Crime Scene Staging - Essay Example

Research Proposal: Crime Scene Staging al Affiliation Criminals engage in crime scene staging to cover up their motives. Determining whether a crime scene has been staged or not is not usually an easy task. It does not only require in depth knowledge of the nature of the crime but also how the criminal may have been thinking. This research uses a quantitative approach to explore the relationship between mental status and violent behaviour based on a randomly selected sample population. Introduction Crime scene staging is purposeful and deliberate behavior that is done to mislead investigators who are trying to unravel the truth behind a crime. Criminals engage in crime scene staging to cover up their motives. Suicides, accidents, interrupted robberies, burglary, murder and sexual homicides are some of the commonly staged crimes (Coon & Mitterer, 2008). Crime scene staging has been reported in almost all towns and cities. When carrying out investigations, forensic physiologists play a key role in helping determine the nature of the crime and the motivation of the offender. When forensic psychologists provide such information, it is possible for the investigating team to know whether crime scene has been staged. Ezzy (2013) states that determining whether a crime scene has been staged or not is not usually an easy task. It does not only require in depth knowledge of the nature of the crime but also how the criminal may have been thinking. It is for this reason that forensic psychologists engage in criminal profiling to obtain the right information that can be used to detect staging. One of the major issues that requires attention is the mental wellbeing of the person engaging in a crime. The criminal’s health mental status is known to affect how they behave in their everyday lives including at the time of the crime (Cardwell & Flanagan, 2003). As such, forensic psychologists are required to have an in-depth understanding of the relationship that may exist between the offenders’ mental health and the criminal act that they engage in so as to determine if there is any form of crime scene staging. Purpose of the study This study seeks to address the issue of crime scene staging by assessing the kind of relationship that exists between mental health disorder and deviant or aggressive criminal acts. At times, criminals and offender engage in acts and activities that in one way or the other misdirect the investigations. However, investigators have to go around such obstacles to ensure that the come to the right conclusions (Schindler, 2014). The present research will therefore help determine the relationship that exists between aggressive acts and mental wellbeing. Research question and hypotheses Research Question In order to achieve the objective of the study, the research question below will be helpful. Are people with mental health disorders more likely to engage in deviant and aggressive acts compared to those who are mentally healthy? Hypotheses HO: Individuals or people with mental health disorders engage in deviant and aggressive criminal acts as compared to those who are mentally healthy. H1: Mental health of the offender affects proper investigation Theoretical framework The topic of crime scene staging and mental health status is a very complex one due to the existence of other factors that also tend to influence engagement in criminal acts. As such, this research will employ the positivist approach to explore the topic of study and to fully answer the formulated research question. The study will use the positivist approach by utilizing only two variables to explore the relationship that may be existing between mental health status and criminal acts. This way, it is will be possible to draw a correlation between the two without letting all the other possible factors impact on the results obtained Operational definition To be able to fully define the variables that are to be used in the research, there is need to operationalize the parameters to be measured. The independent variable for the study will be the mental status of the participants. To effectively capture the independent variable, the study will determine the mental wellbeing of each of the persons taking part. This will help determine whether the person is mental ill or mentally upright based on medical evaluation. On the other hand, deviant and aggressive criminal acts will involve acts and behaviour that involve use of force to harm another person (Rueve & Welton, 2008). Literature Review Birmingham, Gray, Mason & Grubin, D. (2000) defines crime scene staging to be the deliberate act by the offenders to mislead investigators by altering the crimes scenes. Some of the common things done to mislead the investigation team include the placing of firearms in the hands of murdered victims, repositioning of the victim and breaking of windows during murder to make the team think that the crime was a robbery attack. Cardwell & Flanagan (2003) states that there are several offenders who have managed to get off the hook by directing the investigation to the wrong direction. Since crime scene staging involves purposeful alteration of a crime or crime scene with the motive of misleading the investigator and influence or frustrate the criminal justice process, it is a hurdle in criminal investigation and prosecution in the legal system. However, many techniques have been innovated and identified for detecting and eliminating crime staging. In criminal investigation, detectives and other investigative officers are normally required implement strategies to counter potential crime scene staging through fast response to crime or effective securing of crime scenes to ensure that the perpetrators do not play tricks and derail or influence investigations (Towl & Crighton, 2010). While implementing such strategies, it is imperative to understand the motivation behind the staging. The relationship that exists between criminal acts and mental health status has been a subject of debate for a long time. Scholars have carried out studies that are meant to act as a source of credible information on how mental health can influence the offender’s behaviour (Birmingham & Mason, 2006; Brennan, Mednick, Hodgins, 2000). Such studies enable investigators to develop a line of thinking that will be key in unraveling the truth behind a given criminal activity. Advocates for the people with mental health illnesses have always argued that despite the fact that the rate of violence is high among the mentally ill, it is not the single influential factor for the rising cases of violent crimes. Recent studies have also revealed that there is only a modest casual connection between mental status and criminal behavior. Binder & McNeil (2008) carried out a study to determine the rate of violence and criminal behaviour among people who are mentally impaired and revealed that mental disorder is a very influential factor when it comes to chances of one engaging in criminal acts. There has also been numerous studies on the rate of mental disorder among criminal offenders