Crime and Media

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

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Serial Murder: Difficulties within an Investigation

by Tabetha Cooper

Serial murder is a phenomenon that poses many problems for investigators.  With the multitude of factors that go into a serial murder, catching a serial killer can be difficult.  Serial investigations are more successful when there are plenty of resources, such as financial support and manpower.  

English: Logo for Serial Killer Task Force (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Unfortunately these things are not always available.  In this essay the factors that make serial murder so difficult to investigators are going to be discussed, as well as suggestions to aid in overcoming these challenges.  A person must remember that these suggestions are not always applicable in every situation; however, their employment will undoubtedly make the investigation run more smoothly.

Major issues involving the investigation of serial murders are include leadership, task force organization, manpower, communication, data management, analytical tools, medical examiners, and training.  Linking homicides together is probably the biggest difficulty investigators face, especially when the murders are committed in different jurisdictions (www.fbi.gov).  This problem is known as linkage blindness.  Linkage blindness occurs because of an agency’s inability to access information from other agencies and because of the lack of communication and cooperation between jurisdictions (Summerfield, 2006).  According to Kouri (2009), serial murders involving multiple jurisdictions are often easier to detect when the victims are low-risk, meaning they generally do not involve themselves in activities in which you would expect to see someone murdered.  But when an investigator is dealing with high risk victims the lack of communication and the differences in record management systems can keep them from linking a series of murders together.  A key to linking murders to a single offender is identifying cases where the forensic or behavioral evidence suggests the same offender (www.fbi.gov).

Steve Wright (serial killer) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Leadership is another major problem in serial murder cases.  With all the pressures coming from outside sources such as victims’ families, political figures, and the media, administration wants to have these cases cleared up quickly.  This may make them step in and try to take over the investigation.  Both investigators and supervisors play major parts in solving a serial murder but it is vital that they cooperate with each other instead of stepping on each other toes.  The investigation into serial murder should be handled by the most experienced investigators; this is not a job for administrators (www.fbi.gov).

The organization of a task force can help or hinder a serial investigation.  Without a good task force, information may not get to the right places and jobs may not be delegated properly.   The first step of creating an effective task force is getting all the agencies involved in the investigation to cooperate with each other.  The next thing is that the agency needs to be properly designated to head the investigation.  Choosing the agency for the lead depends on several things such as the availability of manpower, access to resources, and which agency has the most experienced investigators. 

English: Mug shot of serial killer Gerard John Schaefer. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 However, all other agencies need to be equally involved in the task force.  Once the lead agency has been chosen, a lead investigator and co-investigator must be elected.  Upon this selection, the two will then oversee all aspects of the investigation, particularly those involving the crime scene, itself.  A task force also requires ample personnel.  Finally, the last thing a task force should be equipped with is a liaison.  They need to deal with the victims’ families as well as deal with communications with the forensic laboratories, medical examiners, and the prosecutor’s office.  Every law enforcement agency should have a planned task force model equipped with an information management system; this should be put into action as soon as the task force has been organized.  It is vital for investigators and administrators to have a tightly knit relationship and to stay unified if the task force is to operate successfully (www.fbi.gov).

Manpower is an issue for any law enforcement agency during any case, but it is particularly crucial during serial murder investigations.  Agencies may not have enough manpower to spare, leaving heavy case loads for the officers and investigators available.  This problem can go the opposite direction as well.  With the large demand to catch the unidentified subject, or un-sub, in serial cases, agencies may try to utilize every person within their organization.  This inclination can lead to the 

The “Blood Countess of Transylvania,” as Elizabeth Báthory (1560–1614) was known. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

overlapping of duties which can have devastating results for the investigation.  The lead investigator knows if more manpower is necessary.  When an investigator asks management for more manpower, administrators need to make sure they are able to supply the correct number of officers required (www.fbi.gov).

