Serial Killer Rehabilitation
The intensity carried by the word serial killer sends chills down many people’s spines because of the fear these people bring to society. A serial killer is any person who kills more than three people for more than a month with a cessation period between the murders to cool off. Usually, serial killers kill their victims for psychological satisfaction and gratification. These serial killers enjoy not only the killing itself but every moment that leads up to the killing like stalking, capturing and torturing the victims before murdering them. The United States has seen a fair share of serial killers over time. Among the arrested serial killers is Reynolds, who had killed for 30 years. Before starting his serial killings, Reynolds was a boxer, nicknamed mad daddy. He later used his boxing skills to avoid the law when killing his victims. Reynolds would knock his victims out and then strangling them, preventing any obvious signs of a murder. In the more than 30 years he was active, Reynolds is confessed to 50 murders with the number suspected to be higher. As the government increases its capability to track and prosecute criminals, more serial killers have been arrested. However, the united states FBI estimates the country has around 50 active serial killers today. However, one question remains; can serial killers be rehabilitated. This paper argues that serial killers cannot be rehabilitated and should not make money off their life stories. The paper will also discuss how to prevent serial killers before they start.
Most of the serial killers have a psychopathic disorder. This disorder drives people to employ a combination of charm, manipulation, and intimidation or violence to control those close to them and satisfy their selfish desires. However, not all psychopathic people end up becoming serial killers. Some commit other crimes like stalking, raping, and other crimes that can be rehabilitated. Mental health experts claim that some psychopathic people cannot be cured (Fezzani, 2014). However, they can be taught how to manage and control their impulses and live a healthy life with constant interventions. Mental health experts also acknowledge that this is only possible for those with non-violent behaviors, which excludes a significant percentage of serial killers. Psychopathic people do not respond to punishment like other people do (Vasquez, 2013). Therefore another type of rehabilitation is recommended where they are tricked into obsessing on other things other than preying on their victims. Experts recommend a reward-based treatment where these individuals are given little privileges for their good behavior. Around one percent of all males have a psychopathic disorder. Additionally, only a small percentage of these people become serial killers while others control their impulses or show mild antisocial personality disorder. This answers the question of why serial killers cannot be rehabilitated.
Other than having tendencies of displaying violence, serial killers have different behaviors that are challenging to rehabilitate. First, serial killers disregard the law and social morals. It takes courage to stalk, capture, torture, and kill another person. Their behavior shows that they are not afraid to be caught, and the only reason they hide in disguise is to continue preying on innocent individuals. Their actions also depict the highest degree of disregard for the rights of others (Harmening, 2014). Even after killing their victims, serial killers do not feel remorse or guilt for their actions. Killing their victims provides them with a sick and twisted thrill, which encourages them to continue preying on society. These character traits make it hard for serial killers to be rehabilitated. The correctional and rehabilitation program depends on the individual’s feelings of remorse for it to be successful (Fezzani, 2014). When a person is fully rehabilitated, it means that he is remorseful of their actions and are likely to observe the lay in the future. However, according to mental health experts, the addiction to killing is hard to replace, making it challenging for these individuals to be rehabilitated.
Although serial killers cannot be cured of their psychotic behaviors, the question remains whether they should be rehabilitated. A case involving the serial killer Danny Rolling raised these concerns. The prosecutors claimed that when Danny Rolling was stalking his victims, he knew what he was doing, and when he killed them, it felt good. For many outraged public presents, in this case, rehabilitation of these individuals is not an option. Singer, a prosecutor in the case, said that capital punishment is implemented for such cases, and the jury made the right decision in recommending Danny to be executed (Fezzani, 2014). She also added that it is even worse than killing the victims made Danny feel good. Another person involved with the case, Slobogin, said that serial killers do not react to horrible situations as most of society does. He added that psychopaths function very successfully in society as a disguise to hide their manipulative and predator characteristics (Vasquez, 2013). They pretend to be charming to lower their victims’ guard and, in the end, kill their victims. Danny manifested the highest degree of psychopathic disorder. He not only tortured his victims but also mutilated their bodies then wiped his prints showing the highest level of intelligence.
