The DeFinis Group
Mission: To assist government agencies, law enforcement, and families in the pursuit of justice by leveraging offender profiling techniques in open cases when homicide is believed to be the manner of death.
According to the Murder Accountability Project (2020), "The majority of homicides go unsolved in a growing number of major American cities, an alarming trend that has worsened significantly during the last 20 years." In other words, at any given moment there are thousands of killers walking the streets with a high probability that they will kill again. While there are several theories as to why we are seeing the steady decline in the clearance rate of homicides, one consistent factor continues to emerge - resources. The shrinking of investigative budgets, reduction of staff, and the revolving criminal justices doors have completely overwhelmed many agencies. This leaves the families of victims helpless, and often hopeless, in knowing that justice will be served.
The DeFinis Group, a nonprofit focused on providing agencies "another look" at open homicide cases, was founded by Dr. Robert F. DeFinis. Using various techniques and principles of offender profiling, Dr. DeFinis aims to give a second set of eyes to the investigation. The DeFinis Group is dedicated to the three C's of its founding philosophy - commitment, collaboration, and closure.
Commitment: Seeing the consultation through to the end. While there is a harsh reality that an open investigation can go cold, The DeFinis Group will remain attached and in support at the discretion of the requesting agency and/or family.
Collaboration: Long gone are the days when agencies can go at it alone. Collaboration and resource sharing is critical to finish the job. The DeFinis Group believes in leveraging any and all support as long as it is in compliance with policy and procedure.
Closure: Assisting all parties in receiving some level of closure is the guiding force behind The DeFinis Group. Victims, families, and agencies deserve to walk away from a tragedy knowing that justice, even if ever so small, was served.
The DeFinis Group, a nonprofit focused on providing agencies "another look" at open homicide cases, was founded by Dr. Robert F. DeFinis. Using various techniques and principles of offender profiling, Dr. DeFinis aims to give a second set of eyes to the investigation. The DeFinis Group is dedicated to the three C's of its founding philosophy - commitment, collaboration, and closure.
Commitment: Seeing the consultation through to the end. While there is a harsh reality that an open investigation can go cold, The DeFinis Group will remain attached and in support at the discretion of the requesting agency and/or family.
Collaboration: Long gone are the days when agencies can go at it alone. Collaboration and resource sharing is critical to finish the job. The DeFinis Group believes in leveraging any and all support as long as it is in compliance with policy and procedure.
Closure: Assisting all parties in receiving some level of closure is the guiding force behind The DeFinis Group. Victims, families, and agencies deserve to walk away from a tragedy knowing that justice, even if ever so small, was served.
Professional Associations and Memberships
Dr. DeFInis is a member in good standing with the following professional associations:
- American Institute for the Advancement of Forensic Science
- American Society of Criminology
- Association for Crime Scene Reconstruction
- British Society of Criminology
- International Association of Forensic Criminologist
- International Crime Scene Investigators Association
- International Homicide Investigators Association
- International Society of Criminology
- Western Society of Criminology