criminal story essay

• PRO Courses Guides New Tech Help Pro Expert Videos About wikiHow Pro Upgrade Sign In
• EDIT Edit this Article
• EXPLORE Tech Help Pro About Us Random Article Quizzes Request a New Article Community Dashboard This Or That Game Popular Categories Arts and Entertainment Artwork Books Movies Computers and Electronics Computers Phone Skills Technology Hacks Health Men's Health Mental Health Women's Health Relationships Dating Love Relationship Issues Hobbies and Crafts Crafts Drawing Games Education & Communication Communication Skills Personal Development Studying Personal Care and Style Fashion Hair Care Personal Hygiene Youth Personal Care School Stuff Dating All Categories Arts and Entertainment Finance and Business Home and Garden Relationship Quizzes Cars & Other Vehicles Food and Entertaining Personal Care and Style Sports and Fitness Computers and Electronics Health Pets and Animals Travel Education & Communication Hobbies and Crafts Philosophy and Religion Work World Family Life Holidays and Traditions Relationships Youth
• Browse Articles
• Learn Something New
• Quizzes Hot
• This Or That Game
• Train Your Brain
• Explore More
• Support wikiHow
• About wikiHow
• Log in / Sign up
• Education and Communications
• Writing Genres

How to Write Crime Stories

Last Updated: January 29, 2023 Fact Checked

This article was co-authored by David A. Payne, JD . David A. Payne is the President and Executive Producer of RainStream Media, a media company who focuses on telling true crime stories with underlying themes of social justice. He has extensive experience in media and entertainment, having served as both General Counsel and a C-level executive for comapnies such as Turner Broadcasting, CNN, and USA Today. He is also a lawyer - he received his JD from the Duke University School of Law and is licensed to practice law in California. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 241,520 times.

Like many authors, crime writers sometimes get an itch to break the conventions of the genre and create something unique. This is a fine impulse to listen to, but not one you want to take too far. Weigh the advice you hear against your own opinion, and find a path forward that includes everything you love about the mystery genre, garnishing the story with your own style.

Outlining the Plot

• What could have led to this crime scene?
• What motivation would cause someone to commit the crime, or to frame someone else?
• What kind of person would follow through on that motivation?
• Use Who? What? When? Where? Why? How? questions to get you started: Who committed the crime and who did they do it to? What was the crime? When did it happen (morning, evening, afternoon, dead of night)? Where did it happen? Why did they do it? How did they do it?

• Recognize that the size of the place will influence the development of your story. For example, in a large city or busy public place, you will have lots of opportunities to introduce witnesses. However, in a “locked-room mystery” (one where all the characters seem to be present in the same room throughout the occurrence of the crime), you will likely have no external witnesses, but may be able to draw upon your characters opinions and biases of each other.
• Focus on the elements of your setting that are essential to the story. For example, is weather essential? If it is, write about it in great detail. If it is not, only mention it briefly or leave it out altogether. A dark, gritty setting adds atmosphere and works well with stories centered on organized crime. Setting a crime in an idyllic, ordinary town adds its own kind of chill.

• Some characters should be potential suspects for having committed the crime (and at least one should actually be guilty of the crime), some should be supporting characters that serve to make the storyline interesting (a love interest or meddling mother-in-law, perhaps), and one (or more) should be focused on solving the mystery.
• Well-written characters will have motives for acting in ways that further the plot.Okay, the gritty noir detective or genius investigator is an option, but come up with alternatives or twists.
• Make the crime matter personally to the protagonist, to raise the emotional stakes. This could be related to the protagonist's mysterious past, a close friend or family member in danger, or the fate of the town, country, or world. [1] X Research source

• Describe your villain well, but not too well. You don’t want your reader to guess right from the beginning of the story who is the culprit. Your reader may become suspicious if you spend a disproportionate amount of time describing one character.
• You may want to make your villain someone that has been slightly suspicious all along. On the other hand, you may want to make the revelation of the culprit or criminal a complete shock. “Framing” someone throughout the story is a surefire way to keep your readers hooked to your mystery short stories.
• Instead of a villain, consider including a sidekick. Maybe your sleuth has a friend or partner that will help her sort the clues and point out things that she misses. [3] X Research source No one says the sleuth has to do it all alone! What if the sidekick and villain end up being one in the same?
• Think of the basics. Male or female? What is the detective's name? How old are they? What do they look like (hair color, eye color, and skin tone)? Where are they from? Where are they living when your story starts? How did they become part of the story? Are they victims? Are they the cause of the problems in your story?

• Present an opportunity for mystery. Create a situation in which a crime can reasonably occur and one that you will be able to reasonably recreate yourself. Did all the power go out in the city due to a thunderstorm? Was a door or a safe accidentally left unlocked? Paint a vivid picture of the situation surrounding the occurrence of the crime that will be the focus of your mystery.
• Don’t underestimate the power of the “backdrop” for the crime. [4] X Research source An intricate understanding of the setting in which the crime takes place is an important tool that will help when it comes to developing your narrative.
• Here are some suggestions for crimes: Something has been stolen from the classroom, Something is missing from your bookbag, Something strange is found on the baseball field, Someone has stolen the class pet, Someone is sending you strange notes, Someone has broken into the Science materials closet, someone has written on the bathroom wall, someone has tracked red mud into the building.

• You should include evidence processing skills such as fingerprinting, toxicology, handwriting analysis, blood spatter patterns, etc.
• The detective work must be good. Develop how your detective or protagonist ultimately solves the case, keeping their personality and qualities in mind. Make sure it isn't cheesy or too obvious.

Writing the Story

• If you want to write about what happens before the crime, you can go back in time for the second chapter, adding a subheading such as "one week earlier."

• This is especially important for the biggest reveal — whodunnit? — and the wrong choice can ruin a novel for a lot of readers. The villain should either be a suspect or demonstrate enough suspicious behavior that a clever reader can guess the identity.

Community Q&A

• Give yourself time. You can plan everything in advance, or you can write rapidly and edit later. Both approaches require a great deal of time, and a willingness to make major changes. Thanks Helpful 3 Not Helpful 1
• Enlist people to edit your story and give feedback. After some polishing, steel yourself and show the work to strangers. Their advice will be harsher but more honest than your friends'. Thanks Helpful 2 Not Helpful 1

• Crime fiction is a genre filled with cliché. There's a fine line between paying tribute to your favorite stories and style and straightforward copying. Thanks Helpful 13 Not Helpful 0

You Might Also Like

• ↑ http://armchairinterviews.com/pages/crime-fiction-tips-and-pet-peeves
• ↑ https://writerunboxed.com/2022/05/03/hiding-your-villain-in-plain-sight/
• ↑ https://screencraft.org/blog/writing-a-likeable-sidekick-7-archetypes-you-can-choose-from/
• ↑ https://jerichowriters.com/how-to-write-an-immersive-setting/
• ↑ https://www.novlr.org/the-reading-room/the-art-of-the-plot-twist-how-to-keep-your-audience-guessing

About This Article

If you want to write a crime story, start by choosing a crime, then work backward, describing what led to the crime. Think about what kind of person might commit a crime like this, and what might motivate them to do so. For instance, if you’re describing a bank heist, your criminals might be a gang of petty thieves looking for a big score, or it could be parents of a sick child who need money for treatment. Give the reader clues, but throw in some misleading details as well so the audience won’t guess what’s going on too early in the story! Read on to learn tips on describing your crime scene! Did this summary help you? Yes No

• Send fan mail to authors

Reader Success Stories

Rushi Borude

Jun 3, 2017

Did this article help you?

