CriminologyJustice: Criminal Minds

The crime scene in the original version of the game. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

by Tabetha Cooper

Murders happen all over the world in all forms; your regular single murders, mass murders, spree murders, and of course serial murders. In the United States, serial murder has been captivating the mind of citizens for a long time with all the movies and television programs focusing on this issue. It is important to remember though that much of what can be seen on television isn’t completely accurate. Through an understanding of the global perspectives on serial murder and the investigative approach and tools used the most in these cases, a person can better identify what impact serial murders have on the media in the United States versus other countries.

As Hickey (n.d.) points out, serial murder from a global perspective brings out some points that need to be addressed. First is the definition of serial murder and how others see this phenomenon. For example in the U.S. the FBI defines serial murder as a series of three or more murders over a period of time with a cooling off period in between each murder. In addition most serial offenders in the U.S. are thought to be lust killers and each murder tends to share common characteristics (Federal Bureau of Investigations, 2005). On the other hand other countries have noted that most serial murderers do not classify as lust murders and that there are not always similarities in the murders (Hickey, n.d.). Not every culture exploits serial murder as we do in the U.S. The second thing to remember is that the differences in cultures between countries provide different motives for serial murders as well as different means to carry out the murders. For example guns are a big weapon of choice in the United States but many other countries the weapon of choices tends to be a knife, as can be shown with the case of Jack the Ripper in England (Hickey, n.d.). The last point to keep in mind is that largely due to the other two differences, the profiles given to serial murderers in the U.S. are far different from the profiles given by law enforcement personnel of other countries. The ability to access important data may also play a role in the different profiles of serial murderers between other countries and the U.S.

Since the popular television show Criminal Minds, when the average American thinks of approaches to catching a killer, profiling pops in their mind. There are several types of profiling including: criminal profiling, victim profiling, and geographical profiling. Profiling is just one tool used in the interdisciplinary approach. This approach explores criminal behavior through the sciences of psychology, biology, and behavioral analysis (Hickey, n.d). In other words the interdisciplinary approach utilizes forensic sciences. Spatial mapping is another tool used in this approach. Crimes committed within an area can be recorded to a map and through analysis of this information it is possible to figure out when and where the next crime in a series will be committed. Computers aid a lot in the interdisciplinary approach, where data can be stored and retrieved quickly.

In recent years there have been steps taken to fill in the gap between countries when it comes to crime. The inability to access data concerning serial murders that travel internationally, data bases are being created for easier access to information. One data base used by other countries is the Violent Crime Linkage Analysis System or VICLAS. This data base originated in Canada and is used in the United States, Canada, and Germany (Hickey, n.d.). The International Crime Police Organization, better known as Interpol, was created in 1923 to also aid countries in sharing criminal information. It was designed to help aid different organizations and law enforcement agencies in an effort to catch criminals that cross boarders and to prevent further crimes from being committed. Since its start in 1923, 188 countries have become members of Interpol (www.interpol.int).

With the vast differences throughout the world when it comes to serial murder, it has to be asked: What role does the media play in the world of serial murder? Many countries do not report serial murder in the news nor display such an interest in it through movies and television programs. There have been countries in which suspected serial murderers were not publicized. This has its benefits and downfalls! If the public is not notified of a serial murderer running the streets then they have no idea to keep themselves safe. If a killer is attacking women between the ages of thirty and fifty in dark allies only in the night, then those women don’t know to keep themselves out of that area during the dark hours of the day. Although a benefit of not publicizing a serial murderer is not getting the entire town in an uproar. Sometimes serial killers, such as the BTK killer (Dennis Radar), use media to contact the police. Those who receive these types of messages need to take care with what is done with them. The police should be notified before the message is publicized (www.fbi.com).

