Crisis of Crime

Have you ever wondered why so many women are drawn to true crime? A 2018 study showed that 73% of true crime podcast listeners were women. Is it just a fun past time, or is there something deeper going on? Check out this episode to find out. 

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Sources for this episode:

• Boling, K., Hull, K. (2018). Undisclosed Information - Serial Is My Favorite Murder. Examining Motivations in the True Crime Podcast Audience. Journal of Radio & Audio Media. Retrieved from: https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=view_citation&hl=en&user=s-ErWzUAAAAJ&citation_for_view=s-ErWzUAAAAJ:u5HHmVD_uO8C
• Diaz, A. (2021). At least nine bodies have been discovered since September during the massive searches for Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie. Daily Mail. Retrieved from: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10112443/At-NINE-bodies-discovered-manhunts-Gabby-Petito-Brian-Laundrie.html
• McNamara, M. (2018) I'll Be Gone in the Dark. HarperCollins: New York, NY. 
• Milan, A. (2021). The racial bias of true crime: Why is murder marketed to white women? Metro.co.uk. Retrieved from: https://metro.co.uk/2021/01/01/the-racial-bias-of-true-crime-why-is-murder-marketed-to-white-women-13615372/ 
• RAINN. (2021). Victims of Sexual Violence: Statistics. RAINN. Retrieved from: https://www.rainn.org/statistics/victims-sexual-violence 
• Tuttle, K. (2019). Why Do Women Love True Crime? The New York Times. Retrieved from: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/16/books/review/kate-tuttle-true-crime-women.html

Criminological theories that have been labeled as 'radical' are often thought of as fringe theories or conspiracy theories. Are they really as radical as some would lead you to believe, or do they expose the realistic elements of American's shameful nature? Check out the episode to find out.

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Sources for this episode:

•Totenberg, N. (2021). Race, Drugs And Sentencing At the Supreme Court. NPR. Retrieved from: https://www.npr.org/2021/06/14/1006264385/race-drugs-and-sentencing-at-the-supreme-court 
•History.com Editors. (2021). Jim Crow Laws. History. Retrieved from: https://www.history.com/topics/early-20th-century-us/jim-crow-laws
•Madfis, E., Miller, J. M. (2014). The Encyclopedia of Theoretical Criminology. Blackwell Publishing. DOI: 10.1002/9781118517390/wbetc104
•Poortvliet, K. (2021). Postmodern Criminology: Definitions, Theory & Examples. Study. Retrieved from: https://study.com/academy/lesson/postmodern-criminology-definition-theory-examples.html 
•Gross, T. (2017). A ‘Forgotten History’ Of How The U.S. Government Segregated America. NPR. Retrieved from: https://www.npr.org/2017/05/03/526655831/a-forgotten-history-of-how-the-u-s-government-segregated-america 
•U.S. Const. amend. XIII 

The topic of abortion has been in the public eye recently, especially with Texas passing the Texas Heartbeat Bill (SB8). In this episode, I discuss the consequences of restricting abortion and what's at risk for Texas's future.

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Sources for this episode: 

• Donohue, J., Levitt, S. (2019). The Impact of Legalized Abortion on Crime Over the Last Two Decades. Becker Friedman Institute: University of Chicago. Retrieved from: https://bfi.uchicago.edu/wp-content/uploads/BFI_WP_201975.pdf 
• Donohue III, J., Levitt, S. (2001). The Impact of Legalized Abortion on Crime. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 116(2), 379-420. 
• Tarmann, A. (2000). New Study Claims Abortion is Behind Decrease in Crime. PBR. Retrieved from: https://www.prb.org/resources/new-study-claims-abortion-is-behind-decrease-in-crime/
• DOJ. (2021) Justice Department Sues Texas over Senate Bill 8. The United States Department of Justice. Retrieved from: https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/justice-department-sues-texas-over-senate-bill-8 
• Texas Heartbeat Bill, S.B.8, 87th Cong. (2021). https://capitol.texas.gov/tlodocs/86R/billtext/pdf/HB01500I.pdf 
• Rabin, R. (2021) Answers to Questions About the Texas Abortion Law. The New York Times. Retrieved from: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/01/health/texas-abortion-law-facts.html 
• Jagannathan, M. (2019). Nearly half of women who have abortions live below the federal poverty level. MarketWatch. Retrieved from: https://www.marketwatch.com/story/nearly-half-of-women-who-have-abortions-live-below-in-the-federal-poverty-level-2019-05-17 
• Levitt, D. (2004). Understanding Why Crime Fell in the 1990s: Four Factors that Explain the Decline and Six that Do Not . Journal of Economic Perspectives, 18 (1): 163-190. DOI: 10.1257/089533004773563485 
• Summers, J. (2014). Rich Kid, Poor Kid: For 30 Years, Baltimore Study Tracked Who Gets Ahead. NPR. Retrieved from: https://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2014/08/07/335285098/rich-kid-poor-kid-for-30-years-baltimore-study-tracked-who-gets-ahead 

