Copycat crimes

Copycat crimes are criminal acts that are modeled on previous crimes that have been reported in the media.

Research on etiology of copycat crimes

It has been shown that most of the persons who do mimic crimes seen in the media (especially news and crime movies) have in most cases prior criminal records, prior severe mental health problems or histories of violence suggesting that the effect of the media is indirect (more affecting criminal behaviour) rather than direct (directly affecting the number of criminals). It has also been seen that there is certain small population of people who are at more risk for harmful media influences than the general audience.

Statistics

• United States cities by crime rate

See also

• Crime mapping
• Fear of crime
• Gun violence
• Hate crime
• Insanity defense
• Sex crime
• Social policy
• Victimology

References

External links

• Copycat Crimes
• Copycat Effect (Anecdotal article that discusses how sensational coverage of violent events tends to provoke similar events - not research based)
• The Copycat Effect (New York: Paraview Pocket-Simon and Schuster, 2004) Advertizement for a popular non-research based book The Copycat Effect