with focus being put on prisoners. Some of the studies have focused on a given offence that other consider general crimes .In a study by Binders (2009), a representative sample of 100 sentence prisoners was used to explore the issue of violent behaviour and mental health. From the findings, it was concluded that mental health conditions such as schizophrenic illness were associated with more cases of homicides. The methodologies used in the studies carried out on the topic of violent behaviour and mental status vary from time to time (Cardwell & Flanagan, 2003). Despite this being the case, most of the empirical studies and systemic reviews have made it clear that there seem to be some form of relationship between mental health and criminal acts. Forensic investigators have always relied on such studies to be able to come up with profiles for different criminals and criminal acts with the sole goal of unraveling the motivation behind a given act. Methodology Research design The study will rely on qualitative research to be able to explore the relationship that exists between mental health status and violent behaviour. Being a complex topic, it is imperative for the researcher to remain detached from the study in order to understand the actual relationship that may be existing between the variables. Quantitative approach will be the most effective way of ensuring the required level of detachment. Quantitative research does not only ensure that there is objectivity in the study but will also allow for the quantification of the relationship that exits between the parameters that are being studied. Moreover, it allows for the collection of data that can then be tested to help answer the research questions. The selected approach will minimize any form of bias that may arise in the cause of the study (Ezzy, 2013; Walter, 2013). As noted earlier, there are a wide range of factor that in one way or the other affects criminal behaviour among populations. The effect these factors can be effectively mitigated by means of the quantitative approach to research. Participants In the study, those who engage in criminal acts that are clearly defined to have involved the use of significant amount of forces will be included in the sample. The number of people taking part in a givens study greatly influences the validity of the findings and how well the results can be generalized and applied to the entire population. However, care also need to be taken to ensure that the sample size does not make the study cumbersome or unrealistic. With this in mind, a good balance must be struck when it comes to the size of the sample. Therefore, the sample to be used will be made up of 50 individuals aged between 25-40. With this age bracket, it is possible to focus the study to a given population segment. This will play a very bid role in ensuring that the validity of the findings is enhanced. Instruments The study will utilize a survey to collect the data that is required. Survey has been chosen to be used not only because it allows for collection data from a large sample groups but also because it helps in getting accurate and honest responses and information. The data collected from the survey will be analyzed to allow for quantitative representation of the trends being investigated. Procedures Simple random sampling method will be used in the study. Random sampling entails choosing participants from a larger population set with each individual being given equal chance to be part of the selected sample. The selection process will entirely be by chance since all the members of the larger population have equal chances of taking part in the study. A simple random sample is an unbiased surveying technique. Since the selected sample represents the entire population, it is possible to draw conclusions on why selected individuals behave in a particular manner without any bias (Cardwell & Flanagan, 2003). Data analysis The study will determine the correlation between mental health and aggressive behaviour in an attempt to answer the formulated research questions. This statistical test is beneficial because it will allow for comparison of the different mental status of the participants with regards to engaging aggressive and violent behavior. Limitations of the study The biggest risk that may be faced during the study is violence and aggression from some of the participants. To be able to minimize this risk, consent will have to be south from each of the individuals taking part. Misinformation is perhaps the most influential threat to the validity of the data obtained during the study. When wrong information is collected, the conclusions made may not apply to the general population To minimize the threat a large sample group of 50 individuals will be used. Ethical issues Consent is usually a very key consideration in any kind of research being is carried out (Coon & Mitterer, 2008). Being a study that deals with the sensitive issues of crime and mental wellbeing, the consent of the participants is required so that the information that they give does not compromise the validity of the findings. The participants will therefore be asked to voluntarily take part in the study so that they can give only information that will be valid to the research. The other ethical concern is the privacy of the information collected. The sensitive information collected in this study must be kept confidential so that it does not get into wrong hands or jeopardize the research. Dissemination strategy After the data collection process and analysis of the obtained information, the findings will be disseminated in a report. The report will illustrate the nature of relationship that exists between the variables being investigated both in text format and in tabulated form. References Binder, R. (2009). Are the mentally ill dangerous? Journal of American Academy of Psychiatry and Law, 24 (5), 189-201. Binder, R., & McNeil, D. (2008) Effects of diagnosis and context on dangerousness. American Journal of Psychiatry, 145 (45), 728-732. Birmingham, L., & Mason D. (2006). Prevalence of mental disorder in remand prisoners: Consecutive case study. British Medical Journal, 313(96) 1521-1524. Birmingham, L., Gray, J., Mason, D., & Grubin, D. (2000). Mental illness at reception into prison. Criminal Behaviour and Mental Health, 10(56), 77-87. Brennan, P.A., Mednick, S.A., Hodgins, S. (2000). Major mental disorders and criminal violence in a danish birth cohort. Archives of General Psychiatry, 57(5): 494- 500 Cardwell, M & Flanagan, C. (2003). Psychology as: the Complete Companion. Cheltenham, UK: Nelson Thornes Coon, D & Mitterer, J. (2008). Introduction to Psychology: Gateways to Mind and Behavior. Kentucky, KY: Cengage Learning. Ezzy, D 2013, Research Process. Oxford University Press, South Melbourne. Rueve, M & Welton. (2008). Violence and Mental Illness. Psychiatry, 5(5):34-48. Schindler, V. (2014). Occupational Therapy in Forensic Psychiatry: Role Development and Schizophrenia. London, UK: Rutledge. Walter, M. (2013). Social Research Methods. South Melbourne: Oxford University Press. Read More