The history of serial murder stretches into the beginning of humankind and beyond. While it was very easy for a crafty person to avoid punishment in the ancient times, modern forensic practice and investigation tools allow law enforcement agencies to rigorously and systematically prosecute murderers. Nevertheless, investigators can be limited because of the pressure that comes from the media and publicity. On the other hand, one can argue that the mass media do not have a significant impact on forensic actions and practices. However, the history of forensics demonstrates many ways in which law enforcement can be pressurized to limit its activity and affect its efficiency. Therefore, the media play a bigger role in the investigation of serial murders than it may seem.
Globalization of Serial Murder Investigation
Many factors determine modern forensic practices. Some of the factors include the increasing complexity of identifying and capturing the criminal. While it is much easier to apprehend delinquents than it ever was because of the steady development of surveillance and communications, it is complicated because of growing globalization. Borders are becoming less impenetrable, peoples mix and it is often not easy to spot unusual behavior at first sight. However, globalization does also affect investigations of serial murders in a positive way; it allows countries to share experience on the topic of investigating the cases of serial homicide. Therefore, forensic units are presented with a variety of different methods that originate from various countries and cultures.
For example, an article by Rossmo (2014), a former British detective inspector, presents the new method of narrowing the area in which the homicide has taken place (geographical profiling), and the method of closing the circle of suspects (psychological profiling). This is an excellent example of how experience exchange can benefit each participant. The primary influence that globalization has over the investigations of serial murders is that it can significantly reduce the efforts necessary to prevent such crimes or to solve the cases much faster. Therefore, globalization should be regarded as a decisive factor that contributes to forensic practices concerning serial crimes.
Serial Murder and the Media
While globalization pushes criminology and forensic practices to move forward, the media tend to decrease the effectiveness of any investigation. Primarily because the media benefit from attention, and law enforcing agencies often go out of their way to prevent the media from causing chaos amongst the community. Furthermore, the media often confuses the facts so that investigators are seen as not only dormant, but brutal in their actions as well. According to Fox and Levin (2015), “The interchangeable use of the terms “active shooting” and “mass shooting” by news coverage has created a good deal of public anxiety and confusion” (p. 9). Hence the assumption that the mass media activity can often result in the disruption of community’s well-being and overall quietude. Furthermore, the stress was caused only by mentioning shooting which is a relatively localized incident. When it comes to exaggeration of the facts concerning serial murders, people turn even more perturbed because of the unpredictable and unattached nature of such transgressions.
Additionally, media activity tends to create harmful stereotypes that negatively affect certain social groups. Besides, stereotypes are even more dangerous when they are based on some information that may draw a connection between serious crimes like serial homicide and the outcasts. Research by Allely, Minnis, Thompson, Wilson and Gillberg (2014) specifically dwells on the topic of media activity resulting in the discrimination of people who suffer from autism spectrum disorders or ASD. The paper concludes that the media reporting on serial murders or other violent crimes committed by people with ASD, in fact, creates harmful stereotypes. Thus, the community will most likely alienate ASD patients and other outcasts as well. This is especially crucial when taking the human factor into consideration. After all, investigators and law enforcement agents are a part of the community which may affect their judgments. To conclude, mass media may have a significant impact on the quality of investigations by confusing facts and spreading contradictory information, therefore creating anxiety throughout the community.
Conclusion
Serial murders are regarded as some of the most violent and intolerable crimes, and criminal and forensic sciences are constantly developing new methods of investigations to effectively identify and apprehend serial killers. However, while globalization actively contributes to the process, media activity is often much less useful. Although globalization processes not rarely lead to increasing a criminal activity, globalization is a force that pushes nations to cooperate and exchange experience in the field of criminology, often resulting in revolutionary means of investigation. In turn, mass media prove to be a more harmful factor that contributes to disrupting public order and distorting the information, which forces law enforcement agencies to limit media involvement in almost any case. More importantly, mass media tend to create harmful stereotypes by drawing questionable connections between social outcasts and their participation in crimes. Therefore, investigations are often affected by both factors – globalization and mass media alike. Nevertheless, the latter mostly results in the malfunctions of the law enforcement system.
References
Allely, C. S., Minnis, H., Thompson, L., Wilson, P., & Gillberg, C. (2014). Neurodevelopmental and psychosocial risk factors in serial killers and mass murderers. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 19(3), 288-301. Web.
Fox, J. A., & Levin, J. (2015). Mass confusion concerning mass murder. The Criminologist, 40(1), 8-11.
Rossmo, D. K. (2014). Geographic profiling. Encyclopedia of Criminology and Criminal Justice (Vols. 1-10). New York, NY, Springer-Verlag.