In Bangladesh, discussions surrounding the management of serious crimes, specifically sexual violence and repeated offenses, commonly focus on the strictness of laws. While the addition of the death penalty to the legal system met the immediate call for justice, it has not tackled a crucial issue in the country’s criminal justice process: the lack of behavioral science in investigations. To shift from reactive policing to proactive prevention, the Ministry of Home Affairs and police leadership need to initiate a strategic and financial shift towards establishing behavioral forensics as a standard practice.
Presently, key investigative agencies in the country, like the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and the Detective Branch (DB) of the police, rely mostly on conventional methods based on clues. These investigations concentrate on proving the criminal act and intent to secure convictions. However, modern criminology emphasizes understanding the behavioral patterns and psychological roots of offenders, delving into not just who committed the crime, but also why and how their violent behavior evolved. Without systematic psychological profiling, law enforcement remains unaware of the risks of repeat offenses, making it difficult to anticipate and prevent serial crimes.
To overcome this reactive approach, Bangladesh must restructure its investigative methods in line with the risk-need-responsivity (RNR) model, a fundamental framework in forensic criminology developed by psychologists Donald Andrews and James Bonta. This model suggests that resources should be allocated based on an offender’s risk of reoffending, addressing their specific criminal needs and providing interventions tailored to their individual learning style. By not adhering to these principles, the current investigative system treats all serious offenders uniformly instead of recognizing distinct psychological profiles. This oversight hampers the identification of behavioral triggers that can turn a first-time offender into a repeat offender.
The initial step towards implementing this shift involves establishing a permanent Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) within law enforcement. This requires a strategic administrative overhaul rather than a mere reorganization of existing personnel. The unit should include not only traditional officers but also clinical psychologists, behavioral scientists, and academic criminologists either as part of the civil service or through specialized long-term contracts. Simultaneously, the government should establish sustainable partnerships with psychology, sociology, and criminology departments at universities to convert academic research into practical investigative insights.
Global examples support this structural change, showing that scientific investigation significantly enhances judicial efficiency and national security. Studies reveal that behavioral analysis reduces reliance on luck in investigations. For instance, early evaluations of the FBI’s profiling efforts demonstrated success in complex cases. Integrating clinical and behavioral expertise has expedited judicial outcomes in several high-stakes investigations.
Behavioral forensics not only aids in detection but also prevention when aligned with the responsivity principle. Research indicates that incorporating cognitive-behavioral therapies and risk management frameworks in correctional systems reduces sexual offense recidivism rates. However, this shift is impossible without a dedicated financial commitment. Historically, the police budget has prioritized logistics and personnel over research and development. Allocating funds for a centralized behavioral and forensic database is essential. Similar to the AFIS, this database would store offenders’ psychological traits, triggers, developmental anomalies, and post-crime patterns, optimizing investigative resources, reducing timelines, and preventing wrongful convictions.
Relying solely on severe punishment without understanding the criminal mindset is unsustainable. Law enforcement must integrate behavioral science into investigations for long-term reform. Until criminal psychology becomes a core aspect of national security and judicial reform, the criminal justice system will not tackle the root causes of social issues.
Dr. Imdadul Haque Talukdar is an adjunct assistant professor of psychology at North South University (NSU) and a public mental health specialist. Views expressed in this article are the author’s own.