269 Crime Essay Topics to Write about & Crime Topics to Research


Serial murder crime though rare, is not a a new phenomenon. This crime has been committed for centuries and will continue to be a crime that is committed throughout the world. It is unfortunate and scary that this is probably one of the most serious of crimes that cannot be prevented. According to the U.S. Department of Justice, serial murderers commit their crimes because they want to. Rehabilitation is not obtainable for serial killers due to their inability for remorse and empathy, or to see people as people and not objects(Knight 2006). This research paper will focus primarily on serial murder within the U.S. First and foremost, a legal definition provided by the U.S. Department of Justice will be presented to set forth the discussion of this research paper. As follows will be a detailed discussion explaining serial killer typologies with the use of examples of known serial killers in the U.S. Types of serial killers are: power oriented, mission oriented, visionary, and hedonistic, each typology will be clearly defined and explained. Some serial killers can have a mixture of each typology’s characteristic. Serial killers that will be discussed and used as examples to represent the content of this research paper will be, John Wayne Gacy, Ted Bundy, Robert Berdella, Jeffery Dahmer, and lastly the most prolific serial killer in American history, Gary Ridgeway. Problems with studying serial killing, are that because of rarity and access. Most of what we think
Around 1900, Ferri gave a series of lectures critiquing social control policies derived from classical and neo-classical theory. What is most remarkable about those lectures is that, considered from the vantage point of scholars at the end of the twentieth century, the arguments then were little different from public debates today about what are the most effective means of controlling crime. The debates today pit those espousing rational choice theories of crime (control and deterrence theories being the most popular versions) against what still might best be called positivistic theories. To be sure, contemporary positivistic criminology is considerably different from the theories of Gall and Lombroso. Modern criminologists do not explain law-violating behavior using the shapes of heads and body forms. Yet there are still those who argue that biological traits can explain criminal behavior (Wilson and Herrenstein 1985; Mednick 1977), and still others who focus on psychological characteristics. But most modern criminologists are sociologists who focus on how social structures and explain criminal behavior. What all of these modern positivists have in common with their predecessors Gall, Lombroso, and company, is that they share a belief that human behavior, including crime, is not simply a consequence of individual choices. Behavior, they argue, is ”determined” at least in part by biological, psychological, or social forces. The goal of modern positivist criminologists is to unravel the combination of forces that make some people more likely than others to commit crimes. Violent crimes happen every day in America, yet the full scope of why and how they happen are not understood by many outside of law enforcement. But within the ranks of law enforcement and the criminal justice system itself, violent crimes are examined and analyzed at length to determine both how and why the incident occurred, as well as what can be done in the future to prevent a similar event from reoccurring. Investigators use multiple methods and seek various explanations as to why a violent crime occurs. This literature will look at some of those things that investigators try to sort out in the aftermath of a violent crime, such as the killer’s modus operandi and signatures, his psychology, relation to his victims, and how the effect of gender, race, or culture might impact his violent behavior. Crime occurs every day, all over the world. Most crime is unreported or is unknown to the vast majority of the populations. Over time, crime has grown to become a normal part of society and typically people are not surprised to hear that a crime has been committed. Most crimes are dealt with and forgotten, however a few crimes grab the media’s attention and are highly publicized, ultimately giving the criminal their 15 minutes of infamy. Ted Bundy was one of these criminals. Bundy was a law student in Utah and during the 1970’s, he assaulted, raped and murdered at least 30 known women with some criminologists suspecting as high as nearly 100 victims. The tactics he used along with the extent of his killings is how Bundy acquired his long lasting infamy and notoriety as one of America’s top 10 most wanted during his time. Our true focus here is explaining why these murders occurred; truly understanding the motivation behind Bundy’s actions and finding the roots of causation which could lead a person to commit such serious crimes. Today the research of sociological criminologists focuses on three questions: What is the nature of crime? How do we explain crime? What are the effects of societies’ attempts to control crime? Approaches to answering these questions vary greatly, as do the answers offered by criminologists. For example the first question, what is the nature of crime, can be answered by detailing the characteristics of people who commit crimes. Alternatively, one can challenge the very definition of what crime, and consequently criminals, are. In an attempt to answer this question, some criminologists focus on how much crime there is. But of course, even this is a difficult question to answer because there are many ways to count crime, with each type offering different and sometimes seemingly conflicting answers. Crime has always been a guilty pleasure of society. A horrendous crime raises questions in the human mind: Who could do something like this? What happened to the culprit? What was the motive?
Terrible acts awake our curiosity. Sometimes we hate the culprit, sometimes we hope they get away. Crime has been around for a long time, as has reporting news and . If merged we get something referred to as true crime or true crime fiction. An author telling the story of a true crime but telling it the way a work of fiction would tell it. The authors research the facts, talk to witnesses, the police etc. The questions that arise when reading these works: How true is true crime fiction? And Where do fact and fiction merge?
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What are good argumentative topics in crime/criminal justice ..

Introduction The Labianca Murders stand as a chilling testament to the dark underbelly of human nature and the realm of true crime. This essay delves into the harrowing events surrounding the Labianca Murders, shedding light on the heinous crimes, their impact on society, and the enduring fascination they hold in the annals of criminal history. The Labianca Murders Unfold On the night of August 10, 1969, the Manson Family, a cult led by the enigmatic Charles Manson, unleashed a wave […]

122 Crime Research Topics & Essay Examples - LawBirdie

True crime media can also be used to educate the public on topics such as safety, crime prevention, and recognising warning signs of criminal behaviour. These teachings can help to create a safer society by empowering people to protect themselves and their communities.

Locating the Heart in True Crime: A Craft Essay, by Aimée Baker

Students interested in learning more about the ethics around the true crime genre can check and search under Journalism for J-397 Media Ethics.

Crime Essay Topics & True Crime Research Topics - Pinterest

Now, we probably don’t want to send our middle-school students out into the worldwide web to research kidnappings or grisly murders (unless you want angry calls from parents when their kid wakes up with nightmares), but there are plenty of true-crime stories that just aren’t that scary at all:

Crime Essay Topics & True Crime Research Topics

By following the tips provided, including narrowing down your topic, considering relevance, and evaluating source availability, you’ll be well-prepared to write a paper that informs and contributes to the ongoing discussions in criminal justice. And remember, the best research papers don't just summarize—they offer fresh perspectives and engage with counter-arguments, resulting in a nuanced, thought-provoking final product.