of the growing process,
carrying them over into adult like is potentially dangerous to others. In the end, we all decide to submit to
some form of authority, belief system and other means of behavioral control. People who commit crimes
have decided they don’t have to follow specific rules.5
In order to discover the ways and means by which a person violates the rules, careful attention to detail
is required. It means being able to see, observe and perceive the circumstances involved in the crime
committed. The process entails the capacity to understand the subtle inconsistencies in human behavior.
All people are dysfunctional at one level or another. We all hide behind a mask of deception. Peering
behind that mask calls for exceptional capabilities on the part of the investigator. The practical aspects of
criminology focus on what does and does not work in the real world. Such efforts also concern the ability
to read people, places and things. This relates to their connectivity to the chain of events that transpired. In
order for the “crime fighters”, or the practitioners of criminology, to be successful, there must be a solid
political and resource commitment for such endeavors.
Practical real world oriented criminology focuses on how to control, detect and solve to occurrence of
criminal activity. Investigations should become more of a “why done it” as opposed to a “who done it”.
Knowing the “why” sets the stage for solution. Practitioners seek the ways, the means and the resources to
get the job done. Theories of criminology must extend beyond the classrooms of academia to the real-
world applications. This is where they either work or they don’t. Understanding the “why” of human
behavior leads to who did it.

5
Peck, M. S., People of the Lie: The Hope for Healing Human Evil, (New York: Simon and Shuster, 1983) pages 77-
78;
Excerpt From Psycho-Sleuth by Randy Gonzalez - www.drgonzo.org 17

Simply stated, people commit crimes because they thing they can get away with it. They leave
signatures on the crime scene, physically, mentally and emotionally. Criminals cannot hide their behavior
for very long. Crimes are committed by people who make choices. Choices go a long way toward
explaining motives and intentions. The choices they make to commit a crime are for the purposes of
personal gain at the expense of others. The commission of a crime is not based on one’s heritage, national
origin, genetics, social status, physical or psychological state of mind or any other such notions. Criminal
behavior is an expression of personal desire, inclination and ability. Ability often relates to education.
White collar criminals tend to be better educated in relation to the types of crimes they commit. That is, the
higher the academic education, coupled with the environmental circumstances, the more sophisticated the
crime is likely to be (e.g. embezzlement, fraud, etc). They commit crimes because they do not have the
courage to face the realities of everyday living. The suggestions that crime is the result of some “physical
type”, “psychological type”, “social disorganization” or “class struggle”, harkens backward to misguided
notions of human behavior. Those centuries are long past. Such are non-scientific theoretical constructs,
which cannot be proved beyond all the variables of possible consideration. They basically become the
“SWAG” method of human behavior – a “Scientifically Wild Ass Guess”. At best, they are speculations of
wishful thinking. By contrast, people commit acts of criminal behavior basically because they want to
commit crimes. They commit crimes as a function of their own ability, desire and opportunity to become
involved in criminal behavior. Like everyone else, criminals exercise their own free will.
Criminals think, therefore, they are. Or, we all think, but most of us control ourselves. The modern
attempts to “rehabilitate” the criminal have only led to the weakening of the law enforcement
infrastructure. Weakening the criminal justice system has only made it more difficult to have something
called “justice” in a system. Efforts to minimize or otherwise mitigate a crime has profoundly affected the
“crime fighting” efforts of the practitioners, the cops and corrections officers. All too often crime control
strategies have been influenced by theoretical interferences. This comes mostly from outside the
practitioner’s realm. Sometimes, agency administrators, pretending to be politicians, acquiesce to the
“rehab the victim-criminal” mindset. Some pander to special interest groups. Crime prevention suffers.
By contrast, crime fighting should focus on prevention, apprehension, prosecution and subsequently re-
education. It should direct an attack from the posture of the rule of law, as opposed to the rule of excuse.
Law enforcement agencies should be a powerful striking force against criminal behavior. Unfortunately,
local governments don’t always want to fund the law enforcement function at sufficient levels. Key points,
when addressing issues of motive, include, but are not limited to, the following: criminals commit crimes
because that is what they chose to do; criminals are not victims of society; criminals are morally
responsible for their actions; there is such a thing as free will and freedom of choice; criminal acts should
be well defined by statute; ethics and morality should be valued greatly; punishment should be quick,
efficient, effective and precise.6

6
Jeffery, C., Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design, (Beverly Hills, CA: Sage Publications, 1971), pg 33;
Excerpt From Psycho-Sleuth by Randy Gonzalez - www.drgonzo.org 18

The grim reality of what is a good person and what is a bad person is sometimes deceptive. Everyone
shares a commonality of potential criminal behavior. Our thoughts are not always known to others. Our
personal desire for some kind of gain may never be recognized outside our own thinking. Thinking
precedes the actions. People’s motives are hidden. Each day, we display at least two kinds of faces. One
is our inner self. The other is what we show on the outside. There may even be other aspects of ourselves
not showing. Personal agendas are not fully revealed. We get only partial glimpses of the true person at
any given time. All of us hide behind a mask of who we really are on the inside. The mystery is through
the looking glass in the reflection of our lives. Part of the reflection is the motive for the things people do.
Intentions guide implementation of various actions, which eventually touch the lives of others. In
touching others with certain acts, crimes may be committed. Personal boundaries may be violated in rough
and ruthless ways. Criminal behavior affects all of us in one way or another. We tend to think about such
possibilities in our daily encounters. On occasion, our thinking is simplistic. At other times, it may be more
complex. Victimization may be real and frightening. Most of us, outside the criminal justice system, may
have limited insights or conceptions about the nature and extent of criminal victimization. But, we tend to
assess our potential victimization in different ways. On different levels, we may consider the possibility of
fraud, theft, vandalism, burglary, robbery, terrorism, rape, and murder. Various criminal acts may cross our
minds from time to time. We may think about our potential victimization depending on where we are, what
we are doing or where we are going. Motives are at work constantly.
From a law enforcement perspective, strategic tactics require long term crime control planning. To
this, must also be proactive organizing, implementing and containing efforts that effectively deal with
criminal behavior. The tactical focus must include a broad range of artful and scientific activities at
multiple levels of delivery. Criminal sanctions must be executed with sure and certain swiftness by
shrewdly clever police personnel. Criminal behavior will not be seriously interdicted by focusing on the
person rather than the incident. Nor will it be dealt with by hiring under trained, undereducated and
unskilled personnel. High standards of admission, recruitment, training and so forth are essential in the
criminal justice field.
There are too many spurious ideas and nebulous notions about why people commit crimes. Likewise,
there are too many preoccupations with quick and easy solutions. Too often, fads fuel fictitious follies
about crime solutions. Profiling and psychic detectives are a few of these notions. The hard work of
serious policing often goes unnoticed by entertainment orientation news media. As such, tools, tactics and
techniques get lost in sound bites. Too often, such antics only reward the criminal and punish the victims
over again. High profile proactive strategies that are efficient and effective are more important than the so-
called rehabilitation efforts. Instead, a more practical approach is the realization of the criminal’s self-
centered behavior. Realistic understanding of why people commit crimes is vital to crime prevention
efforts. Practical criminology is more concerned with calculated manipulation of the skills and resources
necessary for reducing criminal opportunities. Real world oriented criminologists seek to explore those
workable actions required to get the job done.
Excerpt From Psycho-Sleuth by Randy Gonzalez - www.drgonzo.org 19

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