In today’s world it is hard to fathom that communication would be a problem, but in law enforcement, it seems to be.  This is largely due to the differing information systems between agencies.  For the most part, this problem would be alleviated if every agency utilized the FBI’s ViCAP system and updated its information frequently for both solved and unsolved cases; this would aid in the linking together of cases.  Also in serial cases, when multiple jurisdictions are involved, no one wants to allow another agency solve “their” case.  It is vital that communications links are clearly established

Dr. Lawrence Farwell conducts a Brain Fingerprinting test on serial killer JB Grinder. The result showed the record in Grinder's brain matched the murder of Julie Helton. Grinder was convicted and is serving a life sentence. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 and that everyone works together.  This can be accomplished by means of daily debriefings, where the lead investigators talk to other members of the task force to see what they have learned and fill them in on new duties that are expected of them.  These should consist of face to face communications, so that nothing is lost during the translation of information (www.fbi.gov).

Communication problems lead us to data management issues.  The lack of data being properly stored in an electronic database poses a problem with linking serial cases together.  It also presents a problem during the actual investigation once the cases have been linked.  Important leads can be lost and never followed up on.  Once a lead has been submitted, it should be put into a system

Lucas and Ottis Toole. Ramsland, Katherine. "Henry Lee Lucas, prolific serial killer or prolific liar?". Crime Library . . Retrieved 2008-12-17 . (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 to be viewed by investigators, who will then complete a report regarding their findings.  Time should be provided during working hours to ensure this gets done.  Another way to ensure that this is completed is to have a standard method by which investigators may complete the reports.  All reports need to be given to all agencies involved in a serial investigation to be sure that everyone has all the information available (www.fbi.gov).

Analytical tools are severely underused in serial investigations, especially in the early stages.  Analysts are pertinent to the organization of information in an investigation (www.officeresource.com).  The earlier they become involved in an investigation the better.  Analyst can help collect information on the cases involved.  Gaining information such geographic locations, times and dates, etc. can be very useful in the investigation.  The task force should also include a team of investigators whose primarily focus is reviewing the information that has been collected by the analysts (www.fbi.gov).

Medical Examiners, often referred to as ME’s, are another group of people that are vital to an investigation but can complicate it when dealing with multiple jurisdictions.    Each state has certain requirements and procedures that a ME must follow and this can vary from state to state.  For the quick linking of cases it is critical that the procedures to collect, record, and retrieve information a

English: This car was owned (and heavily used) by infamous American serial killer, Ted Bundy. He removed the passenger seat to better hide his victims before disposing of them. Today in Chinatown, Washington, DC, US. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

re nearly the same; which is rarely the case.  Once a serial case has been identified, ME’s need to share all information on autopsies performed with each other.  Each jurisdiction should select one ME that takes care of all autopsies that appear to be linked to the offender.  When there are multiple jurisdictions it may be wise for all ME’s involved in the case to work together when doing the autopsies (www.fbi.gov).

Resources and funding are often a problem with any investigation.  Several agencies across the nation do not have adequate funding to support the manpower they need on a day to day basis, let alone have the computer equipment that makes an agency run smoothly.  Setting up a task force to deal with a serial case can be extremely expensive.  To aid with this problem, agencies should have a plan in place in the event that a large case comes into to their jurisdiction.  When creating this plan, the FBI suggests that things such as “buildings, office space, computers, phones, vehicles, and food” should be examined.  All of these things, in addition to manpower, are needed to run an efficient investigation (www.fbi.gov).

Training is a concern with all law enforcement agencies, not withstanding major cases such as serial investigations.  It is essential that all homicide investigators, crime analysts, and medical examiners have been adequately trained.  Experience is important in any investigation, especially so when dealing with a serial murder case (www.fbi.gov).  One thing that to remember, though, is that without the proper training, investigators will not remain with an agency long enough to gain experience.

Serial investigations often have many complications.  Not all of these problems have easy solutions that can be implemented quickly.  Serial murderers are hard to catch because of the anonymity they bestow upon themselves, and only through teamwork, perseverance, and hard work can these monsters be caught.  Sadly, funding is not always available to supply the resources needed in these cases.  But as the media keeps making these cases more and more popular, it is to be hoped that the need for financial assistance will become more understood, as well.