A worrying trend with serial killers and other criminals is how they have been able to make money narrating their clime life. It has been a controversial subject with previous laws that prohibited criminals from making money by recanting their crimes. The Son of Sam laws in the past has been implemented on this issue. However, many courts, including the Supreme Court, have frequently dismissed these laws on the grounds of the first amendment (Wagner, 2011). The constitution has ruled these laws as unconstitutional for two reasons. First, the statute was too broad because it applied to any work that expressed the writer’s thoughts or memory of the crimes, despite whether or not the writer was accused or convicted. Also, the Supreme Court argued that expressing crime-related thoughts did not constitute a crime and should be protected by the First Amendment. Second, the laws were under-inclusive (Wagner, 2011). This is because it imposed a financial burden on those who express their thoughts, whereby excluding other incomes. However, regardless of whether a state has a formal Son of Sam laws, the victims and their families can file a civil lawsuit preventing the criminals from profiting from their crimes.
Furthermore, it is unethical for individuals profiting from causing harm to others, especially killing innocent civilians. Although the publisher’s or producer’s intentions may be ethical, the people who perpetrated the crimes should not earn a dime of their crimes. In a way, it would be encouraging those individuals who have been suppressing their urges to become serial killers to act on their urges. The publicity created by these publications is worrying, not to mention the added pain it causes the victims and their families whenever they read or watch these publications. Psychologists claim that when a victim is forced to remember what he or she went through, it lowers their healing processes.
Proactive action towards serial killers
Despite living in the 21st century with all the sophistication in technology and health sciences, identifying serial killers before they start killing remains a challenge. However, based on the serial killer characteristics identified by psychologists. It is possible to deter serial killer instincts in different developmental stages. Research shows that there are signs serial killers start to demonstrate at an early age, and therefore help can be offered. For instance, children who love watching others naked could act on this behavior in adulthood (Harmening, 2014). Second, children who love to torture and kill vulnerable animals also need psychological help. Lastly, the behavior of setting fire for fun without consideration of the parent’s reaction or the possibility of the fire causing damage suggests that the child enjoys watching things burn. If all these behaviors are identified and controlled at an early age, there is a possibility of preventing the child from becoming a serial killer=.
The other step involved older children and teenagers. During this age, young men start to develop romantic feelings towards girls of their peers. During this stage, another serial killer behavior can be identified. The act of stalking young girls either through the internet or physically following the individual suggests fear of rejection (LaBrode, 2007). Psychologists say that most serial killers who prey on women have issues with abandonment. Therefore, professional psychological help is necessary for these young adults. It will prevent them from acting on their insecurities in the future.
Lastly, government policies can help deter potential serial killers from acting on their impulses. First, imposing heavy sentencing to serial killers can scare potential serial killers from acting on their desires. Then the government should formulate policies that specifically prevent serial killers from broadcasting their crimes and benefiting financially in the process (Vasquez, 2013). Allowing serial killers to earn money from their crimes even after they are convicted will motivate potential killers to seek publicity. Lastly, the government should implement laws that require people with serial killer-like behavior to register as criminals with psychological problems. The policy has been effective with sex offenders and can have similar effects on serial killers. Registering these individuals will enable law enforcement agencies to monitor them constantly. It is also easier for these individuals to seek psychological help before developing to serial killers.
In conclusion, the United States has seen a fair share of serial killers. Serial killers stalk their victims, capture them, torture, and then kills them. The problem with serial killers is they don’t kill for financial or any gain but the thrill. Therefore, the standard rehabilitation process for other criminals cannot work on them. This is because they exhibit the highest degree of disregarding the law and societal morals. They have no respect for human rights and, even worse, they do not show remorse or guilt when caught. Therefore rehabilitating individuals who do not fear the law or punishment is challenging. Although the law has facilitated serial killers to benefit from recanting or telling their recollection of their crimes, it is unethical. Preventing potential serial killers from acting on their desires can be done in three steps. First, young children who love torturing and killing animals, setting fires, or watching others naked need psychological help. Second, teenagers and young adults who stalk their romantic crush can develop into serial killers and need psychological help. Lastly, policies that impose heavy sentencing and prevent serial killers from benefiting from their crimes will deter potential serial killers from acting on their urges.
References
Fezzani, N. (2015). Through the eyes of serial killers: Interviews with seven murderers. Dundurn.
Harmening, W. M. (2014). Serial Killers: The Psychosocial Development of Humanity’s Worst Offenders. Charles C Thomas Publisher.
LaBrode, R. T. (2007). Etiology of the psychopathic serial killer: An analysis of antisocial personality disorder, psychopathy, and serial killer personality and crime scene characteristics. Brief Treatment and Crisis Intervention, 7(2), 151.
Vasquez, S. (2013). Serial Killers: Capital Punishment for the Most Evil Crimes.
Wagner, M. (2011). Beyond the Son of Sam: Assessing Government’s First Tentative Steps Towards Regulation of the Third Party Murderabilia Marketplace. U. Cin. L. Rev., 80, 977.