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a — Prosecutive and Trial Strategies: At the request of the investigating agency or prosecuting attorney, the NCAVC staff may make recommendations regarding possible cross-examination techniques for offenders or witnesses, overall prosecutive theme development, or suggestions for jury selection. Expert Testimony: NCAVC members have qualified to testify as experts in the areas of criminal investigative analysis, crime scene analysis, violent criminal behavior, and assessment of dangerousness. Violent Criminal Apprehension Program (VICAP): VICAP is a behaviorally-based crime analysis too! that has been significantly redesi gned and structured to address violent crime problems affecting law enforcement agencies. The new system consists of a revised VICAP Crime Analysis Report and a user-friendly computer system designed to enhance crime analysis for specific violent crimes, including solved or unsolved homicides, missing persons, and unidentified dead persons. It is available free of charge to any agency willing to become a part of this effective network of crime analysis. In addition to the above services, the NCAVC staff can coordinate and obtain other resources to apply to a given investigation. The NCAVC maintains a reference file for experts in various forensic disciplines such as odontology, anthropology, entomology, or pathology. Staff members can coordinate acquisition of special aircraft, tracking or cadaver dogs, or use of the FBI’s Evidence Response Team. The NCAVC also works closely with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children in child abductions and other child victimization cases. Research The NCAVC also conducts research into violent crime from a law enforcement perspective. Of primary interest to researchers is how the offenders in the study committed their crimes and how they avoided detection, identification, apprehension, and conviction. The research is designed to gain insight into criminal thought processes, motivations, and behavior. Insights gained through the research are refined into innovative investigative techniques and applied to improve law enforcement’s effectiveness against the violent criminal. College undergraduates and graduate students working as interns in the NCAVC provide assistance to the staff in many of the research efforts. Results of the research are shared with the law enforcement and academic world through publications, presentations, and training, as well as through the application of knowledge to the i investigative and operational functions of the Center. Some findings are also useful to incorporate into crime prevention programs. Past and planned research includes studies of sexual homicide, serial rape, child molestation and abduction, bombing, arson, acts using weapons of mass destruction, threatening communications, and serial murder.