Daniel Little

Nov 20, 2016

Feb 1, 2017

Merkesha Whitmore

Mar 7, 2017

Oct 3, 2017

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Watch Articles

• Terms of Use
• Privacy Policy
• Do Not Sell or Share My Info
• Not Selling Info

Don’t miss out! Sign up for

wikiHow’s newsletter

• Skip to main content
• Skip to primary sidebar

Writing Tips Oasis - A website dedicated to helping writers to write and publish books.

How to Write a Crime Short Story: 10 Top Tips

By Georgina Roy

Crime fiction, regardless of the format – whether a short story, a novella, or a novel, comes in two forms: the protagonist will either solve a crime, or commit one.

In the first type, i.e. solving a crime, we follow the protagonist as they use their brain and their skills to figure out who did the crime or what happened. In the second type of crime stories, we follow the protagonist as they commit the crime, and this type can have two subtypes: the crime happens in the beginning (i.e. first part or act), and the second part focuses on the fallout, or, the protagonist decides to do the crime in the first part, and either goes through with it or not in the second part.

Considering that today we are focusing solely on crime short stories, rather than fiction, the tips below on how to write a crime short story will all be related to writing shorter pieces of work, and they might not work for longer pieces like novellas or novels.

1. Keep your audience in mind

Considering the two types of crime fiction we’ve highlighted above, it is worth noting that while there are omnivorous crime readers, i.e. those who enjoy reading about the solving of a crime just as much as they would enjoy reading about the protagonist committing a crime; quite often, the audience for one type is not the audience for the other one.

The readers who prefer to read solving a crime might not enjoy reading about committing one. So before you embark on the wonderful journey of writing a short story, think carefully about which audience you wish to target and attract.

2. Have a clear theme and idea

Often, short stories do not have the time to elaborate on all the nuances of a certain theme or idea. Practically speaking, a short story does not allow you to dwell longer in the life of the protagonist. Regardless of what type of story you are writing (committing a crime vs. solving a crime), due to the nature of those two events, you would not be writing a short story that spans over several years.

The longer a crime goes unsolved, the more difficult it would be to solve it. This type of urgency is what drives crime novels, let alone short stories. So, the clearer your theme and original idea, the better – for it would allow you to distill it to its essence and present it, in as short manner as possible, in your story.

3.  Keep it short

We’re not talking here about trying to say as much as possible in as few words as possible. When it comes to writing crime short stories, you do not need to dwell on the protagonist’s backstory. If he is an experienced detective, there is no need for the reader to know all the details about all of his previous cases to convince them that this detective knows what he is doing – show that in the procedures and the actions he takes to solve the crime, but also in how he reacts to seeing this particular crime.

If your protagonist is somebody who is willing to commit a crime, try to convey their motivations as shortly as possible. The readers do not need to know all the details that led or will lead them to commit the crime, just enough to sympathize with them or, alternatively, find the protagonist compelling enough to follow them to the end.

4. Create a believable crime

In longer works like novellas and novels, you need to create such a crime that will take someone a whole novel to solve. In short stories, specifically short stories that are focused on solving a crime, the crime needs to be out of the ordinary, but the protagonist should still be able to solve it in an “a-ha” moment, that would both make sense to the reader in retrospect, and also surprise them at the same time. If your story is about committing a crime, the crime itself needs to be relatively easy for the protagonist to commit. The planning has already been done and it’s all about the execution and the consequences.

In the second type of crime stories, where the protagonist decides to commit the crime and we follow them as they either go through with it or not, the crime itself needs have a certain psychological effect on the protagonist. Additionally, it should be more difficult to commit and pose a certain danger to them as well.

5. Create a compelling protagonist

The protagonist who solves the crime needs to have the tools and experience to do so. You make that protagonist compelling by how they react to the crime that has been committed, and then what steps they take to solve the crime, as well as what motivates them to solve the crime so quickly.

The protagonist who commits the crime, on the other hand, will be more difficult to create in a compelling manner. This type of protagonist either has to be easy to both sympathize and empathize with, like for example, a person who has been hurt in some way looking for revenge, or, they would be a kind of person who most people would find abhorring, and, they would follow that person just to see whether they get what is coming to them or not (the ending, of course, depends on the message you’re trying to send, stemming from your original idea and theme).

6. Determine the timeline of the crime

Short stories do not have the time to focus on cold cases that have not seen progress in years unless there is new evidence that would help the detective solve a cold case quickly. As such, the crime should be recent enough that there is fresh evidence for the protagonist to work with.

When it comes to the second type, committing a crime, the protagonist needs to be at the right moment to commit the crime. For example, let’s say that a woman is trying to kidnap her own child, who is currently in the custody of the ex-husband who abused her for years. Fearing for the safety of the baby, we do not need to see her stalking her ex-husband and her child for weeks on end; we need to tune in right at the moment when the woman is watching her ex-husband’s new girlfriend take the child to the park, who leaves the kid on the swings and steps aside to take a phone call, and the woman grabs her child and leaves.

7. Different types of subgenres in solving a crime

The first type of crime stories, where the protagonist is solving a crime, are divided into several subgenres (or subcategories):

• Whodunit : this is the most famous type, where the protagonist needs to solve the problem of who committed the crime (theft, murder, etc.,) from a certain list of suspects. The protagonist is usually a detective or a private investigator. A specialized subset of whodunit is locked room – where the crime has been committed in a locked room with no way in or out, so the suspects have all been present at the murder/crime scene.
• Cozy mystery : similar to whodunit, with the sole difference that the protagonist is most often a woman with no experience in solving crime, and the setting is a small, cozy town rather than a big city.
• American noir/hardboiled crime fiction: where the protagonist, in the course of solving the crime, runs into personal danger. Darker themes like abuse, sex, and violence are at the forefront of these stories.
• Police procedural and forensic crime: the protagonists are members of the police or a forensic team, like pathologists, and either use standard police procedures to solve the crime, or forensic tools, respectively.

8. Subgenres based on committing a crime

When it comes to committing a crime, while there are two basic subtypes of stories, there are two main subgenres:

• Caper stories: opposite of whodunit and procedural stories, the protagonists are criminals who are trying to evade capture of legal authorities – after they had committed the crime, or they commit the crime in the first part of the story.
• Heist stories: they always revolve around theft, often grand theft in museums or casinos, and the protagonists are trying to commit the crime by the end of the story.

9. Connect the theme and the subgenre

The theme, or, the point you want your reader to take in while reading the story, needs to directly dictate the type of subgenre you are going to use, and so will the nature of your protagonist. A mother trying to get revenge for the death of her child will most probably not be trying to rob a bank or a casino. A con man looking for his big score (moneywise), who is trying to keep himself out of prison, will not be so willing to murder the guards of the Hope Diamond.

10. Use a certain balance of humor

Short stories, by nature, need to have a certain sense of lightness that would make it easy for the reader to lose themselves in the story. Even stories that deal with darker themes like violence and abuse need to have the narrative deliver the same lightness that makes it easy for the readers to absorb what is happening. Humor is one of the best tools to use in the narrative to make the story lighter for the reader to take in.

However, some themes are more serious, and using excessive humor, for example, in a short story of a mother trying to get revenge and kill the murderer of her dead child, humor would not be welcome. Humor helps to make stories “read” or “feel” softer, but it would also take the reader away from such a dramatic and traumatic story. The only possible type of humor acceptable in such a story might be sarcasm or irony, but even that should be used sparingly and only if sarcasm is a strong element of the protagonist’s personality.

