May 14th, 2010 by Sarah Ward
Is TV Making Criminals Smarter?
We’ve all watched shows like CSI in which we witness the crime, investigation, and evidence which leads to the conviction of the criminal, all within the hour. While not entirely realistic, investigators are beginning to wonder if watching these types of crime scene investigation shows are actually making criminals smarter.
Pittsburgh police Sgt. Paul McComb, the head of the department’s crime unit, believes TV is changing the way that criminals behave because they’ve become aware of what evidence can be connected to them through criminal investigation TV shows. “These suspects are very cognizant about what they’re doing and what evidence they’re leaving behind,” McComb says. “Most of them are already very cunning, but CSI and other shows show them how to be better.”
With rapists reportedly wearing gloves and having their victims shower to remove DNA evidence, the FBI’s calculations show that the number of rape cases being solved by the police have gone down in the last ten years. While 51.3% of rapes were solved a decade ago nationwide, in 2005 the number had decreased to 41.3%. The numbers support Sgt. McComb’s belief that TV is making criminals smarter. “When the secrets get out about how we solve crimes, the criminals change their habits.”
If criminals are becoming smarter, then law enforcement need to be as well. With over 40,000 projected job openings and faster than average growth projected for this industry over the next decade, charting a career as a police detective is an excellent choice. Be part of the solution and learn more about a criminal justice career today!
Tags: criminal justice career, csi effect, fbi statistics rape cases solved by police, sgt paul mccomb, tv is making criminals smarter
Posted in Criminal Justice | 1 Comment »
April 30th, 2010 by Sarah Ward
The LAPD are hunting a real life “Jason Bourne” who gave them the slip last week. After smelling smoke, a neighbor called the fire department 11 days ago who knocked on the door and called the LAPD when the inhabitant of the apartment was unresponsive. The cops used a battering ram to break down his penthouse door and saw the suspect escape through a back window and flee through the fire escape with several duffel bags in tow. LAPD Deputy Chief Mike Downing from the counter-terrorism Bureau told the LA Times, “He escaped like Jason Bourne.”
The police found counterfeiting equipment, multiple forms of identification (including passports), weapons, ammunition, narcotics, and $15,000 worth of counterfeit bills. Things got even more interesting when detectives on-site realized the penthouse had a clear view of the U.S. Federal Reserve building across the street. For the last week, police have been searching for 33-year-old New Jersey native, Brian Alexik, though they’re not sure that’s even his real name.
If you’ve been following every new development of this real life Jason Bourne on the loose and are itching get in on the action, consider a a career in criminal justice. A criminal justice degree program can lead to an exciting career as a police officer, FBI agent, and Secret Service agent. Click here to learn more about a criminal justice career.
Tags: become a secret service agent, criminal justice career, criminal justice degree program, real life jason bourne brian alexik
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July 29th, 2009 by admin
Cops. You either love ‘em or you hate ‘em. But has society painted them with too broad of a brush? Are all New York City cops tough-talking and all tiny town cops patriarchal heroes?A recent study by Springfield College decided it was time to put all the stereotypes to rest.
They surveyed 830 randomly selected cops using The Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire Scale to get to the bottom of things.
- The majority of those surveyed categorized themselves as a “Typical Cop” with qualities like self-discipline, social boldness, extroverted and emotionally tough.
- Traffic officers and deputies shared many characteristics such as high energy, dominance, independence, spontaneity, socially flexible and free from anxiety-related behaviors.
- Previous research has used the MMPI as a test to determine psychological characteristics of police officers, and it was suggested that the MMPI was the most commonly used psychological test of law enforcement officials and that research on psychological assessment of police officers is so mixed that it may even be questionable to advance generalizations about possible discriminating characteristics.
- A similar study found a wide variety of behaviors between police officers from different departments. The interpersonal skills of community college law enforcement officials were rated higher than major university and inner-city police officers.
- Police officers as a group tend be more homogenous than other career groups. They tend to be cheerful and outgoing with a strong interest in practical matters.
- Female participants were also found to be more likely to present a good impression of themselves, to be less depressed, to be more psychologically mature, more assertive and more aware of the needs of others as compared to the normative population data.
Does this list sound like a comprehensive rundown of you or someone you know? It may be time for a Criminal Justice career!
Tags: cop stereotype study, cops, criminal justice, criminal justice career, criminal justice degree program, personality traits associated with cops
Posted in Career, Criminal Justice | No Comments »