- Head of the FBI's Investigative Support Unit - the team that tackles the most baffling and senseless of unsolved violent crimes. He was the model for the Jack Crawford character in The Silence of the Lambs (1991).
- Joined the FBI in 1970 and for six years worked in Detroit. In 1976 he transferred to the FBI's Behavioral Sciences Unit, where he studied applied criminal psychology at the FBI Academy. He earned a Ph.D. in psychology. Later, Douglas taught a course in criminal psychology for police officers throughout the U.S.
- Has interviewed more than 100 murderers, rapists, kidnappers, arsonists, and other criminals, including Richard Speck, Charles Manson, James Earl Ray, Sirhan Sirhan, John Wayne Gacy, David Berkowitz, and Ted Bundy.
- He and his colleague Robert K. Ressler are credited with pioneering criminal profiling and analysis.
- The character of Jason Gideon in 'Criminal Minds (2005)' is based on him. One of the most notable similarities is that they both predicted that an Unsub would have a stutter.
- Was involved in the JonBenét Ramsey murder investigation in 1997 when John Ramsey and Patsy Ramsey, the parents, hired him. The police regarded them as major suspects, but Douglas believed them innocent. The case remains unsolved. [July 2003].
- Author, often in collaboration with Mark Olshaker, of true-crime books including the best-seller Mindhunter (1995).
- Served four years in the U.S. Air Force.
- FBI Special Agent and Psychological Profiler.
- Joined the FBI in 1970 and was first posted in Detroit.
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