References

Kouri, J. (2009). Serial Killers and Politicians Share Traits. Retrieved from                                http://www.examiner.com/law-enforcement-in-national/serial-killers-and-politicians-share-    traits

Summerfield M. (2006). Why Serial Killers Remain at Large. Retrieved from                http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/35188/seven_obstacles_to_serial_murder_investiga                tions.html?cat=17

officerresource.com/2009/06/managing-a-multi-jurisdictional-serial-homicide-task-force/

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

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Investigation Into Serial Murder- Proactive and Reactive Approaches

By Elizabeth Hall

WANTAGH, NY - APRIL 15: An aerial view of police cars near where a body was discovered in the area near Gilgo Beach and Ocean Parkway on Long Island on April 15, 2011 in Wantagh, New York. Police have been conducting a prolonged search of the area after finding ten sets of human remains. Of the ten only four sets of remains have been identified as missing female prostitutes in their 20s who had been working in the online escort business. Police, working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), suspect that a single serial killer may be in the New York area focusing on sex workers. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

Serial murder investigations are the hardest for investigators to undertake because of the complexities involved with the task. Along with the multijurisdictional problems that often accompany these types of cases, killers usually choose people they do not know, as victims, and, the agencies are ill equipped to handle the investigation.  These criminals, usually are very careful and have planned their crimes. They leave little or no evidence at the crime scene.  It often takes a substantial amount of time before it has even been discovered, that a serial murderer is operating in the area because of cross-jurisdictional non-communication.  Traditional police roles operate in a reactive fashion. This includes patrolling routinely, responding to calls immediately, and conducting investigations to follow up on cases. Serial murder investigations should be conducted, on both reactive and proactive fronts. There are programs and databases, which make this possible, such as VICAP, the National Victimization Survey, The Uniform Crime Report, the Behavioral Analysis Unit at the FBI, and the critical response group from the FBI. Added to the problems facing this type of investigation is the intense pressure that the media and public put on those personnel conducting the investigation to find a suspect. (Hickey, n.d.)

Serial killers rarely follow district lines, so in committing their crimes they usually cross juri

WANTAGH, NY - APRIL 15: An aerial view of the area near Gilgo Beach and Ocean Parkway on Long Island where police have been conducting a prolonged search after finding ten sets of human remains on April 15, 2011 in Wantagh, New York. Of the ten only four sets of remains have been identified as missing female prostitutes in their 20s who had been working in the online escort business. Police, working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), suspect that a single serial killer may be in the New York area focusing on sex workers. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

sdictions when they commit their crimes.  In committing crimes like these, the killer effectively manages to disguise the nature of the crimes being serial, due to most jurisdictions do not share information with their neighboring departments.  Therefore, the separate agencies involved do not connect the dots and realize that instead of having several unrelated homicides with several suspects, what they really have is several connected murders with one or two suspects. (Hickey, n.d.) When it is finally realized, the separate agencies may bicker about who gets to take the lead because of budgeting concerns. In traditional reactive policing, the normal order of investigation to follow up on cases may not be enough. A task force must be formed, with decisions on who must perform each task assigned. One of the most important assignments is that one person must be the only contact that the media has with information about the case. This reduces the likelihood of sensitive information being leaked to the press. Other personnel involved with the case must be informed that they must not talk to the media, the family of the victim, or anyone else associated with the case about police information. Because of the high profile nature of the case, the chain of custody must be maintained extra carefully. (Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2005)

In 2005, the FBI held a symposium on serial murder. In recent years, the way that law 

English: The Seal of the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation. For more information, see here. Español: El escudo del Buró Federal de Investigaciones (FBI). Para obtener más información, véase aquí (Inglés). (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

enforcement looks at serial murder cases has changed. Law enforcement realizes that in order to catch this form of criminal, they must not only use the reactive methods that they normally use, but to come up with some proactive methods to stop their killing sprees.  One of these methods has been in use for a while. When law enforcement realizes that they have a serial killer in their midst,  they can call the Behavioral Analysis Unit(BAU) of the FBI, who can come up with a profile based on the killer’s behavior, MO, and clues left at the scene, which can help  police identify the perpetrator.  The purpose of the symposium was to give experts in the fields of psychology, law enforcement, and academia, among the many represented, a chance to talk out similarities and  recognize the common elements that come into play when each of these fields meets serial killers in their profession. The international level of serial murder was also addressed because in attendance were representatives of 10 foreign countries who make their homes on 5 continents of the world. (Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2005)