On the other hand, heist stories, whodunit stories, and cozy mysteries would highly benefit from the use of humor. Humor can make any story better, as long as it is used in a manner appropriate for the theme and the point that you are trying to make with it.

• Features for Creative Writers
• Features for Work
• Features for Higher Education
• Features for Teachers
• Features for Non-Native Speakers
• Learn Blog Grammar Guide Community Events FAQ
• Grammar Guide

Best Crime and Mystery Writing Prompts of 2023

Krystal N. Craiker

Readers love mystery stories because of the suspense, the puzzle, and the plot twists.

The mystery genre is a great genre to explore for writers who love writing suspense and enjoy learning about true crime.

Writing a crime or mystery novel can be a lot of fun, but it can be difficult to come up with fresh ideas.

Writing prompts are a great way to get your creative juices flowing. These writing prompts and story ideas can give you enough fodder for everything from a short story to a whole series of novels.

The great thing about writing prompts is they aren’t restrictive. The prompt will probably be unrecognizable by the end of your story because you changed it so many times.

Even if you stay true to the prompt, you can still write an original story. If you give five authors the same story idea, you will get five unique stories.

So, take these mystery writing prompts and make them your own.

Use them as inspiration and change them up. Write a whole novel based on one of them. Take bits and pieces from several prompts for something epic. Or just use them as writing exercises .

Historical Mystery Story Ideas and Prompts

Police procedural and detective writing prompts, cozy mystery writing prompts, general suspense thriller novel writing prompts, serial killer mystery writing prompts, how to use mystery prompts in writing.

• Bootleggers in 1920s Chicago keep winding up dead. Two detectives must partner together to solve the murders. One detective has dedicated his life to ending bootlegging, as his father was a raging alcoholic. The other is a homicide detective who dabbles in bootlegging on the side.

In World War II, an army nurse goes missing in the Pacific Theater of Operations. The disappearance is written off as a defection by superior officers, so it’s up to her nurse friends to discover what happened.

A dead body appears at a noble’s house party in Regency England. No one claims to know who the victim is, which leads to two mysteries: who is it and whodunit?

A town in the Mughal Empire falls victim to a serial killer. The victims are all middle-aged mothers. A young woman, whose mother was the first victim, works with a military general to find and stop the murders.

King Louis XIV’s favorite virtuoso is found dead. He tasks a reluctant lieutenant with investigating everyone at Versailles to find and stop the killer. Every witness tells the lieutenant a different version of the murder because they all have something to hide.

Someone has kidnapped the daughters of two prominent figures from both sides of the Mexican Revolution in 1912. Both leaders send a detective to investigate the kidnappings. The two detectives are from rival sides of the revolution, but they must put aside their differences to find the missing girls.

A detective in the Orlando Police Department must investigate the mysterious deaths of three Disney World princesses. The detective hates children but now spends every day at the most kid-friendly place on earth.

A Scotland Yard detective is at risk of being fired for her reckless behavior. She’s sent to a remote village to investigate the disappearance of a local baker. None of her superiors care about the case, but she quickly finds herself in a dangerous game of cat and mouse with the killer—and no backup.

Coffee is delivered to the police station by an anonymous donor. One of the cups doesn’t have a name written in the cup. Instead, there’s a creepy note, and the cup is filled with something far more sinister than coffee.

A burnt-out police detective must work with his ex-wife, a renowned forensics expert, to solve the murder of a prominent member of the government.

A police officer is on a family vacation to an isolated mountain town with no active police department. When the owner of the lodge is found dead, and all the phone and internet lines are cut, it’s up to the officer to solve the case before the murderer takes another victim.

An investigative journalist believes that several high-profile thefts, spread over five decades, are related. The only person who believes them is a quirky small town sheriff.

An elderly small town librarian winds up dead in her own library. It appears to be from natural causes, but the day before she emails her most bookish patron with the subject line: Clue for my murder. The body of the email contains only a library call number for a book.

A star athlete on a full-ride scholarship and a studious aspiring scientist must solve a series of mysterious deaths in their dorms before their dream university is closed forever.

The grumpy owner of a local pub (who hates children) and a young girl from the local elementary school pair up to solve the disappearance of an elementary teacher who moonlights as a bartender.

A successful businessman returns to his coastal hometown for the holidays. After drinking spiked eggnog, he wakes up in the boat of his high school girlfriend, who is now a professional fisherwoman. He has no memory of the night before, but now he’s the prime suspect in a murder investigation. With the help of his ex, his overbearing mom, and his former chemistry teacher, he must work to clear his name.

The murder of the resort’s entertainment director rocks a peaceful resort town on a tropical island. No one particularly liked the victim, but the head maid and a quirky bellboy feel obligated to solve the murder to avoid losing guests and, therefore, hotel income.

An accountant has always believed that her mother died in a car crash. When her grandmother passes away, she finds a half-finished investigation in the old woman’s basement. Her grandmother suspected murder for almost two decades and never told a soul! She picks up her grandmother’s investigation to discover what really happened to her mom.

A sweet 90-year-old woman enters a police station and confesses to a series of murders spanning 70 years. The problem is she is fuzzy on the details due to her age—or is she? Detectives must investigate the murders as she remembers the names and locations of her murder victims.

Fed up with the bureaucracy and corruption of the criminal justice system, an assistant district attorney fakes their own death to enter the seedy underbelly of the organized crime world. They want to bring down the killers who keep getting away with murder—and their mysterious top boss.

A criminal psychologist helps profile an unknown murderer in a brutal triple homicide. But as she completes her profile, she notices some shocking similarities to her washed-up brother, who lives with their elderly father.

All over the country, people are dying of arsenic poisoning. They all had one thing in common, they took the same vitamins. An investigator from the Food and Drug Administration visits the manufacturer, only to find a sinister conspiracy that goes much deeper than just a few factory workers.

The office gossip winds up dead after a company retreat. Multiple people had a motive. The main character let their dark secret slip that weekend, and now they must solve the murder to avoid the truth getting out.

A series of bank heists occur on the same day in four different countries. The next week, several heads of crime organizations descend on Monaco. An Interpol agent must go undercover in the high-stakes world of organized crime and gambling to solve the mystery.

Prisoners keep winding up brutally murdered at a penitentiary. Several of the imprisoned serial killers are suspects. A federal investigator, with a hatred for even the most petty criminals, is sent to investigate the murders. He must work closely with inmates and learn that they are only human. Bonus: the serial killer is a prison staff member, not an inmate.

A serial killer terrorizes a major metropolitan area, but officials can find no common link between the victims except how they’re killed. When her sister is murdered, an Uber customer service representative takes matters into her own hands. The murderer is an Uber driver who saves addresses and waits months before returning for the victims to avoid suspicion.

Ten people, from across the country, wind up dead. They’re all killed in exactly the same way, and they all have a page from Shakespeare’s Complete Works pinned to their shirt. A detective pairs with a literature professor to solve the case before the Bard Killer can claim any more victims.

A series of murders occurs in the Midwest. All the victims fit the same profile: young with dyed hair. Every victim visited a busy truck stop the day they died.

Someone is murdering L.A. food truck owners, leaving only their charred remains behind. The protagonist is a forensic anthropologist who is married to a food truck owner.

The first victim enters a crowded store wearing a bomb. They are clearly under duress, but they steal a cheap item, only to be blown up remotely, causing many deaths. Organized crime and terror units investigate this, only for another victim to go in exactly the same way a few weeks later. By the third victim, it’s clear there’s a sadistic serial killer at play.

Using mystery prompts can help get your story flowing. It’s a great way to challenge yourself as a writer.

