Page:FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin 55 (12).pdf/18

"By analyzing the case-related information submitted by law enforcement agencies, the VICAP staff determines if pattern characteristics exist among the similar individual cases in the VICAP system."

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 * 2) Missing persons, where the cir­cumstances indicate a strong possibility of foul play and the vic­tim is still missing;
 * 3) Unidentified dead bodies where the manner of death is known or suspected to be homicide.

It is important that cases in which the offender has been arrested or iden­tified are still submitted so that unsolv­ed cases in the VICAP system can be evaluated for possible linkage to known offenders. Also, it is anticipated that the VICAP system will be expanded to in­clude rape, child sexual abuse, and ar­son cases within the next 12 to 24 months.

By analyzing the case-related infor­mation submitted by law enforcement agencies, the VICAP staff determines if similar pattern characteristics exist among the individual cases in the VICAP system. The identification of similar patterns is made by analyzing MO, victimology, physical evidence, suspect description, and suspect behavior exhibited before, during, and after the crime.

The goal of VICAP is to provide all law enforcement agencies reporting similar pattern violent crimes with the in­formation necessary to initiate a coor­dinated multiagency investigation which will lead to the expeditious identification and apprehension of the offender responsible for the crimes.

VICAP's First Year

The attainment of the first objective, becoming "operational" by June 1, 1985, and the entry of the first data into the computer were, of course, only the beginning. A very comprehensive, three-part VICAP Crime Report form had been developed to collect the infor­mation necessary to support the opera­tions of VICAP. The Bureau's profile coordinators from each of the 59 field divisions received in-depth training regarding the VICAP Program itself, as well as the use and completion of the report form. It then became the job of these individuals to provide training to State and local law enforcement person­nel, especially homicide investigators, regarding VICAP and the submission of information using the form.

Perhaps the largest task was that of continuing the development of the computer programs necessary to allow the analysts to manipulate the vast amounts of data in a meaningful way. 16 / FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin