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Short Assignment #1: Crimes in the News

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Learning Objective: Describe the history, structures and purpose of criminology.

Over the course of several days, browse the print or online editions of a major U.S. newspaper. Identify and record the various types of crimes reported in the news over a week. Are certain types of crimes represented more than others? Which ones? Overall, did it seem like crimes were a major or minor part of news coverage?

Here is what I want you to do:

  1. Identify the newspaper. I suggest The New York Times, to which CUNY students have a free subscription.
  2. Make a list of headlines about crime, with links to the articles for the past week.
  3. Write a summary of what types of crimes are more likely to be reported on.

Here is why I want you to do it: This assignment will help you to understand what types of crimes become important news stories and how criminologists may respond to these types of crimes.

Here is how to do it: You will monitor a newspaper coverage of crimes for a week. Then, you will write an OpenLab post with the links of articles and your summary.

Deadline: September 25th

Notes: You may edit and resubmit this assignment and you may email it to me if you are unsure that you are meeting the requirements. Your classmates may comment on your post once it is here.

 

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11 Comments

  5. Recent crimes that have been reported in the news over the last week includes 1.Sex abuse victims plead to keep doctors conviction despite suicide, Sept 14th 2.An unprovoked killing leaves a void in a Bronx neighborhood, Sept 17th 3. Children’s drowning at Coney Island mark the end of a mother’s descent, Sept 18th. 4.New York subway cars getting cameras as crime fears persist, Sept 21st. A lot of the recent crime reports are violence especially towards another person. I believe these crimes are heavily reported on right now more than others to highlight the violence in the city. Crimes are a major part of news coverage as some news stations have sections dedicated to it.



  6. Lesly Sanchez


    • The nypd say a boy of 15 years old was fatally shot in Brooklyn park.
    This article is about a 15 year old child who was a student at Brooklyn laboratory charter schools was involved in a fight between two other boys one of which shot and killed him afterwards according to the police. The authorities identified the boy as Unique Smith they also claim he was dismissed from school before making his way to the park and witness say that unique was sitting with two girls the same age as him when suddenly the two boys approached them, shortly after , a dispute began in which started the fight leading one of the boys who was dressed in all black with a ski mask took out his weapon and shot and killed unique. According to the police they are still investigating trying to find the suspects. One of the fathers whose son goes to the same school had also gotten into an altercation filled the father with concern after knowing another student was killed due to a fight and it brings anxiety about the situation involving young people in violence. Unique Smiths death represented how the youth fall victim to both sides of the violence that happens across our country.


    • Due of guards inaction a man being imprisoned at Rikers Island dies from razor wounds
    In this article it talks about two correction officers and the captain failed to act immediately for 10 mins when a mentally challenged incapacitated man slit his throat with a razor, Michael Nieves who was 40 was taken to elmhurst hospital and later declared brain dead after being on life support for three days and then later pronounced dead after being taken off life support. The officers and the captain had been suspended due to the situation of the ongoing investigation. Mr. Nieves is the third person this year to had die by suicide after being held in Rikers island. The city has token action and showed a series of efforts to acknowledge the violence and dysfunction that happens behind these bars , although Mr. Nieves death was unexpected he does have proof of ongoing mental issues and suicidal ideations since being in Rikers it was not the result of the officers not doing anything since he has been described as mentally ill. However the officers are trained to acknowledge the signs of a distressed mentally ill person.


    •On sept 2 , a women named Eliza Fletcher went to her casual morning run when her husband realized she hadn’t come back and contacted Memphis police.
    This article not only talks about the murder and rape of this woman but also informs how much violence goes on through our nation. The abduction of Eliza Fletcher was not only violent but horribly sad , the man who abducted her goes by Cleaotha Abston a man authorities state that he drove the SUV Eliza was abducted in. Days later police find her body near where he lives and arrested him. Police also find out mr. Abstons history of him raping and killing other women proving that Eliza wasn’t the only victim. After the abduction had happened a shooting concurred due to a man going on rampage shooting and killing four people and harming three more while recording all of his horrible action. Not only does this show the surge of violence that happens through cities as in Memphis and many more it proves how human nature can be dangerous.


    • a teen who was trafficked killed one her abusers and ordered to pay restitution.
    In this article it talks about a young teen girl whom name is Pieper Lewis who was 15 at the time had been forever to have sex with other men for money, the man who trafficked kept her under his roof has been stabbed by her 30 times killing him immediately. She pleaded guilty to killing the trafficker who goes by Zachary Brooks and only gets 200 hours of community service. Not only was she forced to have sex with multiple men for money she was also unconsciously raped her abuser almost every time she was asleep , she would wake up knowing she had been raped and as well during the times it happens pleading him to stop, as this continued happening she woke up right after it happened again to see a knife beside his bed and stabbing him as he was sleeping. The immense trauma she holds within her not only causes pain but makes her a survivor by defending herself by any means possible and helped her seek redemption to not only exceed in school but as well in life.