In the United States the media such as news papers report on the murder. Depending on the information that they reporter gets their hands on, this can let the killer know what the police know. This can cause the killer to change his modus operandi, is selection of victims, or even cause him to go into a cooling down period until the heat is off him. If he relocates it takes the problem out of the place it originated but causes it to start somewhere else, which may go undetected for a period of time before the crimes can be linked as serial. When so many people become privy to important information pertaining to a serial murder case it also opens a door for copy cat killers to use the same motives. This can throw law enforcement personnel off the track of the actual killer. When media puts such a great emphasis on the murderer it also takes light away from the victim (www.fbi.com). Victims become forgotten easily, causing yet another injustice to both them and their families. Also with the fascination and glamorization television shows and movies give serial killers it desensitizes the incidences. Women become fans and the killers begin to become idols to some.

No matter the country or the definition of serial murder, a killer reeking havoc can be detrimental to everyone. Some countries allow the media to cash in on the tragedies that seem to captivate the minds of many. This can be good, but it can also be very bad. In the United States, our Constitution guarantees us freedom of press and freedom of speech, so we can count on many more shows, movies, and news reports regarding serial murder.

References

Hickey, E. W. (n.d.) Serial Murderers and Their Victims. 4^th ed. Mason: Cengage Learning

http://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/serial-murder

http://www.fbi.gov/publications/serial_murder.htm

http://www.interpol.int/public/icpo/default.asp

By Lawrence W. Daly

Forensic Expert – Senior Author

English: Jake Gyllenhaal on a visit to New Eyes Português: Jake Gyllenhaal em uma visita ao New Eyes (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In the soon to be released movie starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena, “End of Watch” according to IMDb, “Is about two young officers who are marked for death after confiscating a s

mall cache or money and firearms from the members of a notorious cartel, during a routine traffic stop.”

If you have seen the previews then you know this movie is full of action packed police at their best scenes with sex thrown in to make it complete. Interesting that audiences enjoy seeing law enforcement on television or the movie screen engaging in violence and sex, when in the real world the type of scenes seen in “End of Watch” do happen, but not as much as seen in this movie.

On television there are numerous police type shows, from Rookie Blue to Hawaii Five-O to Criminal Minds. Some of these shows have some scenes which are realistic, but for the majority of the time, there is simply too much drama and not enough reality.

If you are a young adult watching a Jake Gyllenhaal or Michael Pena on the movie screen being law enforcement officers, you may want to change the direction of the way you are living or improve upon your life style and choices. In fact, you may want to become a law enforcement officer, a leader in the law enforcement community, a stint in homicide as a detective, and then onward and upward as a commander or chief of a law enforcement agency.

Police downtown (Photo credit: Toban Black)

If you are a young adult and you have begun dedicating your life into being one of the future leaders in law enforcement there are personnel sacrifices you will have to relinquish in order to pursue these dreams. Let us look at some of these sacrifices and what you are willing to change about yourself in order to move forward to a new type of world to live in. A world where the perpetrators you arrest are not make believe but at a moment’s notice could and would take your life. A world where your family and friends who once were a part of your life, now have turned away from you, because you are different than they are, because you decided to dedicate your life to being one of the good guys, a law enforcement officer.

Reputation

Your reputation has to be above reproach. If someone asks another person about your reputation it must be impeccable. You need to have a reputation which inspires others to be who you have become. It isn’t good enough to be the average person most people want to be, no you have to be special.

This may sound unreachable for some one young to achieve. However, having an outstanding reputation doesn’t just show up one day, like hiding a tooth under your pillow and the next morning finding a dollar bill. No reputation is something that begins today. Everyone you know must respect the fact that your life’s goal is to become the best person you can be. Further, that in the process of building a positive image, you want others to know that your goal is to become a law enforcement officer from this day forward until the day they force you to retire.

Education

Federal Protective Service tahoe (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

If you are an average student and this has been your performance to date, then you need to make a change and find methods and techniques to not be a person with average grades, but a person who aspires and strives to be the best student in the classroom and for that matter the entire school.

The positive and successful studying habits you learn as you move from middle school to high school will pay major dividends when you enter college. Every college in the nation will be asking you to be a part of their educational system. Attending a community college is unacceptable and you will know it. Unless your circumstances don’t allow you to attend a four-year college than you will need to expend the first two years at a community college taking care of your pre-requisites, eventually obtaining your associate degree. There is nothing wrong with attending a community college, but leaders strive to be the best, and the best not only strive to attend a four-year college, but one with the best reputation and supported in the college arena as respectable and competent.