Prompts are open to interpretation, so it’s up to you to find the next great story within them.

Want to write your own spine-tingling mystery? Register for Crime Writers' Week, April 24-27.

Learn from bestselling authors like janice hallett, ajay chowdhury, and sophie hannah., sign up today. it's free register now.

Be confident about grammar

Check every email, essay, or story for grammar mistakes. Fix them before you press send.

Krystal N. Craiker is the Writing Pirate, an indie romance author and blog manager at ProWritingAid. She sails the seven internet seas, breaking tropes and bending genres. She has a background in anthropology and education, which brings fresh perspectives to her romance novels. When she’s not daydreaming about her next book or article, you can find her cooking gourmet gluten-free cuisine, laughing at memes, and playing board games. Krystal lives in Dallas, Texas with her husband, child, and basset hound.

Get started with ProWritingAid

Drop us a line or let's stay in touch via :

🎉 Our next novel writing master class starts in – ! Claim your spot →

Discover weekly, the best short stories

Looking for a steady supply of crime short stories? Every week thousands of writers submit stories to our writing contest.

Featured stories

Activity feed

African American

Asian American

Coming of Age

Contemporary

Creative Nonfiction

High School

Historical Fiction

Inspirational

Middle School

People of Color

Science Fiction

Speculative

Teens & Young Adult

Transgender

Urban Fantasy

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

We'll send you 5 prompts each week. Respond with your short story and you could win $250!

Authors to follow

3950+ Crime Short Stories to read

Submitted by writers on Reedsy Prompts to our weekly writing contest . Feed your fascination with the latest crime short stories. From thrilling accounts of lovable burglars to chilling tales of stone-cold murderers, these bite-sized pieces are so addictive, they should be illegal.

🏆 Winning stories

“ when i read beckett ” by liz grosul.

🏆 Winner of Contest #241

…in…in this room…cursed room…loved?... cursed…. where she slept…half-grown in her hometown t-shirt…shorts…no shorts…t-shirt worn with holes…on the floor…he having thrown it…under the bed…dust collected and swept and settled again…. and again…who?... he… not she?...gracious!...there for the first time…assuredly last time…no boys in the room, father said…keep out!...nodded her head… but in the room…blue light hugging the window…scotch tape…peeling off the paint whether chipped or freshly laid or…exhumed…he found her in the— no, not found…held…...

“ No Junior League ” by Mary Lynne Schuster

🏆 Winner of Contest #231

You are sure you want to do this?   Running away. Starting over.  It’s not as easy as people think. You have to give up everything.  Oh, that part’s easy. Everyone thinks we are all traceable, that you can’t really hide. But, see, everything is tied to your identity. Your papers. If you change those, you are a different person.  Fingerprints? If they’re in the system, if yo...

“ Cell 3.47 ” by Kate Hughes

🏆 Winner of Contest #219

Cell 3.47 was situated on the third floor of B wing in Stocken Gate prison, slap bang in the heart of London’s east end. Known as The Gate, the prison had a reputation for being a tough place to do time. The inmates behind the doors at The Gate endured long cold winters in the Victorian slammer that had been condemned many times but had always escaped closure. It was harsh, it was hard, and it was overrun by rats.Paula Pritchard was the sole resident of cell 3.47, but due to the rodent crisis she ...

⭐️ Recommended stories

“ number thirty-three ” by kim meyers.

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #242

“I don’t get art,” says Katrina. “Why pay so much for something that looks like a kindergartner made it?” She is staring at a beautifully chaotic painting stationed in the foyer.  “That’s a Molinkska original”, replies Jake, approaching from behind. “It also happens to be my personal favorite.” “Well, to each his own.” Her roving eye gave it one last look before moving on to the next painting hanging in the bright foyer. “It’s just not my cup of tea. I much prefer something more traditional, like a landscape or portrait.” Jake sidesteps...

“ In Too Deep ” by William Maher

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #241

(Contains adult language)Sean sat alone in a dark confession booth, fighting back his tears. The mesh slat to his right took the shape of the crucifix. A door clicked open and light shone through the slat, before vanishing as the door shut.“I wondered if I would see you again,” said the priest, sitting beyond the divider to Sean’s right.The devil sat on his left.“Read it to me one more time, Father,” Sean said.The voice that spoke through the crucifix was soft, “I would be more help if you just told me—”“Please… Father… don’t. Just read me t...

“ The Boy with Frozen Wings ” by Robert Egan

⭐️ Shortlisted for Contest #238

"You have my attention," says the Grand Assassin. "Who?" "He…" The boy drops his gaze to the Varos gold coin on the tavern's backroom table, his guarantee of safe audience, then looks back up at the man. The Grand Assassin's wrinkles and white hair may or may not be real, but the eyes are. Pinprick pupils caught in stillwater stare back at the boy. "I can't say it." ...

Introducing Prompted , a new magazine written by you!

🏆 Featuring 12 prize-winning stories from our community. Download it now for FREE .

✍️ All stories

“ cryptic sister ” by myranda marie.

Submitted to Contest #250

Sensitive subject matter. Indications of abduction and human trafficking. Before she could force her eyes to focus, Hallie sensed she was in a hospital, or at the very least, some type of medical facility. There was a strong scent of disinfectant and oddly enough faint notes of jasmine and vanilla. Perfume maybe, but who’s? Darkness was right in front of her, yet a bright light lived and breathed just a few feet away, providing Hallie with a strange sense of hope. Her arms and legs were weak, and a distinct pinching sensation in her left...

“ I think I Dexeterd him ” by Heather Proud Funk

(Whispering on cell phone) hey I know it’s Wednesday and you usually have your date with small hands, but I got to talk to you. “ who is this and how did you get my number?” It’s me Lila. I’m not calling from my phone. “ OK where’s your phone?” It’s not important right now. I think I’m in a lot of trouble. I gotta find some more safe to call you from. I’m throwing this cell phone in the water. I’ll call you back.” Lila takes the cell phone that she just grabbed and used to call her best friend smashes it and throws it in the lake hoping that...

“ Caught ” by Oliver S. Andreasen

Finally, Agent Wayne got him. He had rested a small chip with a microphone into the man’s suit pocket while he ventured into the New York City hotel. The hotel had scheduled an international art’s exhibition, and the man inside had three art pieces with him. He had stolen all three. The IRS hadn’t heard from him in years, yet, here he was, wearing a fancy suit like he owned a billion-dollar company. An organization of his had helped him with his thefts, and, if he won the exhibition, that would spread the word about his rising ‘’stardom’’. U...

“ Quiet Recognition ” by Story Time

I know you think it isn’t a big deal when you get a phone call from the Secretary. You know, we’ve--I remember coming up at a time when you could hear something unusual, and you would--You would write it off. It was a conspiracy. It sounds crazy. It is crazy. It’s crackpot. You sound like a crackpot. That’s how it was when I first moved here. We used to make fun of people who talked about watching what you say in public. Even people with high clearance. Even people working on--you know--projects that weren’t even verified. If they were in a ...

“ Late! ” by Fern Everton

Submitted to Contest #249

CW: This piece contains some profanity as well as descriptions of physical violence and gore. Viewer discretion is advised. FUCK! I pound my fist into the dashboard of the old hunk of shit I call my car, an action that proves futile, unsurprisingly enough, to snap it back into gear. I then slam my foot down on the gas with just enough force to not knock it out of place. Though a quiver of energy runs through the piece of junk from the blow, the engine doesn’t cough or sputter back to life. It continues to sit stock still in the crumbling dri...