Causalitywas discussed in the symposium. It was noted, “Serial murderers, like all human beings, are a product of their heredity, their upbringing, and the choices they made during development (Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2005).”  The attendees established that “there is no single identifiable cause or factor that leads to the development of a serial killer. Rather , there are a multitude of factors that contribute to their development. The most significant factor is the serial killer’s personal decision in choosing to pursue their crimes (Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2005).”

English: FBI Mobile Command Center in Washington DC. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The symposium also discussed investigatory practices, and which ones were best. During the

discussions on this subject, importance was stressed upon law enforcement agencies sharing information through the National Law Enforcement Teletype System, ViCAP alerts, and the Law Enforcement online systems to help accomplish this. By communicating within different agencies, a bridge has been gapped, creating a proactive measurement for law officers to use as a tool. Establishing a good working relationship with other departments before a crime like this would help to ensure that these programs succeed. The list of best practices defined by the symposium follows:

¶        Identification of a Serial Murder Series – most challenging

¶        Leadership – investigative and administrative responsibilities must be defined and clear.

¶        Task Force Organization –establish a lead agency and obtain representatives from all other agencies involved. Establish one contact for the media.

¶        Resource Augmentation –Investigator should decide when to utilize extra staff, the role of the administration is to provide that extra support.

¶        Communication – daily briefings, face to face meetings, and submitting ViCAP reports in a timely manner are of utmost importance.

¶        Data Management – all reports must be filled out at the end of each shift and turned in accordingly. Information should be on computer to allow easy sharing, and done in a standard format, case management tools should be used to keep data organized and for analysis. Books should be created and maintained on homicides for cross reference.

FBI analyst. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

¶        Analytical Tools – use of these can reduce the chance of key information going unnoticed.

¶        Medical Examiners/Coroners – they should also have a system of sharing information between departments. There should be one medical examiner per jurisdiction only working on a serial killer case.

¶        Administrative Issues - Items of evidence should be stored along with any records pertaining to the case should be kept as long as possible for any homicide cases remaining unsolved for 50 years.

¶        Training – all homicide investigators should be kept up to date on any advances in technology and tools for investigation.

English: FBI Mugshot of serial killer Cary Stayner taken by the FBI following his arrest by Agent Jeff Rinek at a nudist resort in Wilton. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

¶        Officer Assistance Programs – Officers participating in investigations like this should have adequate time off, mental health services, and regular debriefings as needed. (Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2005)

In conclusion, serial murder investigations, due to the complex nature of the crimes, both proactive and reactive tools of investigation are needed to complete an investigation of this scale. In recent decades, law enforcement is realizing the importance of communication with other agencies. 

Databases must be managed efficiently, and steps must be followed to ensure a successful investigation.

References

Fede                Federal Bureau of Investigation. (2005, August 29). Serial Murder: Multi Disciplinary Perspectives for Investigators. Retrieved March 09, 2010, from Federal Bureau of Investigation: http://www.fbi.gov/publications/serial_murder.pdf

              Hickey, E. W. (n.d.). Serial Murderers and and Their Victims. Fresno: Cenegage Learning.

                Siegel, L. (2007). Criminology: The Core (Third ed.). Belmont, CA, United States: Cenegage Learning.

