[/caption]Attorneys like Andy Weiner, now of the Obama administration, have used behavioral profilers, as have other attorneys, many of whom say that they can be helpful in making a decision about who might be the right choice for a jury, as is particularly significant in a case like that of Casey Anthony.
Casey Anthony is accused of killing her young daughter Caylee, who went missing in 2008 when she was two years old with her body found months later near the home of the grandparents, George and Cindy Anthony. Evidence, according to the prosecution’s investigation, points to Casey Anthony, the mother of the child, as the killer. The high-profile case begins today with jury selection.
Guilt or innocence is something justice says must be decided fairly. Yet a key problem in the case has to do with the widespread publicity and whether Casey Anthony will have a fair trial. The justice system upholds the notion that one is innocent until proven guilty, which is the right Casey has before the law. On the other hand, when there is so much sentiment and media glare, it is difficult to get an unbiased jury. That’s when behavior profiling can count.
Kim Iannetta is a behavioral profiler with considerable experience over more than 20 years. Her book called Danger Between the Lines has been used by criminal experts for many years, as she has research that supports the efficacy and value of her approach to behavioral analysis. She is one of the few that has research to support her work. She says, “This is a difficult case, but trained observations of behavioral details both in person and then those tell-tale signs of writing, can be helpful in making the right choice for a jury. Iannetta’s book has been a useful guide for experts in making these assessments.
While behavioral profiling may be questioned, most attorneys want to use whatever they can find to be fair and accurate in getting the results they want. The better choices, the more fair, the better the outcome of the case, so it won’t have to be retried or an innocent person found guilty.
Casey Anthony is beginning that journey to the concrete standing before justice in the courtroom. Fair and honest support for finding the right jury, Iannetta tells us, is an important way in making sure that justice prevails.