2020 saw the largest single-year increase in the murder and non-negligent homicide rate... ever. This episode explores possible reasons for this spike, including motives and criminological theories.

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Sources for this episode:
• Eriksson, L., Mazerolle, P. (2013). A general strain theory of intimate partner homicide. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 18(5), 462-470. 

• FBI. (2021). Crime Data Explorer. Federal Bureau of Investigation. Retrieved from: https://crime-data-explorer.app.cloud.gov/pages/home 

• FBI. (2021). News: FBI Releases 2020 Crime Statistics. Federal Bureau of Investigation. Retrieved from: https://www.fbi.gov/news/pressrel/press-releases/fbi-releases-2020-crime-statistics 

• Fernandez, M. (2021). CDC: Suicides decreased in 2020. Axios. Retrieved from: https://www.axios.com/suicide-decreased-in-2020-pandemmic-mental-health-26196eaf-a245-4d21-85eb-eeb864a24449.html 

• Joiner, T.E., Lieberman, A., Stanley, I.H. and Reger, M.A. (2020), "Might the COVID-19 pandemic spur increased murder-suicide?", Journal of Aggression, Conflict and Peace Research, Vol. 12 No. 3, pp. 177-182. https://doi.org/10.1108/JACPR-05-2020-0502

•    Lucas, R. (2021). FBI Shows an Unprecedented Spike in Murders Nationwide in 2020. NPR. Retrieved from: https://www.npr.org/2021/09/27/1040904770/fbi-data-murder-increase-2020 

In this episode, I discuss the most popular theories of Feminist Criminology, as well as giving my opinion on what it is lacking - mental health awareness. 

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Venmo: @Rachel_Means
Cashapp: @RachelMeans89

Sources for this episode:
Cullen, F., Agnew, R., Wilcox, P. (2014). Criminological Theory: Past to Present (5th Edition). New York, NY: Oxford University Press. 
Cain, L., Gross, D. (2010). Healing Neen [documentary film]. USA: In the Hallow Films.

In this episode, I discuss the murder of Jeffrey Curley, not only how the crime happened, but also how it can be explained using the Routine Activities Theory - specifically the idea of capable guardianship. Additionally, I briefly discuss shared responsibility and revictimization in the criminal justice system. 

Website • YouTube • TikTok • Twitter • Patreon • Facebook 
Venmo: @Rachel_Means 
Cashapp: @RachelMeans89 

Sources for this episode: 
Karmen, A. (2015). Crime Victims: An Introduction to Victimology (9). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning. 
Macquarrie, B. (2009).  The Ride: The Jeffrey Curley Murder and Its Aftermath. Philadelphia, PA: Da Capo Press. 

In this episode, I discuss the regulatory bodies that were in place who failed to prevent the Bernie Madoff Affair, shared responsibility, and appropriate sanctions for all parties involved. 