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Social Construction: A Study of Theories

George Chapman (December 14, 1865 - April 7, 1903) was the English name taken by serial killer Seweryn Antonowicz Kłosowski. He was originally from Poland but later relocated to England, where he committed his crimes. He was convicted and executed after poisoning three women, but is remembered today mostly because some authorities suspected him of having been the notorious serial killer Jack the Ripper. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

by Elizabeth Hall

In our modern society, advances in technology and science have propelled the study of crime into new frontiers. While the actual study of crime dates back to earlier decades, these advances have put crime data and the study of it into the forefront of our society. Criminologists devote their life to assessing, comprehending, restraining, and helping lawmakers to prevent criminal and deviant acts. Not all criminal actsare deviant, and likewise all deviant acts are not criminal. Serial killers with the nature of their crimes cross both categories due to the violence associated with the crimes, the recidivism of the crimes, and the deviant nature of most serial killers even though the particular deviance varies per killer. These can include but are not limited to cannibalism, dismemberment, necrophilia, and sadism.  Criminological Theories that began in the mid 1800’s have been developed and tested over time. With each new advance in technology, the methods of testing these theories become more exact. In this essay we will discuss the various Social Construction Theories that today’s criminal justice system uses to control and prevent criminals such as serial killers from committing their crimes. These consist of the social structure, social class, social process, neutralization, social control, and labeling theories (Siegel, 2007).

Social Structure Theory

Social Structure Theory reasons that the socioeconomic forces drive those in underprivileged financial situations to commit crime, and that this is the reason for crime. This group of theories consists of three theories:

      Social Disorganization Theory- primary focus of this theory is environmental conditions. High unemployment and school dropout rates are symptoms of this problem in a neighborhood.

      Strain Theory suggests that discord in the goals a person has and what actual 

Mug shot of Richard Ramirez. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

resources one has to attain that goal is the main reason for crime (Siegel, 2007). Richard Ramirezfits into this theory because he started his killing over disappointment that a woman did not have anything of value to steal which was how he supported himself. His first murder was just a burglary gone awry. He then went on to the following year to become a serial killer claiming 12 more lives in the span of one year.

      Cultural Deviance Theory due to burden and societal separation people in lower class areas develop their own subcultures, which do not conform to societal rules. For example, dad is a drunk, and hangs out with other lower class drunks who think that it is perfectly normal to beat their wives. By association, they can reassure themselves that their criminal behavior is normal. 

Although Strain Theory might work in relation to some serial killers, overall, it does not seem that social structure theories work well in relation to serial killers (Siegel, 2007).

Social Class (Anomie) Theory

Anomie Theory group contends that societal inequity causes awareness, which in turn causes crime. The lower class worker feels strain because they cannot afford the things they need. They then turn to dealing drugs to attain the means to achieve societal equity. These theories are:

      Institutional Anomie Theory states that because of our incessant need to keep up the status quo the United States is full of anomie.

      Relative Deprivation Theory says harsh divisions between the upper and lower classes cause feelings of jealousy and suspicion, which gives the criminal notions of disgrace by the upper class, thereby causing the criminal to have desires to disgrace them in return.

      General Strain Theory maintains that it is not one type of strain but individuals reacting to several individualized strains at once are more likely to 

Drawing of a serial killer John Wayne Gacy (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

commit crime.

(Siegel, 2007)

 This theory best fits the serial killer in the fact that most of them seem to have several different problems all at once.  John Wayne Gacy seems to be a perfect example of this.  John grew up in a strict Irish catholic family. He had a bad relationship with his abusive father, whom he wanted to gain approval from desperately. When he was only eleven, John injured on the head by a swing, received a blood clot in his brain. This clot caused him severe blackouts and headaches, which went undiagnosed until he reached the age of 16. Even though doctors remove the blood clot, health problems continued for him, in less than a year John receives the diagnosis of an unspecified heart condition. John was also a homosexual, which could not be revealed because of what his father, might think. (Clark Prosecutor, n.d.)

Social Process Theory

Social Process Theory claims that all people have the ability to be criminals regardless of class, ethnicity, or gender. The theory claims that if the societal bonds that a person holds are constructive, then the person will be law abiding if these bonds are counter constructive, the person will not be. The theories in this group are as follows:

      Social Learning Theory claims that criminals learn from other criminals, and that crime in itself is learned behavior instead of ingrained. This theory applies well to team serial killers because of the propensity for them to learn techniques from each other.