Eating Right - Physical Condition

Eat right with color (Photo credit: Inspired RD)

If you are out of shape today, by the time you reach 21 years old, then you will be out of shape then. Today is the right time to begin eating the right foods and planning a stringent exercise program like you were participating in a ‘Tougher-Mudder’ tomorrow. Your leadership qualities should be seen first i.e. your physical appearance has to speak for itself. Nobody and this means nobody will hire a young adult to be a law enforcement officer who is out of shape and has health issues.

Today, young adults are sedentary due to the technology which is available to use as a game or communication tool. Therefore, you can’t become part of a society where 50% of Americans are considered obese. So check out some books from the library and find an exercise program which is something you can initially handle. Don’t challenge yourself to the point that you fail because your expectations were not logical or reasonable. Begin slowly and finish strong. Elevating your performance each day to become stronger and faster than the day before will become routine.

Once you become a law enforcement officer you will receive recognition from your co-horts, those in the community, and the administration that you respect your body and maintain it like you care about how you look and feel.

Environment

Many young adults have lost their way and lose sight of their goals because they failed to recognize the potential dangers in the individuals they are friends with. This includes your family members as well. If your family and friends have problems with alcohol, drugs, sex, and other potential life style choices then you need to decide if you want to be a leader in reference to your peers or a be a follower. The decision to move out of this inner circle has to be decisive, firm, and a continual commitment to keep your distance.

Pool Party (Photo credit: philipp daun)

Law enforcement officers are not followers they are first individual leaders i.e. they follow a tight regiment of a positive and successful life style and they lead others to do the same. They are the example and set the bar at what seems an unreachable standard.

There is no reason for an individual who wants to be a law enforcement officer to be at a party where there are individuals who are drinking alcohol or using illegal drugs. You might as well light a stick of dynamite and wait for it to explode. When you are dealing with young adults and add alcohol and illegal drugs, you are asking for trouble.

As soon as you identify that this is happening at a party you wanted to attend, you need to leave the party as fast as you came. You don’t contemplate if you should stay or go, it should become automatic that the environment you live in does nothing but promote positive and successful opportunities.

Sacrifices

Being a leader in your community is something which you have to work diligently for. There are many sacrifices you will need to make from spending hours studying to exercising to staying away from potential problems.

A background will be performed by the law enforcement agency which may be considering in hiring you. If you have failed to do the above the likelihood of you being hired as a law enforcement officer will be unlikely.

Once you become a law enforcement officer your goals will change and the life styles will change. One of the lifestyle changes is do you want to be an average officer or do you want to be a leader in and off the job. The decision surrounds the desire to be the best, which means you will have to sacrifice your time and energy in being the best at what you do.

Accomplishing Your Dreams

The steps to being a great leader of other officers comes from hours of learning, educating, attending workshops, and conferences, and any other steps which will make you a better person and ultimately a better officer and leader.

If you take the time to follow your dreams by beginning at a young age, disciplining yourself to do the extra life style and choices, then you will not only become a law enforcement officer, but one of the next generation of leaders in a professional field which needs individuals like you previously planned and eventually will become. It may be difficult for some people to be their best all the time, but learning how to be the best will become natural, because of your years of dedication and the inner desires to reach these goals every day.

Although the movie “End of Watch,” and the television police shows appear to be a reality and may be exciting from time to time, for the most part being a law enforcement officer is being about helping people when they need someone to lean on. A law enforcement officer wears many hats from baby-sitter to talking to a group of elderly people who don’t understand why their houses keep get broken into to arresting someone who hurts, kills or damages someone property.

Sacrifice (Photo credit: arbyreed)

It takes a courageous individual to put on the uniform every day, confronting danger at every corner. However, a prepared individual an outstanding law enforcement officer will make the best of his/her world by planning ahead, like the individual described in this article.

In doing so, it provides you the opportunity to demonstrate to others that when you talk they listen, and when you do something, they mimic it, because you are a leader and leaders lead so the next generation of leaders can learn what it takes to be special, competent, and intelligent.