Hans Gross

Hans Gross was an Austrian criminologist often referred to as the "Founding Father" of criminal profiling. Here's a summary of his contributions:

Pioneer of Criminalistics: Gross is credited with establishing the field of criminalistics, the application of science to crime scene investigation. His 1891 book, "Handbuch für Untersuchungsrichter" (translated to "Criminal Investigation" in English), is considered a foundational text Wikipedia.

Championed New Techniques: Gross advocated for using new investigative techniques like crime scene photography and fingerprint examination. These methods, then in their early stages, are now essential parts of forensic science Encyclopedia Britannica.

Criminology Advocate: Gross believed in a more scientific approach to criminal investigation. He established the world's first institute of criminology at the University of Graz, further solidifying the field as a legitimate area of study Encyclopedia.com.

Gross's work significantly impacted how crimes are investigated, paving the way for modern forensic science techniques.