Serial killer H.H. Holmes (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

      Neutralization falls under social process group as well. This theory states that, criminals do not act like criminals all of the time.  When they are not committing crime they attend picnics social gatherings, and regular community functions.  When they are at these gatherings, however, it is common to find that the attendees are also comprised of criminal and deviant members. (Siegel, 2007)

Social Control Theory

Social control theory maintains that every person is born capable of committing crime and that the society we live in today lends itself more to crime than ever.  Just about everywhere, you look; the opportunity to commit crime exists.  People who obey the law do so either out of personal belief in religion or morals, or due to a need to conform in order to keep their standing in society and their reputation in check. When these bonds are not present, a person feels free to break the law. (Siegel, 2007)

Ted Bundy as a good example of social control theory and serial killers, because of the fact that he resented finding out that who he thought was his older sister was actually his mother. He had negative attachment to family because of this scenario, and became one of the United States most notorious serial killers we have ever seen. (Bell, n.d.)

Labeling Theory

Labeling Theory This theory looks at the careers of criminals as being a product of disparaging societal relations and disgracing social encounters and the subjective nature of the law. The key tenets of the theory are as follows:

      Those who currently are making the laws bias the criminal natures of certain behaviors. This means that what is considered to be a crime is only such 

A segment of a social network (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

because people label the behavior as a crime.

      People are labeled as well as acts.

      Whether the behavior is positive or negative, prejudiced explanation of behavior is required.

The theory also works off the assumption that once one is labeled, as for example, a pothead, meaning a person who smokes marijuana, the rest of their life will follow suit as a pothead with all of the social stigmatization that follows that association. It also suggests that lawmakers can change what deems an act to be illegal, to suit their own needs, as was the case with marijuana (Siegel, 2007).

Labeling theory seems to work best with serial killers, because of the nature of the crimes. Almost all serial killers have some deviant desires with maybe the exception of German serial killers who kill more for money and items rather than sexual gratification, or perversion. According to the theory once, you are labeled, you are always considered to be labeled as such. (Siegel, 2007)

Works Cited

Bell, R. (n.d.). Ted Bundy: The Early Years. Retrieved March 08, 2010, from Tru TV Crime Library: http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/serial_killers/notorious/bundy/2.html

Clark Prosecutor. (n.d.). John Wayne Gacy. Retrieved March 04, 2010, from John Wayne Gacy: Executed May 10, 1994 at 12:58 a.m. by Lethal Injection in Illinois: www.clarkprosecutor.org

Frontline. (1997-1998, Winter). Busted: America's War on Marijuana. Retrieved February 23, 2010, from Dr. David F. Musto Interview: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/dope/

NBC/MSNBC. (n.d.). Seung-Hui Cho. Retrieved February 08, 2010, from http://www.bing.com/reference/semhtml/Virginia_Tech_massacre?fwd=1&qpvt=va+tech+massacre&src=abop&q=va+tech+massacre

Office of National Drug Control Policy. (2006, July 19). ONDCP Drug Policy Information Clearinghouse Fact Sheet. Retrieved February 23, 2010, from Drug Use Trends October 2002: http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/publications/factsht/druguse/

Panel, V. T. (2009, November 15). Mass Shootings at Virginia Tech Addendum to the report of the review panel,presented to Governor Timothy M. Kaine, Commonwealth of Virginia. Retrieved February 11, 2010

Pumroy, D. K. (2007). What Caused the Tragedy at Virginia Tech? (J. Wyatt, Ed.) Behavior Analysis Digest International , 19 (2), pp. 5-7.

Reagan, T. (2009, March). Marijuana Incorporated: Inside America's Pot Industry. Retrieved February 23, 2010, from Marijuana Incorporated: Inside America's Pot Industry: http://www.cnbc.com/id/28281668

Schaffer Library of Drug Policy. (n.d.). Library Resources. Retrieved February 23, 2010, from Schaffer Library of Drug Policy: http://www.druglibrary.org/schaffer/index.HTM

Siegel, L. (2007). Criminology: The Core (Third ed.). Belmont, CA, United States: Cenegage Learning.

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