This is an introductory tutorial about true crime Websleuths, an online forum that allows all of us to play detective. In prior tutorials, I've tried to help both crime writers and criminal justice students understand how, say, the FBI goes about investigations. This blog shows you the basics of how to participate in true crime Websleuths. Later blogs will get into how the popular site has evolved and some of the hiccups it's experienced. The … [Read more...]
Crim Justice Reform +’s, -‘s, unintended consequences
We heard from both sides of certain 2020's crim justice reform issues last Monday. Below are a couple of samples of the pros and cons of parole reform, one of the many controversial reforms proposed nationwide.After that, I've included an example of what reformers must consider when proposing and implementing reforms. The example pertains to bail reform, something that shares characteristics with parole reform. The comments and video describe an unintended consequence of bail reform in the … [Read more...]
Popular Culture and True Crime – Tutorial III – Why women are such true crime fans.
As part of our series on Popular Culture and True Crime, our final tutorial looks at why women seem such devoted true crime fans. Tutorials I and II dealt with the fascination with serial killer trading cards and murderabilia (the collection of mementos), respectively. While I've written about crime all my life, I wouldn't call myself a true crime fan. In fact, I'm new to podcasts and true crime radio and I rarely have time for true crime stories on TV. Writing's pretty time … [Read more...]
Popular Culture and True Crime – Tutorial II – Murderabilia.
In a recent blog (go here), I discussed the furor created by the creation of serial killer trading cards* back in 1992. A similar controversy has erupted over the growing practice of collecting artifacts and even bits of hair from those involved in serial killings. The controversy surrounding Murderabilia. It's an odd world where people collect and own bits of a stranger or infamous person, even if it's as innocent as a lock of … [Read more...]
‘40 Years a Prisoner’- Film about MOVE vs Philly Cops.
How well I remember the days leading up to what seemed like just another incident of conservative urban police officials not understanding evolving radical beliefs and ideologies of the time. I'd just finished grad school in West Philadelphia, but still got MOVE updates from friends I'd visited in the Powelton Village area in the 1970s. MOVE MOVE isn't an acronym. It's just the name of a Panther-esque revolutionary group that was anti-govt, anti-corp, and anti-tech. Called 'emselves … [Read more...]
Guess what special MO let a serial killer murder 93?
America's deadliest serial killer, Samuel Little, left a trail of 93 —maybe more— bodies...because of his special MO. I've written several blogs about serial killers, and my blog here is useful if you need some basics about this kind of multicide. It's not the same as mass murder or spree killings, for example. A special MO. How'd Little manage to get away with so many murders? He was smart, kept on the move, and used a method of operation (MO) that was difficult to investigate. Police use a … [Read more...]
Actress Loughlin Sentence – only 2 Months, a fine & community service.
Photo: Steven Senne, AP Loughlin & hubby sentenced to 2 and 5 mos. A judge formalized Lori Loughlin and her husband's lenient plea bargain Friday. As noted in another blog , they got "Justice Lite" as frequently happens with celeb offenders. Actress Loughlin Sentence. Loughlin was shown to have been less involved in the family's college cheating scandal. Thus, she got less time and a smaller fine than her fashion designer husband, Mossimo Giannulli. The famous … [Read more...]