Indiana State University Newsroom

Discover the secrets behind the FBI's elite serial crime unit with when award-winning author, legendary profiler and FBI investigative support unit founder John Douglas kicks off Indiana State University's Speaker Series on Sept.16.

Douglas revolutionized the criminal investigation process while he worked for the FBI in the late 1970s. He introduced the tactic of criminal profiling, totally changing the game for hunting serial killers and other violent offenders. Using psychology, pattern recognition and inductive and deductive reasoning, this technique allows investigators to make educated guesses about potential suspects such as age, personality, and background. Douglas used this profiling method to argue that these details could be used to create accurate profiles of criminals, even with limited evidence. Everything at a crime scene thus became relevant and aided in the capture of the offender.

Douglas has since become an author and his work has been reflected in crime dramas like Criminal Minds and CSI. His award-winning book Mindhunter was recently made into a Netflix series, which is based on Douglas's life. His most recent book, "The Killer Across the Table: Unlocking the Secrets of Serial Killers and Predators with the FBI's Original Mindhunter", discusses the lives and crimes of four killers and discusses the profiling tactics used to crack these tough cases.

Douglas will speak at 7 p.m. in Tilson Auditorium. His presentation is free and open to the public with autographs and a book signing to follow his presentation.