Policing the Poachers in the United States: A Qualitative Analysis of Game Wardens and Profiling
Abstract:
Contemporary law enforcement agencies use criminal profiling techniques to identify and apprehend offenders. One type of crime in the emerging area of green criminology is the illegal taking of wildlife resources. The purpose of this exploratory study was to examine how conservation law enforcement officers in the United States use criminal profiling techniques to identify individuals who violate wildlife laws. A qualitative approach to data collection was employed, and data were obtained from a mail survey and phone interviews with state game wardens in Montana, United States. Findings reveal that game wardens use several factors to socially construct profiles of poachers and how they operate, including behavioral patterns, geographic areas, and experience. Profile characteristics of the most and least difficult poachers to apprehend are also identified.
Keyword:
Conservation Law Enforcement, Game Wardens, Profiling, Poachers, Wildlife.