Nitya Marimuthu
Pronouns:
Research Mentor(s): Albert Hawks Jr
Co-Presenter: Farland, Gillian
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Sociology / LSA
Presentation Date: April 20
Presentation Type: Oral5
Session: Session 2 – 11am – 11:50am
Room: Breakout Room 1
Authors: Nitya Marimuthu, Gillian Farland, Albert Hawks, Karina Lopez
Presenter: 2
Abstract
Although the United States possesses one of the most efficient criminal justice systems in the world, the existence of crime remains prominent in our society. By examining demographic and structural variables through coded statistical analysis, the research project aims to conclude whether there are specific societal influences which cause homicidal tendencies and whether police investigations are influenced by surrounding factors. The research is two-fold – one sub-project gathers census data relating to the general population as well as police funding in order to narrow down the factors which connect to a large number of cold case developments. The other branch of the research evaluates the presence of certain factors in serial killers and family annihilators. If strong correlations are found between the number of cold cases and police setting, the results could suggest that certain factors in a community (racial makeup, poverty, education level) affect the police department’s ability to solve cold cases. Results in the other branch of the project might suggest that there are social factors that contribute to homicidal tendencies, meaning that there is a level of community prevention that can take place. The results of these two branches will prove invaluable due to the contribution to the development of the relatively new criminology subfield. Further, specific factors found to influence either police units in their ability to solve cold cases or the future development of serial killers could play into policy. Preventative measures would be vital in vulnerable communities to avoid the development of homicidal figures. Police departments could face radical reforms in order to mitigate cold cases and biases in related fields of investigation.
Social Sciences