“ Without a Shadow of a Doubt ” by Jourdana Webber

   (TW: Contains cursing, death, murder) I heard his screams; I heard the phone call, and I heard the sirens in the distance. I couldn’t comprehend any of the words echoing throughout the bedroom. What the hell was happening? Peter, my current boyfriend, was ashen and screaming. None of this was right, none of this was real. It couldn’t be real. The yelling wouldn’t stop, and my head began to pound.“Grace! Grace! She’s cold, she’s cold oh my God, she’s cold. She’s not breathing! She’s not breathing!” His phone was on speaker a...

“ Curtis and The Cryptic Coyote ” by Martin Ross

“How long this been going on?” Curtis asked calmly, staring at the young woman going batshit Coyote Ugly on the bar. Billy Preston sparked through his brain: Songs without melodies, dances without steps.Neither reference would help here: Nearly everybody at The Mill tonight was in Pampers or swimming around a scrotal sac when the Tyra Banks movie was burning up the box office, and Drake seemed as soulful as this crew ever got. And The Dancing Queen had no melody or harmony to move her around.“Jesus, maybe a half hour,” Officer Brainard half-...

“ Formal Wear and ESP ” by Kristin Johnson

Inside the glittering museum gala, Lila Tinker fidgeted with her floor-length blue ballgown. Thanks to her work as a receptionist at an art gallery, she’d snagged an invite to the social event of the year, and she hoped it would add some excitement to her life. No date, but she had a killer dress from one of those rent-a-gown places.The dress covered up the scars from the accident, for which she was grateful. Snagging a cocktail that smelled like the tropics, she wandered out into the well-dressed crowd, ready to mingle—and to find some face...

“ Lunchtime at The Justice Cafe ” by Kenneth Goldman

Roger McAllister glanced at the name tag of the waitress behind the counter, and after taking another look at the patrons seated in the diner he knew he had to ask. His two minutes inside the roadside grease-pit had shown him there was something mighty strange about this place. “So how’d this town ever get a name like ‘Justice,’ Maureen?” he began, knowing that any salesman worth his spit always started with the familiarities and small talk, then built from there. The waitress set his coffee and chili before him without the customary ...

“ Bye-Bye Barracuda Mama ” by Joe Holek

Mama had been at it again, running the law, now she was out back hiding in the hay barn, and her car had to go. Grandad told me to take the car out of town. He held up the key in front of my face. A lucky rabbit foot and a metal, dime bag scale hung from the key. He slipped them into my breast pocket, the weight sagged down. “Good luck,” he said. The keys tossed around, beating on my chest as I ran out to the barn, the police sirens screaming off in the distance. Mama was sitting against the stable when I entered the barn. Her face nearly hi...

“ Everyone Must Carry Their Own Luggage ” by Tony Smith

'Everyone Must Carry Their Own Luggage' It's the third double brandy J B Foxley MBE, has tipped into the plant pot, the palm looks healthy enough but might feel a bit groggy in the morning. Foxley was awarded an MBE for 'services to export': in spite of a severe bout of yellow fever contracted in West Africa he had bravely continued to carry out export duties, and Foxley vowed in future to resist the welcoming ladies at the Ikeja Club in Lagos. He is watching the boy dancing with a whore. Mohamed is only eighteen, soft-baked, his first time...

“ The Reservoir ” by Stevie Burges

The ReservoirMargaret began to feel fear rising in her throat as she drove in the dark. Where the hell was she? “Oh my god, what’s that?” she thought. Peering over the driving wheel, she realised it was a vast body of water that had appeared suddenly out of nowhere. Her car’s main beam caught sight of a small country lane to her right and, turning the car wheel, began to ascend rapidly. As she neared the summit, putting her foot on the brake, she scrabbled around on the passenger seat and located the discarded map. L...

“ University Massacre ” by Stardust Rubino

Cheryl Corbett had just one drink at Snugg’s Bar & Grille before she hit the dancefloor. A vodka and Red Bull, to be exact. It was all the rage in 2017 before enough people caught on to the fact the latter would mask the effects of the former, causing drinkers to imbibe more than anticipated and suffer the effects of binging more easily. However, Cheryl had much more in store that night than a dangerous alcohol concoction.She swung her hips to “Your Love” by Glass Animals in her denim shorts. She discovered the song in a music video on Y...

“ Love Isn’t Just Blind, It’s Ludicrous ” by Michael Jefferson

Jammed like a pickled sardine on the express train to 14th Street with thousands of other commuters, Ryan Random knows there is more to life than assembling computer components and drinking mochaccinos with his co-worker. As platforms and people flash by in a dizzying blur, Ryan closes his eyes, his mind conjuring up a cozy villa in Greece with a passing stream surrounded by fig trees and grape leaves. Standing in front of the villa, her features a misty blur is a woman. Opening his eyes, Ryan finds himself next to a grey-haired old man no t...

“ The Crush of Fate ” by Jenny Clarke

The street flashed by in vibrant pulses. Everything penetrated her soul: every colour hit with a smack, each market shout tasting sharp and sour. Her eyes watered as smears of existence pressed themselves like desperate lovers to the outside of the ancient car, assaulting the windows of her vision in the weak sunlight. The rug shops. The grocers. The market stalls selling the loudest voices, the fairest prices, the hats, the gloves, the meat, the rice, wool, pies, silks, toys, cups, teas, seeds. Red. Green. A horn screamed, but she was alrea...

The Best Crime Short Stories

A window shatters in the dead of the night. Somewhere on the streets, a suspect runs from the scene of a crime. Who could they be: a desperate parent stealing to support their family? Or a serial killer driven by their darkest, basest instincts?

The crime genre has consistently remained at the top of the publishing industry for over a hundred years. Authors ranging from Agatha Christie and Patricia Highsmith to James Patterson and Karin Slaughter continue to delight readers with thrilling tales of criminals and detectives.

Welcome to the bleeding edge of new crime stories

Created by a diverse group of writers from around the world, the crime stories here were written specifically for Reedsy’s weekly writing competition . At the top, you’ll find stories shortlisted by our panel of judges. We also compile winning stories from a range of genres in Prompted , our new literary magazine — make sure to claim your free copy!

Just as Edgar Allan Poe and Arthur Conan Doyle built their careers on a foundation of short stories — so might some of the writers you’ll find here. With that in mind, keep your eyes peeled for the next big name in crime fiction.

Find the perfect editor for your next book

Over 1 million authors trust the professionals on Reedsy, come meet them.

Oops, you need an account for that!

Log in with your social account:

Or enter your email:

50+ True Crime Stories That Will Shock You To Your Core

These true crime stories are so horrific, it’s difficult to believe they actually happened, or that human beings could be capable of committing such atrocities. And yet, these stories are indeed all true. Sometimes, real life is a lot grimmer than fiction. Sometimes, real life involves murder, abduction, betrayal, torture, and death…

12 True Creepy Crimes That Will Make You Lock Your Doors Tonight

1.  angela hammond.

“She was talking on the payphone with her fiance and saying how there is this suspicious truck that keeps driving around the block. Then, that truck parks near her where the payphone is, he gets out and starts looking around with his flashlight as if he lost something, then he confronts Angela and abducts her. Her fiance heard all of this on the other line and immediately got in his car to drive where Angela was. When doing so, he drove past the guy in the truck and Angela was apparently screaming his name for help, so he turns around and tries following the truck and his transmission fucks up and the guy got away. Angela has never been heard from again. And, she was pregnant.”

