Murder and Stalking Class 1 1

Administrative Give Quiz Journals will be returned and discussed at the end of class Mid-term Exam, Monday 10/15 at 8:30 p.m. in SCA 101

Review Serial killers are not as large a problem as most people think When serial killers are caught, it is usually luck and traditional police work Recent Example of Passing Laws too Quickly 3

Today Discussion of the UCR and your papers Murder Myths and Stereotypes Murder Variations Key Ideas from Today’s Class

Discussion of the UCR and your papers Where do you find the UCR? How do you find your data? What should you do when you find your data?

II. Murder Myths and Stereotypes Stereotypes and Myths about murder? Do homicide rates vary significantly between the USA and other countries? Examples

III. Murder Variations Why Such Sharp Differences? Lot’s of theories but little definitive evidence One difference for which there is clear evidence is the widespread availability of guns

III. Murder Variations U.S. homicide rate How does this compare to other types of violent death Vehicle accidents Suicide

IV. Key Ideas from Todays Class US Does have much higher homicide rates than most comparable countries Still cause fewer deaths than things we worry about less We have limited information on the role of guns in this

Next Time Stalking An example of a stalking case

Murder and Stalking Class 2

Administrative Return quizzes at the end of class Collect paper proposals

Review Many myths surround murder U.S. does have a higher murder rate than most comparable countries We are not sure of the reasons but one reason for which there is strong evidence is the widespread availability of guns

Today Creation of the Stalking Myth Defining and Measuring Stalking Legal Responses to the Stalking Myth Nature of Most Stalking Behavior Consequences of Criminalization The John Hinckley Story Key Ideas from Today

I. Creating the Stalking Myth Background of stalking and the law Focus on sensational celebrity cases Ability of celebrities to help create mythology Emotion-laden terminology 15

II. Defining and Measuring Stalking How is stalking defined? How should we define stalking? 16

III. Legal Response to the Stalking Myth Why the flurry of laws? 1989 there were no statutes This all happened in the absence of a precise definition and any analysis of the seriousness of the problem 17

IV. Nature of Most Stalking Behavior Hard to know how extensive it is without clear definition Researchers who find it extensive usually define it broadly Gender patterns Behaviors Most common stalking patterns

V. Consequences of Criminalization Stalking and other criminal charges Stalking and the power to arrest Stalking and punishment 19

VI. The John Hinckley Story Do you know who he is? Background The Jodie Foster Obsession

VI. The John Hinckley Story Attempts to get Foster’s attention The Assassination attempt Message to Foster before the attempt on Reagan

VI. The John Hinckley Story The trial The public reaction Hinckley since

VII. Key Ideas from Today Stalker Panic Not Justified by the Extent and Nature of the Problem Legal Responses poorly designed and do little to address the problem John Hinckley Story – Insanity Defense

Next Time Organized Crime