    •Why a suspect is still at large due to police lack of action a nurse should be alive still.
    In this article it talks about a how perpetrator in a Brooklyn rape case avoided the hands of the NYPD and months later was caught in connection with the queens nurse murder. On June 18 the NYPD met a woman who said she had been in Brooklyn raped by a man she met on a tinder, later as time passes by police find out the man’s name who goes by Danueal Drayton arrest him a month later after knowing he was involved in the murder and rape of nurse from queens and raped another woman after escaping to Los Angeles. For the police to have taken their time to find the correlation between the rape and murder of the nurse linking to this man a month later is honestly unbelievable, the special victims unit claim they are not under staff but proves otherwise due to this case. Therefore Mr. Drayton arrest should have happened much more earlier causing the police to go through such hectic time to find out who caused such a heinous act of violence.

  7. For this short assignment, I followed the coverage of crimes in New York Times. Throughout the week from 09/18 to 09/25, there were a number of stories about crime published there. Here is the list of stories.

    On 9/18, An unprovoked killing leaves a void in a bronx neighborhood. It further states that “Nathaniel Rivers, 35, was sitting in his car when a man fatally stabbed him for no reason. Months later, the crime continues to rattle residents.” He was well known in the bronx community he was living in and giving back to his community by organizing basketball games, hosting barbecues and also threw birthday parties as well. People further say that “It’s a whole different environment now.” LINK:https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/17/nyregion/bronx-nyc-stabbing.html

    On 9/20, New York City subway system begins to install security cameras in train cars, this idea was created due to the mass shooting in brooklyn, they also being to say that more crime has developed more commonly in the subways also, so this new change can help get people back to using the subways but also make the lives of everyone that uses the subway more safer when getting off their stop. LINK:https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/20/nyregion/nyc-subway-security-cameras.html

    On 09/22, Protests Intensify in Iran Over Woman Who Died in Custody, on wednesday, at least seven protesters had been killed over a accusation for violating the law on head scarves, which then further created an uproar in protests and woman burning their hijabs during the protest going against the law also. LINK:https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/21/world/middleeast/iran-protests-mahsa-amini.html

    Lastly on 9/25, School shooting is fake, can It prepare an officer for a real one? In upstate New York, officers are training to become more brave when it comes to mass shootings in school, and how they can go against themselves to put enough effort and not be scared when its time to deal with a mass shooting because crimes can happen at any moment and what options are there to counter those crimes. LINK:https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/24/nyregion/gunman-shooter-training-schools.html

    To summarize everything I spoke about for this week, there were some crimes created this week that were very impactful to others living in New York, but also some next step solutions that can help lower the crime rates that are being common everyday and how these next steps can help someone’s day feel more safer each day knowing that there are more solutions to help stop common crimes.

  8. Kiana Rodriguez
    Criminology
    Professor Margaryan
    09-22-2022

    9/17
    Crime: murder
    Description: an unprovoked killing led to a man found murdered in his car in bronx new york. Officers say there wasn’t a motive as to why the killing occurred.
    Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/17/nyregion/bronx-nyc-stabbing.html

    9/18
    Crime: murder
    Description: a coney island mother drowned her three kids at the coney island beach. The mother suffered from mental illness such as postpartum depression and was going through a bitter divorce with her ex-husband that took a toll on her and led her to commit the vicious act
    Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/18/nyregion/coney-island-drownings-children-mother.html

    9/19
    Crime: drug trafficking , kidnapping
    description : the government of afghanistan stated that they freed american engineer Mark R Frerichs in exchange for the US to release an afghan tribal leader who’s been convicted of drug trafficking. Mark has been held hostage in afghanistan since january 2020
    Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/19/world/asia/mark-frerichs-prisoner-swap-biden-taliban.html

    9/20
    Crime: fraud
    Description: 48 people were convicted of fraud against anti-hunger programs run by the government during the coronavirus pandemic. They stole 240 million dollars by charging the government for meals that were served to non-existing kids
    Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/20/us/politics/pandemic-aid-fraud-minnesota.html

    9/21
    Crime: murder
    Description: Former police officer Thomas Lane was sentenced to three years in prison due to the death of george floyd that happened in 2020. Lane pled guilty to second degree manslaughter back in may 2021 for violating George Floyd’s civil rights and murdering him.
    Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/21/us/george-floyd-thomas-lane-minneapolis.html

    9/22
    Crime: discrimination
    Description: the justice department has an open investigation due to suspicious pattern of racial discrimination in hiring black officer in Kansas city, Missouri. Investigators viewed documented complaints by 25 black officer who have white supervisor that according to them abuse of their power
    Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/20/us/politics/justice-dept-racial-bias-police.html

    9/23
    Crime: terrorism
    Description: A 21 year old student was arrested at the university of utah due to a terrorist tweet she posted online, threating to detonate a nuclear reactor on the campus if the football team looses their upcoming game.
    Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/23/us/utah-nuclear-threat-football-game.html

    9/24
    Crime: fraud
    Description: two companies in New Jersey were charged with a 325,000 dollar fine for selling fake disinfecting spray to the public, making them believe they can make coronavirus disappear with it.
    Link: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/09/22/us/new-jersey-epa-pesticide-fine.html

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