2. Annie Borjesson

“I find the case of Annie Borjesson really weird. She was a Swedish student studying in Edinburgh. She then went to Prestwick airport (literally the other side of the country, then down a bit), caught on CCTV at the airport for ten seconds, then left. She tried to take out money multiple times from different ATMs, but didn’t have the funds so was denied. She was seen wandering about Prestwick, and then was found dead on the beach. Her long hair had been cut off, and the post mortem (as far as I have read) concluded death by drowning.

She may have been victim to foul play, or it was suicide. I also found that her parents’ e-mails were allegedly hacked later on. It may be a case of self-inflicted violence/mental health issues, but I find Annie’s case just so bizarre and sad.”

3.  The Hinterkaifeck Murders

“The Hinterkaifeck murders . A family saw footprints in the snow leading to their farm, but no footprints out of the farm. A few days later, they were killed in their own home. There was evidence that the perpetrators were staying in their house or the farm before the killings.

It’s creepy because your house is supposed to be the safest place. It’s hard to feel secure when you think about the possibility that your killer may be living with you without you noticing.”

4. Dorothy Scott

“I was just reading about Dorothy Scott recently. Her story is the saddest, and the creepiest was the bones of the dead dog the killer left on top of her remains to throw scavenger dogs off of his trail. Also, how her watch was stopped to the exact moment she died. I just can’t believe that he called her family so often and they could never trace the calls…I know it was the times though. But the whole thing is so horrifying.”

5. Brandon Swanson

“For those who are not familiar with his story, Brandon was a 19 year old who lived in Marshall, MN. He was returning home from a party recently celebrating his graduation from a community college up in a town north of Marshall called Canby and was on his way home.

Along the way home he crashed in a ditch. For some reason he was taking gravel roads even though the highway between the two towns was a straight shot North to South. I am guessing he took this route as a joy ride type of thing since he loved his car and driving in general or maybe he had a little too much to drink at the party and didn’t want to deal with any state troopers on patrol. He called his dad for a ride and eventually got tired of waiting inside his crashed car and started to walk towards Marshall. He claimed to his dad to see ‘lights’ of something nearby then abruptly exclaimed “Oh shit!” to his dad while still on the phone and his call ended. To this day no one knows what happened to him. No body found, none of his belongings found, nothing. There’s more to the story but that’s my summary. If you want to learn more just dig around.

My guess on what happened to Brandon is either he slipped and fell in a river due to not being able to see in the darkness, got shot and buried somewhere by a belligerent farmer who hated people trespassing on his property and would rather shoot then ask questions or was abducted by aliens (which would explain the lights). This case just creeps me out because I too live in Southern MN and I’m semi familiar with the Marshall area. It’s mostly flat farmlands around here so I really do not understand how someone can just disappear into thin air in the middle of nowhere without a body or any remains being found.”

6. The Bennington Triangle Disappearances

“Beginning in November 1945 through October 1950, five people — ages 8- to 74-years-old — went missing in the area. One was an experienced hunting guide and another was a 53-year-old woman described as an experienced camper and hiker who knew the area like the back of her hand. I’ve hiked Vermont’s Long Trail myself and there are places where you get a feeling of being watched by someone or some “thing.” In 2008, an instructor at Bennington College and experienced hiker got lost on the mountain, later recounted his strange experiences and swore he would never again hike the trail alone.”

7. The Setagaya Family

“The killer stayed in the house for hours, eating their [the Setagaya family’s ] food, logging into the family computer and sleeping on their couch. It’s so creepy because rarely does a killer stick around for hours after they commit their crime making themselves at home.”

8. Brandon Lawson

“Ran out of gas in Middle of Nowhere, TX in 2013. Called the cops, much of it is inaudible but he implies he’s being chased into the woods, and says he needs the cops. When police arrived, they find his truck but nothing else. Not a trace of him since.”

9. Katarzyna Zowada (The “Skin case”)

“A young Polish student disappears in Krakow city.

Few months later a ship on the Vistula river stops because ‘something’ stuck into a propeller. What they have found surprised everyone.

They have gotten out a… skin of missing Katarzyna Zowada . To be more precise: A suit made of human skin. Someone had cut all the limbs and head then created a ‘body suit’ from remaining part which was probably worn by the murderer for some time.

Despite media attention and increased police interest every few years a perpetrator never had been found.”

10. Cassie Jo Stoddart

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZNFpZfMnew

“She [ Cassie Jo Stoddart ] was house-sitting for her aunt. She invited her boyfriend over and his two friends came over as well. His friends left and said they were going to the movies. They didn’t.

At some point before “leaving”, they unlocked a basement door, unbeknownst to her. They shut the power off to scare her. They sat there (hiding) until her boyfriend left and she was alone and proceeded to put masks on, come in the house and stab her. If that isn’t bad enough, a video was found where they planned to murder her ahead of time. There was footage of them right after they killed her as well.”

11. Kris Kremers and Lisanne Froon

“Another creepy mystery that resonates with me is the disappearance of Kris Kremers and Lisanne Froon . Long story short, two Dutch girls visiting Panama decide to go on a hike a day before they were scheduled to meet a guide for a tour and they go missing the same night. 10 weeks later their remains and possessions are found down stream from where the girls were hiking.

What creeps me out the most about this disappearance is the pictures that were found on Lisanne’s camera that turned up in the remains. The pictures go from the usual nice pictures of landscapes and of the girls posing with landmarks to cryptic pictures of the darkness as what many assume were attempts to use the flash of the camera to act as a signal for rescuers. Also there was a photo of back of Kris’s head with what possibly looks like blood by her temple. Just the fact that no one knows what happened to these two during their time in the jungle is what is most unsettling about this mystery.”

12. Daniel LaPlante’s Murders

“ Daniel LaPlante is a triple murderer . He killed a nursery school teacher & her 2 kids in 1987. After a massive man-hunt they still could not find him. The ultra creepy thing is what happened. He was eventually discovered-after being on the run-in the closet of a girl he’d dated. She opened her door one night to see him standing there, in her mother’s clothes, face smeared with makeup, holding a machete. He tied her & her family up , but the youngest narrowly escaped. As if this isn’t bad enough, they AGAIN could not find him, till 2 weeks later. The family, who’d moved out, came back home and SAW LAPLANTE IN THE WINDOW. The police were called and later found out why he’d been so hard to find. Daniel had been living in the walls of his former girlfriend’s house the entire time.”

7 Of The Most Brutal Murders Ever Committed In The History Of The Human Race (NSFL)

1. the toolbox killer.

The  transcript  of what happened to Shirley Ledford at the hands of Toolbox Killers Lawrence Bittaker and Roy Norris is the most disturbing thing you will ever come across.

An excerpt from the transcript:

“At this point, after Bittaker had forced Shirley to fellate him, repeated sounds of an administered beating, interspersed with loud screams can be heard as Bittaker savagely beat Shirley about the breasts and, to a lesser degree, head. Bittaker then extracted his pliers from the tool box. Shirley then emits several high-pitched, prolonged screams and cries of agony as Bittaker alternately squeezes and twists her labia, clitoris, nipples and breasts with the pliers. Bittaker then returns the pliers to the tool box. Banging sounds can also be heard throughout, which are believed to have been made as Shirley came into contact with the walls and inner contents of the van as she writhed and flailed.”

Ledford: My God! Please stop it! (Screams) Bittaker: Is the recorder going? Norris: Yeah! Bittaker: Scream baby !  Scream some, baby.

2. Kelly Anne Bates

Bates was horrifically tortured for days before her tormentor finally killed her. Below are a few examples of what she went through.

