Crime Data Resources
Sample Solution
Case study: The case study I selected is the case of Gary Ridgway, also known as the Green River Killer. Ridgway was a serial killer who murdered at least 49 women in the Seattle area between 1982 and 1998. He was eventually caught and convicted of his crimes and is currently serving a life sentence in prison.
Would the crime be categorized as expressive or instrumental or a combination of the two? Explain your rationale.
I believe that Ridgway's crimes were a combination of expressive and instrumental. Expressive crimes are motivated by emotion, such as anger or hatred. Instrumental crimes are motivated by a desire to achieve a specific goal, such as money or power. In Ridgway's case, it is likely that both factors played a role in his crimes. He was reportedly abused as a child, and he may have killed his victims as a way of expressing his anger and rage. However, he also killed for financial gain. He would often sell the belongings of his victims, and he would sometimes use their credit cards to make purchases.
Full Answer Section
What influencing factors may have contributed to the subject’s crime or criminal behavior and why?
There are a number of influencing factors that may have contributed to Ridgway's crime or criminal behavior. These include:
- His childhood abuse: Ridgway was reportedly abused by his father and his stepmother. This abuse may have left him with a deep sense of anger and rage, which he may have expressed through his crimes.
- His personality: Ridgway is said to have been a shy and withdrawn child. He may have felt isolated and alone, which may have contributed to his violent behavior.
- His pornography addiction: Ridgway was addicted to pornography. This addiction may have desensitize him to violence and made it easier for him to commit murder.
- His criminal history: Ridgway had a history of petty crimes, such as theft and burglary. This suggests that he was already predisposed to criminal behavior.
How might the subject have rationalized their behavior?
Ridgway may have rationalized his behavior in a number of ways. He may have told himself that his victims were "asking for it" or that they deserved to die. He may have also told himself that he was doing the world a favor by killing these women.
Why might one person commit a crime while another person with a similar background does not? Explain your rationale.
There are a number of reasons why one person might commit a crime while another person with a similar background does not. These include:
- The individual's personality: Some people are simply more predisposed to criminal behavior than others.
- The individual's life experiences: The individual's life experiences, such as childhood abuse or neglect, can also play a role in their criminal behavior.
- The individual's access to opportunities: The individual's access to opportunities, such as education and employment, can also influence their criminal behavior.
- The individual's mental health: The individual's mental health, such as a personality disorder or substance abuse disorder, can also contribute to criminal behavior.
Would you have behaved in a similar way? Why or why not?
I cannot say for sure whether or not I would have behaved in a similar way to Ridgway. I believe that everyone is different and that we all have different experiences that shape our behavior. However, I can say that I am deeply saddened and disturbed by Ridgway's crimes. I cannot imagine the pain and suffering that he caused his victims and their families. I hope that one day we can better understand the factors that contribute to criminal behavior so that we can prevent future tragedies like this from happening.