Criminology Midterm

First Modern Serial Killer

Jack the Ripper

What was H. H. Holmes known for

Murder castle

What is the Gein Legacy

shook up ideas around serial killers in a small town, inspired lots of movies (Psycho, Texas Chainsaw, Buffalo Bill)

Murderabilia

memorabilia of murderers (death cerificate of Aileen Wornos, Bricks of Dahmers apartment, Gacy’s pottery, ect)

Son of Sam Law

law to prevent offenders from profiting off of their acts and stories. Passed in NY in 1977 with David Berkowitz after he was offered over $300,000 to buy rights to his story. Law was truck down numerous times because it’s unconstitutional. Canada has the Profits of Criminal Notoriety Act (its the provinces that have the laws not the country)

Three Types of Culpable Murder

First Degree + Second Degree, Manslaughter, Infanticide (max 5 yrs)

FD = planning and intent, police officer is killed, or killed alongside commitment of other crime

Investigative Response for active event

Tactical investigative response —> Threat is still present, situation is ongoing. No time to gather information, team must rely on their own observations.

Investigative Response for non-active event

Strategic Investigative Response —> Event has concluded and no longer dangerous (killer is gone). Based on what is seen/heard when arriving at scene and own thoughts about action that has occurred.

Types of Forensic Science

• Physical matching (items like shoe-prints, tire prints, broken glass)

• Fingerprint matching (done through Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS) - biometric scanning process)

• Hair and Fibre Analysis (impossible not to leave behind particles at rime scene)

• Ballistic Analysis (over half of homicides are with gun, can study how they launched, fly, gun type)

• Blood Splatter Analysis (new forensic field, determines events of crime where blood was shed)

• DNA Analysis (everyone carries unique genetic info, can be slightly inaccurate with shoe-print but not DNA, bodily substances such as fried blood or saliva)

• Forensic Pathology (determines cause of death by examining dead body during autopsy)

Missing-Missing

People who end up missing but are never reported as missing. Often occurs with marginalized victims such as sex workers, immigrants, or indigenous women. They are not prioritized as a result.

Cold Cases

Unsolved murders. Over 80& of cases are solved. Cases are never considered over until a verdict has been reached in court.

Hybristophilia

Attraction to dangerous individuals such as criminals. Leads to “serial killer groupies” who are attracted to the idol’s controlling, manipulative, personality. Often send love letters to them in prison. Most are women.

Serial Killing

Killing of 3+ people in different events over a series of time (FBI has 2+)

Spree Killing

Killing of multiple people in a short amount of time in various locations

Mass Murder

Killing of multiple people (4+) in short amount of time in one location

Typologies of Serial Murder

• Visionary - hallucinations/voices

• Mission-Oriented - ridding world of “evil”

• Hedonistic - Three types (lust, thrill, comfort)

• Power/Control Oriented - most popular classification, likes domination over someone else (often sexual)

Types of Motivations

• Power - gain sense of power and dominance often sexually over citim (pseudocommando killers often fall under this)

• Revenge - against individuals, groups of people, or society at large. Often know who the victims are

• Loyalty - in killer’s mind, murder is necessary outcome. Can include loyalty to partner or cause (ie Richard Ramirez Satanism) and cults

• Profit - Involves murder for financial gain, eliminates victims and witnesses of a crime (Dorothea Punte)

• Terror - Involves terrorist acts that send a message through murder. Main objective is to create terror and fear. (Mason Family, Pulse Nightclub Shooting)

Murder by Proxy

Victims chosen based on identification with primary target (kill coworkers because boss reprimanded worker and they are associated with him). Suicide by proxy is different - husband kills family and himself to save from ‘pain’ of losing him

Predicting Murder

Cannot predict it fully. Some behaviour stems from childhood, some from later development, some from biological. Need more research into cause but most agree many factors at play

Challenges with Forensic Science and Technology

• Data Volume - adds to workload required to solve case, can be costly and time consuming

• Lack of Expertise - people need to be trained in forensic tech and issues of understaffing

• Resource Issue - Often high turnover with staff and inadequate resources, lack of training, reliance on non-police entities = forensic analysis backlogs

Richard Ramirez

Aka The Night Stalker. Often left Pentagrams at the scene of his crimes and described himself as a “Satanist”. Killed during home invasions, started when he was burglarizing. On lots of cocaine and had no home at time. Had a cousin who showed him violent imagery from Vietnam and killed someone in front of him.

Sociological perspectives

Criminals are not born but made and shaped by social contexts

What theory is most useful and used

Social Learning Theory

Anomie-Strain

Argues that crime is result of conflict between monetary success and access to legitimate means. Innovation (main category that criminals fall under) where they accept goals (profit) but find alternative means by engaging in criminal behaviour.

Routine Activities Theory (3 factors)

• Lack of capable guardian

• Motivated Offender

• Suitable Target

Social Control

Nothing to lose mentality. Commitment or attachment to conventional individuals and institutions stop humans from committing violent offences. Lack of social ties and attachments makes crime more likely. Communities that lack close bonds have higher crime rates. Ken Bianchi. And also Sany Hook offender shut off from neighbours and family.

Techniques of Neutralization

Criminals learn motivations and rationalizations to justify their behaviour.

1. Denial of Responsibility

2. Denial of Injury

3. Denial of Victim

4. Condemnation of the Condemners

5. Appeal to Higher Loyalties

Charles Manson Case Study

Film and music star turned cult leader. Didn’t actually kill anyone himself but is still regarded as a serial killer. Had reputation for trouble when younger (burning Christmas toys) - suffered assault in boys home and rejected by mother. Family members all middle class but suffered some kind of family problems. Believed in Helter Skelter (Race War)

Psychopathic vs psychotic

most killers are rarely clinically insane.

Psychotic means they experience delusions or hallucinations - not legally responsible and clinically insane.

Psychopathic is personality trait, treating as moral insanity .

Triarchis Model of Psychopathy

• Disinhibition (difficulties with impulse control, failure to think ahead, rapid thoughtless action and irresponsibility - main trait and can be combined with others as opposed to needing all three)

• Meanness (cold-hearted, rebellious, lack empathy for others, gain sense of power from being cruel to others, comes from nurture)

• Boldness (most overlooked, clam under pressure, self-assured, rapid recovery from stress, fearless dominance)

Psychopathic Checklist

Contains 20 items, measures based on personality, and history/lifestyle. each rated 0-2. Score out of 40 and need to have 30 to be considered psychopathic.

Pseudo-psychopaths

People who are “acceptable” psychopaths. Often CEO’s, doctors, and lawyers.

Is it treatable

No, according to Oak Ridge Unit, though that was later condemned as having been more torture than actual treatment

What is the diagnosis of most serial killers

ASPD

Other disorders

NPD (Narcissistic Personality Disorder) - Ted Bundy

BPD (Borderline Personality Disorder) - Jeffrey Dahmer

DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder) (previously multiple personality disorder) Billy Milligan

MAOA

Cause of psychopathic and antisocial behaviour may be genetic. MAOA also known as warrior gene - changes upon environment interaction and helps metabolize neurotransmitters for communication. Less MAOA or lack of it can result in aggression and criminal behaviour. Ted Bundy found to have lower levels.

Biological Factors

Never sole cause of crime