lali2002 asked this question on 3/5/2000:

Hi, I have to do a Research project on Serial Killers, im not sure how to start it, all i find is examples of them. Nothing really intresting. i was wondering if anyone can help with absolutely anything. I'm trying to maybe, discover something unknown, or simply a way to make my project different and unique. My thesis sentence is.. Although serial killers' actions stem from their early childhood, they should still be held accountable for their crimes. Any opinions, facts or ideas, will be really appreciated. Thanks Lali

clarka gave this response on 3/24/2000:

I recognize this exact thesis from my days as a Teaching Assistant, and vaguely wonder if you're in California: "Although serial killers' actions stem from their early childhood, they should still be held accountable for their crimes." This is actually two statements in one, which is why you're so confused.

"SK's kill because of their early childhood." "SKs should be held accountable for killing."

The first is by no means a proven fact. Certainly some SKs had bad childhoods; others had average or even "perfect" childhoods. If you want info on SK's, look at the FBI's Behaviorial unit; lots of books and articles written about the subject. Murder is sexy. Serial killers are dead sexy. People are sick if you ask me.

The second is sufficiently obvious to not really need commentary. Who wants SKs running around killing people? The question is what to do with them: kill them or lock them up? Curing SKs is problematic because of the certain fatal consequences if you think you've cured one and you're wrong.

This thesis is really asking a moral question which is very old in criminal justice. If all criminals were victims, and in fact became criminals because they were victims, shouldn't we treat criminals as victims instead of as criminals?

Both victims and criminals (and sadly enough, SKs) are human people. Personally, I think SKs have been so victimized and/or are so dangerous that they need to be killed so that the rest of us can live a bit safer. That doesn't mean I feel good about it when society executes one, any more than I feel good about putting a dangerous animal to sleep.

But if being an SK or a criminal in general is due to childhood abuse, suppressing child abuse becomes an extremely important part of preventing crime twenty or so years down the road. Funny how child abuse investigations are so underfunded and how most local laws focus so much on "preserving the family" that you can't take a kid away from abusive parents until the latter have already done their worst. Just remember that SKs are very special and rare cases, the very tip of the evil iceberg that is violent crime. Thank goodness.

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