According to  Wikipedia , Kelly Anne Bates (18 May 1978 – 16 April 1996) was a British teenager murdered on 16 April 1996 at age 17 in Manchester after being tortured for four long weeks. Kelly’s eyes were gouged from their sockets up to three weeks before she actually died from drowning in a bathtub. These horrific crimes were committed by her partner, James Patterson Smith .

Below is a list from Wikipedia of the specific injuries Kelly Anne Bates endured through torture:

• Scalding to her buttocks and left leg
• Burns on her thigh caused by the application of a hot iron
• A fractured arm
• Multiple stab wounds caused by knives, forks and scissors
• Stab wounds inside her mouth
• Crush injuries to both hands
• Mutilation of her ears, nose, eyebrows, mouth, lips and genitalia
• Wounds caused by a spade and pruning shears
• Both eyes gouged out
• Later stab wounds to the empty eye sockets
• Partial scalping

3.  Junko Furuta

Furuta was a 17-year-old Japanese girl whose case became known as the “concrete-encased high school girl murder case.” Furuta was kidnapped by four teenage boys and, aside from the brutality of the assaults against her, the most disturbing thing is that she was held at one of the kidnapper’s houses and his parents were present the entire time, knew what was going on, and did nothing to stop it.

Also extremely disturbing is that Furuta turned 17 while she was in captivity and enduring these horrors. There’s something tremendously upsetting about that.

According to  Wikipedia :

To avoid concern over her abduction, the perpetrators forced Furuta to call her parents and tell them that she would be staying at a friend’s house for a while. Over the course of her confinement, Furuta was repeatedly raped, beaten, and tortured by her four captors until they killed her. The parents of Kamisaku were present in the home for at least a part of the time that Furuta was held captive, and though she pleaded with them for help, they did not intervene, later claiming that they feared their son too much to do so.

The killers hid her corpse in a 208-litre oil drum filled with concrete. They disposed of the drum in a tract of reclaimed land in Kōtō, Tokyo.

4. The Hi-Fi Murders

In 1974, two men robbing a Hi-Fi store in Odgen, Utah held captive and tormented five individuals. Only two of the captives would survive. Among the sadism levied on the captives were the following, according to Wikipedia :

Violence included a pen being kicked into an ear and the brutal rape of a teenage girl who was later shot in the head. Corrosive drain cleaner was also forcefully given to the hostages causing horrific burns to their mouths and throats.

Not only were they forced to drink drain cleaner but their mouths were then taped shut so they couldn’t spit it out or vomit it up.

One of the victims, Orren Walker, was shot several times, strangled and had a pen kicked into his ear but still survived.

5. The McStay Family

In 2010, in Fallbrook, California, the McStay family (including Joseph McStay, his wife Summer, and their two children), was brutally murdered. The four were then moved by the killer and buried in a shallow grave in the desert but their remains weren’t found until 2013. For three years they’d simply believed to have disappeared.

Forensic evidence showed that all had been beaten to death with a sledgehammer which was found near the family’s remains. Joseph McStay suffered four blows to the head and the family’s youngest child, only four years old, suffered seven. Investigators also believe the family was tortured prior to being killed.

Charles Merritt, McStay’s former business partner has been charged with the family’s murder.

6.  James Bulger

In 1993, in England, two-year-old James Bulger was abducted by two ten-year-olds at the mall while his mother was distracted.

After taking him from the mall, the two boys took Bulger on a two and a half mile walk. At one point they picked Bulger up and dropped him on his head which caused him to have a bump on his head and, according to bystanders, cry.

The two then took him up an embankment and onto a set of railroad tracks where they began torturing him.

More details of the murder according to Wikipedia :

At the trial it was established that at this location, one of the boys threw blue Humbrol modelling paint, which they had shoplifted earlier, into Bulger’s left eye. They kicked and stomped on him, and threw bricks and stones at him. Batteries were placed in Bulger’s mouth. Police believed some batteries may have been inserted into his anus, although none were found there. Finally, a 22-pound (10.0 kg) iron bar, described in court as a railway fishplate, was dropped on him. Bulger suffered ten skull fractures as a result of the iron bar striking his head. Dr. Alan Williams, the case’s pathologist, stated that Bulger suffered so many injuries—42 in total—that none could be isolated as the fatal blow.

Police suspected that there was a sexual element to the crime, since Bulger’s shoes, socks, trousers and underpants had been removed. The pathologist’s report read out in court stated that Bulger’s foreskin had been forcibly retracted.

Before they left him, the boys laid Bulger across the railway tracks and weighted his head down with rubble, in the hope that a train would hit him and make his death appear to be an accident.

After Bulger’s killers left the scene, his body was cut in half by a train. Bulger’s severed body was discovered two days later on 14 February.

7.  Amora Bain Carson

Amora Bain Carson, the 13-month-old baby who was tortured to death by her mother’s boyfriend during an “exorcism.” I’ll tell the story by copying some things from each of their appeals. Jesseca Carson was the baby’s mother, and the boyfriend was Blaine Milam. Jessica Carson was sentenced to life, while Blaien Milam was sentenced to death.

WARNING: Graphic Content

“Carson concluded that the child was like ‘Chucky’ or ‘Pet Sematary’ (horror movies) when the “boy dies and comes back to life all evil and stuff” because the child was “biting Blaine to where it was drawing blood on his hands.” After Milam returned to the child, he took a picture of her and gave it to Carson. One of the child’s eyes was stretched and ‘like warped down.’ Carson heard horrible cries from the child as Milam was attempting the exorcism.”

“During the hours involved, Milam had taken the child to a back bedroom in their small dwelling and wedged the door shut. The evidence would allow a jury to conclude that Carson was necessarily aware of what was happening to the child, because she admitted hearing the screams that accompanied such torture and because she saw the child’s deformed head after some time had passed and heard the sounds caused by the blows.”

“They found blood-spatter stains, consistent with blunt force trauma, near the south bedroom. Among the items collected from the south bedroom were: blood-stained bedding and baby clothes; blood-stained baby diapers and wipes; a tube of Astroglide lubricant; and a pair of jeans with blood stains on the lap. DNA testing later showed that Amora’s blood was on these items.”

“As a result of the ‘exorcism’ conducted by Milam, Amora suffered innumerable injuries that led to her death. Forensic evidence showed the child was beaten so severely that the multitude of fractures to her skull connected with each other like a jigsaw puzzle, and her brain was torn and severely damaged. An arm and leg had spiral fractures indicating they were twisted in two, her torso was either struck by a blunt object or squeezed until the ribs and sternum broke, and her body (neck, chest, abdomen, buttocks, both elbows, both forearms, both feet, right arm, left shoulder, left upper arm, left hand, right thigh, and left knee) was riddled with no less than twenty-four distinct bite marks. Her head and face were so scraped and bruised that all the discrete injuries combined into “one giant injury.” Her liver was torn, and her vaginal and anal orifices were so torn that the vagina and rectum were actually connected, an injury the forensic examiner had never seen before. The underside of her tongue was lacerated from blunt force trauma. She was also strangled. Because of all the injuries she sustained, it was not possible to determine which one was the final injury, and no specific, singular cause of death was determinable. Forensic testimony reflected that several of the injuries standing alone would have each been fatal. Police were called several hours later; when they arrived, the child was entirely stiff and in rigor.”

“On December 13th, appellant’s sister, Teresa, went to see appellant in jail. That night, she told her aunt that she ‘was needing to find a way to get back out to the trailer in Tatum’ because “Blaine had told her that she needed to go out there to the trailer to get some evidence out from underneath of it.” The aunt called Sgt. Rogers and told her that “she needed to get out to the trailer immediately, that Teresa was wanting to go out there to get some evidence out from underneath the trailer.”

