Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Crime Updates

  •  Timothy Lambesis the lead vocalist for As I Lay Dying pleaded guilty to hiring someone to murder his wife according to ABC News. Lambesis’ bail has been set at 2 million dollars prior to his sentencing on May 2nd. As I Lay Dying was nominated for a Grammy in 2008. The Associated Press released this story.
  •          The Florida Times Union reported that Fifth Third Bank Vice President Christopher Boston has been charged with embezzlement. Boston stole 10.5 million dollars, which he kept for himself and gave to customers as well. Boston used the money to pay his 2,000-dollar monthly mortgage payment and build a swimming pool in his backyard.
  • According to the Bucks County Courier Times, Derrick Carroll and Kevin Fant pleaded guilty to robbery. Carroll and Fant robbed two Bristol Township convenient stores at knifepoint in the same night. Carroll was sentenced to 1 ½ to 3 years for his involvement while Fant received a 2 to 4 year sentence for carrying the knife during the thefts.

Sunday, February 23, 2014

Crime in the News


  •            The New York Daily News reported that Craig Michael Wood, a middle school football coach in Missouri, has been charged with first-degree murder after kidnapping 10-year-old Haley Owens. The body of Owens was found at Wood’s home along with several pornographic photos of young children. This story is an Associated Press release.
  •        According to a Colorado Springs Gazette article, Max Glauben an 86-year-old Holocaust survivor had his memorabilia stolen by thieves. Items belonging to Glauben include pictures with renowned writer Elie Wiesel and President George W. Bush. The paper cited a Dallas Morning News Article.
  •      A study conducted by Matthew Ranson of Abt Associates, a research and consulting firm in Cambridge Mass, concluded that climate change leads to an increase in crime according to a Los Angeles Times report. This study also implies that global warming will lead to more crimes in the future.

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Recent Crime Developments

  •   USA Today reports that police officer Michael Dunn was not convicted of the first-degree murder of Jordan Davis. The jury did not reach a conviction due to disagreement over whether Dunn acted in self- defense. The article cited an ABC News interview with a juror
  • According to NBC Connecticut, police have arrested 19-year-old Erica Anderson in connection to an arson case at a Target in the Enfield Shopping Center. Anderson does not have any prior arrests but is said to have mental health issues following the birth of her child ten months ago. She faces second-degree arson charges.      
  • International fugitive Pedro Cerritos Seriteno has been captured and extradited to the DuPage County Jail in Illinois according to the Doings Weekly. Seriteno fled to Mexico after being found guilty of a sexual assault charge in 2008. The article referenced a press release from the DuPage County Sheriff’s Office.

Sunday, February 16, 2014

Crime Investigation Overview

My topic consists of identifying and investigating criminal activity. In this discipline, it is vital to consider recent trends in crime in order to prevent future crimes. Many criminals repeat previous behavior or resemble other people when committing crimes. The key for investigators is to be one step ahead of offenders and anticipate their next move.

The history of crime investigation dates back to ancient times. In the early days, detectives often developed an interpretation of the events without any concrete evidence. Nowadays, with the development of fingerprints and DNA perpetrators can be placed at the crime scene. Criminals must be linked to the scene of the crime to reach a guilty verdict.

People are affected by crime not only by being victims. Victims themselves or immediate family members obviously suffer the most as a result of a crime. Yet, crime affects everyone. It dictates what neighborhoods people choose to live in as well as property value. Some form of violent crime occurs everywhere even in the safest areas.

Different categories of crime determine the type of investigation that ensues. In a murder case, investigators would examine the scene for fingerprints and blood spatter. Analysis of arson begins with inspecting the scene for accelerants. Police observing a burglary site look for signs of forced entry and take into account property that may have been stolen.

The main subject associated with crime study is criminal justice. This concern deals with trying to deter or minimize crime. The subfield pertaining to the topic is forensic science. Forensic science is vital in gathering evidence and finding the person responsible for the crime. The legal process also is influential as it decides the fate of criminals.


Monday, February 10, 2014

Crime Comes to A Cold Halt

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/indiana-cops-brutal-winter-has-reduced-crime/

This article discusses how crime has decreased in Gary, Indiana due to recent snow storms. Snowfall has helped keep criminals off the streets which has translated to record lows for violent crimes such as: robbery, homicide, and burglary.

The main aim of CBS news is to notify the public of recent developing stories of interest or valuable information. The website will cover anything newsworthy in the national or international landscape.

This Associated Press posted this story and it appeared in several newspapers. This news agency is owned by several newspaper, radio, and television stations and has thrived since its inception in 1846. Many people deem the Associated Press to be very accurate in their reports.

The information in the article was published on February 9th, 2014. The only link in the article does work and the website obviously seems up to date. Recent information is significant to the topic since it the article analyzes a recent trend in crime and weather.

Facts in the article come directly from the local police departments in interviews with law enforcement representatives. The Munster Times specialize in local news which would make them a reliable source for crime statistics in the area.

Point of view is not expressed to much in this article. The writing adheres to the standard Associated Press writing. Facts and quotes are gathered and the writer does not have any bias or opinion.

The facts provided in the statements made by police officials are insightful and useful to give the reader an idea of the extent of the weather's effects on crime. However, I feel some statistics about the weather  should be included as well.

Only one source is given outside of the interviews conducted. The Munster Times appears to be a good source to consult for crime in the area. Each of the police chiefs and spokesman interviewed have expert knowledge regarding violent crimes in their jurisdiction.   (http://www.nwitimes.com)

I found in this article that harsh winter can have a drastic effect on crime rate even in violent areas like Gary, Indiana. I would recommend this article to be published as the influence snow has on crime is not considered by many including myself prior to reading this article.