My Links:
Website • YouTube • TikTok • Twitter • Patreon • Facebook
Venmo: @Rachel_Means
Cashapp: @RachelMeans89

Sources for this episode: 
Definition. (2017). Ponzi. Dictionary.com, Retrieved from: http://www.dictionary.com/browse/ponzi--scheme 
FINRA. (2009). FINRA Defends its Role in Madoff Scandal. Reuters, Retrieved from: http://www.reuters.com/article/us-madoff-finra-sb-idUSTRE50E0EQ20090115 
Gaviria, M. (Director). (2009). The Madoff Affair [online video]. United States. PBS International  
Moyer, L. (2009). How Regulators Missed Madoff. Forbes, Retrieved from: https://www.forbes.com/2009/01/27/bernard-madoff-sec-business-wall-street_0127_regulators.html
Schlegel, K., Weisburd, D. (1992). White-Collar Crime Reconsidered. Northeastern University Press. 
SEC. (2011). General Information on the Regulation of Investment Advisors. U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, Retrieved from: https://www.sec.gov/divisions/investment/iaregulation/memoia.htm 

In this episode, I discuss different theories that fall under the umbrella of white-collar crime, using former Enron executives as examples. If you are unfamiliar with the Enron Scandal, I would recommend watching the documentary, "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room" for a great overview. I briefly describe what happened, but not in great detail.

My Links:
Website • YouTube • TikTok • Twitter • Patreon • Facebook
Venmo: @Rachel_Means
Cashapp: @RachelMeans89

Sources for this episode:
Gibney, A. (Director). (2005). Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room [Motion Picture].
 Schlegel, K. & Weisburd, D. (1992). White Collar Crime Reconsidered. Northeastern University Press.

In this episode, I discuss the physiological factors that can help predict behaviors associated with antisocial personality disorder - or more commonly known as psychopathic behaviors.

My Links:
Website • YouTube • TikTok • Twitter • Patreon • Facebook
Venmo: @Rachel_Means
Cashapp: @RachelMeans89

Sources for this episode:
Cullen, F. T., Agnew R., & Wilcox P. (2014). Criminological Theory: Past to Present. New York, NY: Oxford University Press
Diffen. (2016). Fraternal Twins vs. Identical Twins. Diffen. Retrieved from http://www.diffen.com/difference/Fraternal_Twins_vs_Identical_Twins
Etkin, A. (2015). Different mental disorders linked to same brain-matter loss, study finds. Stanford Medicine. Retrieved from: https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2015/02/different-mental-disorders-cause-same-brain-matter-loss.html
Farlex (2016). Medical Dictionary. The Free Dictionary. Retrieved from http://medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Parahippocampal+place+area 
Kendler, K. S., Lönn, S. L., Morris, N. A., Sundquist, J., Långström, N., & Sundquist, K. (2014). A Swedish National Adoption Study of Criminality. Psychological Medicine, 44, p. 1913-1925. https://www-cambridge-org.ezproxy.bu.edu/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/18BF148FC7DD248D2ACB5428ECEA6306/S0033291713002638a.pdf/a-swedish-national-adoption-study-of-criminality.pdf
MayoClinic. (2021). Antisocial Personality Disorder. Mayo Clinic. Retrieved from: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/antisocial-personality-disorder/symptoms-causes/syc-20353928
Niv, S., Ashrafulla, S., Tuvblad, C., Joshi, A., Raine, A., Leahy, R., Baker, L. (2015). Childhood EEG Frontal alpha power as predictor of adolescent antisocial behavior: A twin heritability study. Biological Psychology, 105: 72-76 

In this episode, I discuss the radial new approach taken by the Missouri Division of Youth Services (aka the Missouri Model) in an attempt to rehabilitate juvenile offenders. Learn more here: http://missouriapproach.org/

Sources for this episode:
ABC News. (2009). A New Model for Juvenile Justice [Video File]. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ExPSUl8-hVU&feature=player_embedded
Mendel, R. A. (2010). The Missouri Model: Reinventing the Practice of Rehabilitating Youth Offenders. Baltimore, MD. The Annie E. Casey Foundation.
Aizer, A. & Doyle, J. (2015). Juvenile Incarceration, Human Capital, and Future Crime: Evidence from Randomly Assigned Judges. The Quarterly Journal of Economics, 130(2), 759–803.
Thompson Reuters. (2017). Juvenile Delinquents. FindLaw. Retrieved from: http://criminal.findlaw.com/juvenile-justice/juvenile-delinquents.html
Welsh, W. N. & Harris, P. W. (2016). Criminal Justice Policy and Planning: Planned Change. (5th ed.). (pp. 117-127). New York, NY: Routledge. 

My Links:
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Venmo: @Rachel_Means
Cashapp: @RachelMeans89