Global Issues In Serial Killers

A “serial killer” is defined as a person who murders two or more people over a period of time, usually to satisfy an uncharacteristic psychological pleasure. Serial murders are crimes that occur not only here in the United States; rather, these crimes are observed all across the world. Serial murders occurring in countries such as Russia and China are rarely heard of due to restrictions placed on media outlets within those countries. Here in the United States, the media has a tendency to glorify serial killers and to sensationalize the acts they commit.

Global issues in serial murder are defined and viewed differently in other countries. Cultural differences influence the methods and motives for serial murder. Further, serial-murderer profiles

Retaining evidence for longer periods of time is also another important issue faced by police departments. Departments eventually will be required to implement policies that will demonstrate best practices in the field of law enforcement.

Training is an ongoing problem departments have to address as budgets tighten. “Complex homicide investigations, especially those involving serial murder cases, depend upon the experience and abilities of investigators to effectively conduct the investigation” (Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2005).

We as a society have an insatiable appetite for movies and television shows depicting serial killers who provide shock, trauma, and gore in the acts that they perpetrate. It is because of the media that these killers receive the acknowledgement they do, according to Mark Seltzer, author of widely acclaimed 1998 book, "Serial Killers: Death and Life in America 's Wound Culture." Seltzer noted that the media coverage surrounding a serial killer was overwhelmingly extensive. He posited that the volume of news stories, biographies depicting the killer’s crimes, and movies developed have made serial killers a “household name”. As a result, serial killing has become more of a career option rather than a criminal

Police and media relations are mutually beneficial when the police receive a positive image from the media’s reporting of their actions and, in return, the media receives information in a timely manner, thereby providing them with increased ratings. Criticism develops as the public begins to see that the police may not be as effective as the media portrays them to be. The media tends to play both sides of the fence with regard to the way in which they portray police in television crime dramas and how they are portrayed in daily news articles. This brings about criticism from the public when police are shown to be ineffective or incompetent, which then causes law enforcement to lose the public’s favorable view.

In conclusion, the question remains as to why society has such a fascination with the serial killer. The media clearly carries an influence in sensationalizing the serial killer and in failing to recognize him/her as a murdering monster, not a folk hero. In light of this culture, it is up to law enforcement to continue to hone their skills and abilities through ongoing training, networking, and the unremitting updating of technology. Additionally, further creation of relationships with the media and the public will only assist the investigator in the successful apprehension and