2. The “CSI effect” Crime is everywhere Offenders are getting smarter
Is TV to blame?
Prof Craig Jackson Head of School of Social Sciences
Birmingham City University

3. Friendly Warning
This session involves discussions about crime and policing, including murder and serious assaults
If you feel uncomfortable or distressed, please feel free to leave the room
You do not need to ask permission
Nobody will make a fuss if you leave

4. Introduction Occupational Psychologist
Became interested in police are impacted psychologically & emotionally by their work
Developed expertise in serial murder investigation methods (the BTK case)
Investigated physical fitness of police officers
Studied the problems of “criminal profiling”
Studied “geographical profiling and crime linkage”
Conducts “psychological autopsies” of mass / spree killers

5. The Nightstalker Case Delroy Grant 18 attacks 1992-2009
John McGlynn 1 attack 1987
McGlyyn attempted to have his conviction quashed
Blamed his offence on Grant
Geographical profiling analysis of Grant’s crimes

6. Some criminal questions
What colour does blood look under UV light?
Blue Green Black Red
Q2.
How long does the fastest lab equipment available provide DNA analysis?
90 secs 9 mins 90 mins
Q3.
The official crime-trend in the UK: is it ?
Increasing Decreasing Staying same   

7. Some criminal questions
How many police officers are there in England & Wales?
127, , ,000
Q5.
Which group is at greatest risk of being murdered in the UK?
Infants Men Women 18-25
Q6.
What proportion of UK Police Officers are female?
2.8% 28% 48%   

8. Some criminal questions
What proportion of homicide victims are killed with a knife/sharp?
20% 36% 65%
Q8.
What is the most common motive for homicide (accounts for 50% of murders)?
Mental illness Theft Anger / Argument / Temper
Q9.
Where do most homicides occur?
Street Home Pubs/Clubs   

9. The CSI effect
People build up “knowledge” about crime and policing from TV & Media
This is not always accurate knowledge
People therefore have a faulty picture of crime and policing
e.g. Murder is much more rare than people believe
Golden age of crime TV

10. A “Plausible” CSI example in 8 steps
Chewing gum found at a crime scene (offender is unknown)
Field agent / detective takes picture of gum with mobile phone
Texts picture to forensic lab assistant
Lab assistant analyses picture to show lipstick residue on the gum
Isolates a unique lipstick profile from the picture
Searches secret federal database of lipsticks purchases and identifies a list of people who bought that lipstick in the last year (only takes secs)
Most likely suspect’s details and address texted back to field agent immediately
Arrest is made

11. The CSI effect is not new
Offenders / offences always influenced by media
BTK influenced by bondage and distressed women

12. The CSI effect: know your rights
I’m arresting you on suspicion of
you do not have to say anything
but it may harm your defence if you do not mention something
which you later rely on in court.
Anything you do say may be given in evidence
Against you

13. Death
Deaths in soap operas were almost three times more likely to be from violent causes than would be expected from a character’s age and sex
People with cancer have a better 5 year survival rate than soap characters
Mortality rate of characters in TV soaps are higher than bomb disposal experts and racing drivers
Crayford, Hooper & Evans (1997)

14. Other Misconceptions about Murder
Committed by strangers – most people who are murdered are killed by someone they know (partners / boyfriends / acquaintances)
Committed against women – most victims are male (69% in 2012/13 in England)
Committed against adults – the most at risk group are children under 1 year
Murder by guns – only 5% victims killed by firearms in England & Wales in 2012/13. The most common weapon was a sharp instrument (e.g. knife or broken bottle) – 35% of murders in 2012/13
The death penalty prevents murder – the murder rate per 100,000 people is higher in US states with the death penalty than the states which don’t have it

15. Hollywood Myths about Serial Killers
They’re dysfunctional loners
Don't change the way they kill as they develop
Travel far and wide when killing
Insane or evil geniuses
Are white males
Are motivated by sex
Cannot stop killing
Want to get caught
Attack at night
Always leave evidence behind
Only caught by being outsmarted
Have unique signatures / MOs
They’re recognizable by their appearance / behaviours

16. Serial Killer or Computer Programmer? #1
Bertrand Meyer

17. Serial Killer or Computer Programmer? #2
Anatoly Onoprienko

18. Serial Killer or Computer Programmer? #3
John W Mauchly

19. Serial Killer or Computer Programmer? #4
David Berkowitz

20. Serial Killer or Computer Programmer? #5
John Christie

21. Serial Killer or Computer Programmer? #6
Gerald Jay Sussman

22. Serial Killer or Computer Programmer? #7
Andrei Chikatilo

23. Serial Killer or Computer Programmer? #8
Ralph E Griswold

24. Serial Killer or Computer Programmer? #9
Philip Wadler

25. Serial Killer or Computer Programmer? #10
Randy Kraft

26. Criminal Justice System (CJS) Problems
Unreasonable Expectations of Juries / Jurors Juries set criminals free because jurors (who watched the CSI shows) expect a mountain of damming forensic evidence for every case
Educated Offenders Some offenders began to plant evidence incriminating other people based on what they had seen on TV
Educated hackers: There are concerns that the newest addition to the franchise – CSI Cyber – will have a similar impact on computer security

27. Stopping Serial Murder . . .
People from marginalized groups are the focus of serial killers
If we want to reduce victims of serial murder we need to treat those groups better
Gay people
Older people
Homeless
Immigrants
Sex workers
Children / Young people

28. Open Day Saturday 24th March
9am – 3pm