CJ 266 Deviance and Violence

Seminar 9

SEMINAR OVERVIEW

Welcome Punishing Serial Murderers Rehabilitating Serial Murderers Dispositions for Male vs. Female Serial

Murderers Preventing Serial Murderers from Killing

Issues with Serial Killer Trials

Intense Media Coverage Jury Selection Exceptional Cost Celebrity Status of Offender Support of Death Penalty

What is the best punishment option for a serial murderer and why?

Opponent Arguments for Death Penalty in Relation to Serial Murderers

Smaller risk of racial discrimination Extremely unlikely for an innocent person to

be executed for 7 or 8 murders Issue of intelligence and competency is

negated by fact that most serial offenders are normal or above average intelligence

How do we punish serial killers in states where the death penalty is not an option?

Is justice being served when a serial murderer serves multiple convictions concurrently?

How do we safeguard against violence in prison committed by an offender serving a life sentence with no chance of parole?

Rehabilitating Serial Murderers

Treatment—is this an option? Does this give them a chance to further

manipulate and control others? Should we allow greater accessibility to

incarcerated serial killers through establishment of special research programs and projects?

Disposition of Male Serial Killers after Apprehension

Disposition Percentage of Offenders

(N = 366)Prison sentence 43

Death penalty sentence 29

Pending in courts 7

Suicide 3

Killed before trial/apprehension 3

Confined to mental institution 3

Escaped 1

Now free 1

Disposition of Female Serial Killers after Apprehension

Disposition Percentage of Offenders

(N=58)

Prison sentence 66 (43 male)

Death penalty sentence 19 (29 male)

Pending in court 1

Killed before trial/apprehension 4

Confined to mental institution 5

**5% were never apprehended

What do you think accounts for the differences in dispositions between male and female offenders?

Preventing Serial Murderers

“People sometimes ask: what is the single most important recommendation that should be made from what we currently know about serial murder and our efforts to deter the phenomenon? Our knowledge is limited, but from the available data, reducing violence in the home appears to be the most significant action we can take to affect the circle of violence outside our homes.”

Do you agree with this assessment? Why or why not? 

WRAP UP

Any Questions/Concerns?

Thanks for a Great Term!