Do Law Enforcement Officers Contribute to Crime? : Guest Blog by Adrienne Carlson

October 07, 2009

[Adrienne Carlson regularly writes on the topic of forensic science. She welcomes your comments and questions and can be contacted via email at: adrienne.carlson83@yahoo.com]

I must admit, I'm a fan of television series that feature detectives, forensic science, cops and robbers, and any other kind of whodunit mystery. So you can guess that Bones, Shark, Criminal Minds, CSI (the original and all the spin-offs), Numbers and various other shows are featured on my list of favorites. I also don't mind watching the re-runs - if I haven't caught the show on the original air date that is. It was one such re-run of Criminal Minds that raised the question in my mind – do law enforcement officers contribute to the perpetration of crime?

The incident in question featured a press conference by the spokesperson of the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit, which appealed to the public to provide information on a suspect based on a profile. For the perpetrator who is mentally deranged because of a trauma, the appeal triggers off another bout of killing, and the spokesperson feels that she is to blame for the murder. So, would you say that it was true and that cops and others in the law enforcement field are sometimes responsible, albeit by accident, for the perpetration of a crime?

In my mind, the answer is a definite no, unless the officer in question is directly responsible for the crime. They cannot be held responsible for doing their job, and if criminals go off on a tangent and go on another murderous spree because the cops were doing their job, then it's just another unfortunate incident that we have no control over.

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The truth is that crimes will be committed as long as there are inequalities in the world; the difference in status between the rich and the poor and the haves and the have-nots, the racist overtones that tinge strata in society and puts one above the other based on skin color, and various other inequalities. It has been proven that crime rates increase when the economy worsens and there is not enough money to go around. It is also a fact that a larger number of unwanted births and neglected children contribute to an increase in both petty and violent crime.

In their book Freakonomics, authors Steven D. Levitt and Stephen Dubner put forth the argument that crime rates fell significantly 12 to 15 years after abortion was legalized in the USA. The theory has been debated hotly but it is interesting nonetheless. When children who cannot be cared for because their mothers are unwed and poor are not born, there are no neglected teenagers to take the path of crime because they have nothing better to do.

So rather than blame the cops for the crimes being committed, society should realize that as long as inequalities exist, crimes will be around too.

Photo Credit: David Lohr

Please note that Investigation Discovery does not necessarily endorse any of the views expressed by guest bloggers and Investigation Discovery is not responsible for the information contained in guest posts.

Comments

[Ashley]

I don't believe that what law enforcement says about a suspect can be directly linked to his or her actions. They know what they doing is wrong, and that is why law enforcement is trying to find them. We often underestimate our law enforcement officers on when they give out information on particular crimes they need help with, but they know what they are doing and they only reveal items that they want the public to know that will not compromise the case.

[j.s.h.]

I agree Mrs. Carlson, whether or not a law enforcement official inadvertently leads to a criminal offender committing a crime (or series of them), the likliness that another trigger would have effected them is probable. (the repeat offender is going to repeat by nature as well as a trigger, and in such a case mentioned the perpetrator could have just used the spokesperson as a scapegoat to lessen guilt or divert responsibility) its true that while inequalities exist there will always be crime... its also true that in a world where basic passions exist, there will be crime. (since there can be several accounts of individuals in white collar positions commiting crimes of murder due to passion, greed or sociopathy, it cant be strictly rich versus poor or summed up as a social condition) Your article was nice..and i hope to see more from you. (each case should be examined individually, and in the unfortunate cases where police corruption is present, it shouldnt reflect negatively on law enforcement as a whole, because there are too many individuals with varying mentalities out there serving their perception of Justice.

[j.s.h.]

Ashley, often times they hold back certain pieces of evidence in order to rule out false confessors. (if there is a lot of publicity on the crime (s).) What they fail to realize is that in many instances ,the simple things they hold back Compromise the resolve of a Case, because putting the Right particulars into A scenario gives one more clarity, and ability to analyze properly. I do understand their actions from a more legalistic perspective though, in an age where you can literally dream up reasons to sue people in Tort court, or on negligence grounds, why bother sticking your neck out there to bring an end to something the media basically prospers from, selling shock and gore tales to people who either swim in it to understand/help or entertain themselves? Until society starts developing a more realistic attitude when it comes to such violence and criminal behavior, its likely to become a pale admirer of the sickness it overlooks.

[cheryl]

Oh, come on.
The little details that LE may hold back from the press have helped solve many a case. I highly doubt that what they do release to the press "triggers" another crime.

Is this article a joke? Seriously. And by the way, I mostly hate the press and am always suspicious of police, but this goes beyond the pale. Ridiculous.

[j.s.h.]

You need to re-read the article better , it was a questionaire intended to take consensus view on a matter, not a wild accusation against law enforcement. Didn't you notice the POLL at the bottom? ALso you should realize that while it isnt something done intentionally, there are instances in which offenders Blame Law Enforcement to divert responsibility for their actions. As was posted before....whether or Not a law enforcement official "feels" inadvertently responsible for said "trigger"... repeat offenders are going to repeat Regardless, because its part of their nature as Predators. I think it would also serve you equally well to read the emphasis in the last statement of this article..you know...the part that says "so instead of blaming cops for the crimes being committed, society should realize that so long as inequalities exist, crime will be around too."...then reconsider your statement in context.