Current Events > The decline of serial killers, includes longer prison sentences and porn

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https://www.discovermagazine.com/the-sciences/what-explains-the-decline-of-serial-killers

From the 1970s through the 90s, stories of serial killers like Ted Bundy and the Green River Killer both of whom pleaded guilty to killing dozens of women dominated headlines. Today, however, we see far fewer twisted tales in the vein of the Zodiac Killer or John Wayne Gacy.
After that three-decade surge, a rapid decline followed. Nearly 770 serial killers operated in the U.S. throughout the 1980s, and just under 670 in the 90s, based on data compiled by Mike Aamodt of Radford University. The sudden plummet came with the new century, when the rate fell below 400 in the aughts and, as of late 2016, just over 100 during the past decade. The rough estimate on the global rate appeared to show a similar drop over the same period. In a stunning collapse, these criminals that terrorized and captivated a generation quickly dwindled. Put another way, 189 people in the U.S. died by the hands of a serial killer in 1987, compared to 30 in 2015. Various theories attempt to explain this change.
In reality its not clear whether there truly was a surge of serial killing, or at least not one as pronounced as the data suggest. Advances in police investigation (for example, the ability to link murders more effectively) and improved data collection could help explain the uptick. That said, no one doubts that serial killing rose for several decades, and that rise fits with a general increase in crime. Similarly, everyone agrees on a subsequent fall in serial killing, and that, too, fits with a general decrease in crime. But where did they go?
One popular theory points out the growth of forensic science, and especially the advent of genetic approaches to tracking offenders. In a recent high-profile example of these techniques, police used DNA samples from distant relatives to identify Joseph DeAngelo as the Golden State Killer, decades after he killed 12 women between 1976 and 1986. The higher prospect of capture may deter potential killers from acting out.
Serial murder has become a more dangerous pursuit, says Thomas Hargrove, founder of the Murder Accountability Project. Because of DNA and improved forensics, and because police are now aware of the phenomenon, serial killers are more likely to be detected than they ever were. The awareness he refers to begins with late FBI agent Robert Ressler, who likely coined the term serial killer around 1980. Theres a power to naming something, Hargrove says.
Many researchers also cite longer prison sentences and a reduction in parole over the decades. If a one-time murderer or robber, for that matter remains behind bars longer, theyll have less of a chance to reach the FBIs serial threshold of two kills (or three, or four, or more, depending on who you ask).
Would-be murderers may also have succumbed to the absence of easy targets. James Alan Fox, a criminology professor at Northeastern University, says that these days people are generally less vulnerable, limiting the pool of potential victims. People dont hitchhike anymore, he says. They have means of reaching out in an emergency situation using cell phones. There are cameras everywhere.
Similarly, helicopter parents are more common than in generations past. Aamodt recalled his own childhood, spent walking or riding his bike unsupervised all over town. You wouldnt let your kids do that today, he says. As a result, a lot of the victims back in the 70s or 80s are almost impossible to find now. The predator starves when prey are scarce.
Its also likely that society has gotten better at detecting and reforming potential serial killers, especially in their youth. Often, Hargrove says, the early catalysts for serial murder (family dysfunction, sexual abuse) can be remedied by quality time with a child psychologist. He adds that pornography may quench the sexual impulses that often precede sexualized killings. Its possible that the sewer that is much of the internet is providing a non-violent outlet for these guys, he says.
Yet another theory speculates that serial killers didnt disappear, but rather transformed into mass shooters, who have skyrocketed in both numbers and prominence over the past three decades. Most experts agree, however, that the two profiles dont overlap enough. The motivation for a mass killer versus a serial killer tends to be different, Aamodt says.

With the right non harmful outlet a lot of crime vanishes, the people still exist but instead of being a problem for society they have a safe way to feed their urges.

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Did they really need to write a whole article just to say modern technology makes it way easier to get caught so its harder to serial kill?

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Millennials are ruining serial killers, heres how

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Proof that porn is good

Porn is a good outlet, the FBI said so

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To avoid any doubt, I am not a serial killer.

Yet.

EffectAndCause posted...

Did they really need to write a whole article just to say modern technology makes it way easier to get caught so its harder to serial kill?

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Thankfully it's because there is way more surveillance everywhere now. So that means that those psychos are less likely to act on their impulses.

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Porn posted...

To avoid any doubt, I am not a serial killer.

Yet.

Thanks to you experts hypothesize we have less serial killing.

It's definitely because of the DNA technology. Today's murderers are more one and done before they get caught, where as in the 70s and 80s you could go on weekly killing sprees for years and the cops were still trying to see which shoe matches that half-footprint he left in the mud.