“Sgt. Rogers immediately obtained a search warrant, crawled under the trailer, and discovered a pipe wrench inside a clear plastic bag. The pipe wrench had been shoved down ‘a hole in the floor of the master bathroom.’ Forensic analysis revealed components of Astroglide on the pipe wrench, the diaper Amora had been wearing, and the diaper and wipes collected from the south bedroom.”

Werner Herzog did an episode of  On Death Row  about Blaine Milam and the full episode is on  YouTube . It has security footage from the pawn shop where they were supposedly pawning a chainsaw to get money for an exorcism (after Amora was already dead) and a gas station, the 911 call, crime scenes photos (not of Amora’s body, of course, just the trailer) and interviews with pretty much everyone involved (except Jesseca Carson). It doesn’t make it any easier… but this case raises a lot of questions and searching online for these kinds of cases can take you horrible places that use Amora for shock value or misrepresent autopsy photos of other unfortunate victims as her (no post-mortem photos of Amora have been released and her autopsy was sealed). Especially since Amora’s case hasn’t been in the MSM very much due to the graphic nature of her death. With Herzog you’re getting quality information on the case coming straight from those involved.

Bonus: 36 Locals Share The Most Horrific True Crimes That Happened In Their Home Towns

1.   “ Stacey Castor poisoned her husband and then poisoned her daughter on the daughter’s first day of college. She wrote a fake suicide note for her daughter saying that she had killed her father and was committing suicide because of the guilt. The daughter almost died but recovered from the poison and testified against her mother. They also found out she had poisoned her first husband.”

2.   “When I was in 3rd grade I saw a kid get into a police car while I was in chess club. Turns out his father murdered his younger twin sisters by stabbing them to death. Apparently he told them to play hide and seek and murdered them when he found them. When he finally returned to school he got bullied by the shitbag kids at our school, making fun of his dead sisters. He was placed in the custody of his aunt who later committed suicide and he was left in the care of the state after that. That boy’s  life was horrible .”

3.  “Around 3 years ago, my friend’s father went berserk and killed my friend, his younger brother and his mother, and then proceeded to hang himself. I remember talking to him the week before about a project we had in lit class. His extended family took the project because it was the last thing he worked on before the incident. I had grief counselors talk to me for every class I had with him (Which was almost all of them). Our school still has a Tree and a memorial dedicated to him.”

4. “Probably David Meirhofer’s murders. Among other things he snatched a seven year old girl out of her tent while her family was camping, molested her, then strangled her to death. They caught him because he called her mother to taunt her a year later.”

5.  “Neighbors that lived across the road from me were having domestic issues. The wife brings over a box of stuff for us to stash because she is afraid he will steal/burn it. We stash it for her no problem. A week later she is missing, the following week they found her dead, stuffed in a box in his storage unit. He got life. We gave the box of stuff to her daughter.”

6.   “Guy beat his pregnant girlfriend to death in front of her kids, then beat her 8 and 6 year old to death. Couldn’t bring himself to beat the 2 year old to death so he threw him in the dryer and turned it on.”

7.   “When I was a kid one of my neighbors and his sister murdered their mom by bashing her head in with a real heavy frying pan and then strangled her with the phone cord. (Back when phones had cords) because the mother told the son that he couldn’t take his underage sister out with him to a party. So they killed her and left her body in the closet and then went to the party like nothing happened.”

8.  “I live in a (relatively) rural county in England, so we normally don’t have many crimes that you could consider too bad.

About three years ago a 17 year girl I’d met once or twice went missing, she was popular and the community really pulled together in trying to find her. She was also the daughter of a detective who works in our town.

Turns out she was murdered by another lad I’d also met a few times. He was a bit older (22 I think) He seemed okay when I met him, a little cocky but nothing too unusual. He was a photographer who once staged a picture with one of my friends where she was hanging by the neck with a bag on her head. Pretty strange stuff, but I assumed it was all in the name of art.

He’d been rejected by this girl so he lured her to his house on the pretense of taking modelling photos. He strangled her to death when she got there and dumped her body miles away.

Apparently the cops found essays he’d been writing obsessively about her. He’d also taken pictures labelled “before-during-after” of her murder, so it was obviously pre-meditated.

He was given a whole-life sentence (which are very rare in the UK) so chances are he’ll never get to see the light of day again.”

9.   “My neighbor that became our family’s friend had a nice step dad. He used to give me rides sometimes. We lived in a bad part of Miami (think inner city, not South Beach) and my nickname there was “smart girl” because I’m the only one in “the hood” that went to college.

Anyway, I moved away and apparently one day my friend’s mom told his step dad she wanted to leave him. He went insane. He grabbed his gun and told her she’s going to die before she leaves or something like that. My friend’s little sister was there too and was crying the whole time (she was like 16). My friend stepped between his step dad and his mom. His step dad told him if he didn’t move he’d kill him too.

He didn’t move. He killed my friend, then the mom. He turned to the little girl and said he couldn’t kill her and that he was so sorry. Then he killed himself.”

10.   “The murder of Maddie Clifton. An 8 year old girl went missing in Jacksonville, FL and it became a huge national story in 1998. There was a massive hunt to find her by law enforcement and local residents. Everyone was looking. It’s all anyone talked about. A week into the search, a mother went into her son’s room while he was at school to clean it after the stench coming from it became overwhelming. His waterbed seemed to be leaking. When she looked more closely, she discovered Maddie’s body stuffed inside the pedestal of the bed.

The woman’s son was only 14 years old. He said him and Maddie were playing baseball, and when he hit the ball, it hit Maddie in the eye causing her to bleed. He says he panicked when she wouldn’t stop screaming, and said his father was abusive and was afraid what would happen to him if he she told on him. So, he dragged Maddie inside, stabbed her 11 times and beat her to death with the baseball bat.

Horrible, tragic story.”

11.  “A woman murdered an expectant mother and cut the baby out, drove off, then called 911 in an attempt to pass the baby off as her own. I was just off work around that time that night and definitely drove by that exact spot before they found the body. It’s right off the highway.  Creepy shit …”

12.  “Our neighbor on our street was having an affair and decided it was a good idea to kill her husband then burn the house down so she could be with her pilot boyfriend.

Stupid thing was her boyfriend used to come into one local bar, said he was never that serious about her and that she was clingy, even went so far as to try and get him to be her alibi. All this happened while we were on vacation, weirdest trip home ever.”

13.  “If you guys aren’t aware what’s going on in the Philippines. Most drug users/dealers are now being killed by unknown assailants. Just last week we have 2 people dumped near where I live with their heads fully wrapped with tape and hands as well with a cardboard sign saying “I’m a drug dealer. Don’t be like me” (translated from our native language).”

14.  “Grew up in a small town north of the bay area, while watching a documentary about Jim Jones my teacher started crying. Found out for several years Jones’s church was in our town (2miles from my house) and after everyone committed ‘suicide’ in Guyana they ran a list of names on the local news. A large number of previous students and their parents were on the list. The shit didn’t go down in my town but a whole generation where I grew up lost friends and family to that guy and the church (with a guard tower) still stands to this day but with a different denomination.”

15.  “When I was a baby there was this nice couple that lived down the street from me. No kids, middle aged, average couple. The wife and my mom would talk sometimes – casual pleasant neighborly chatter. Apparently this lady was a total sweetheart and was loved around town.

So one day my mom is driving home, and the couple’s house is surrounded by police cruisers. Turns out the wife commit suicide by shotgun. The problem was – she shot herself twice.

For months they were investigating the husband…they were so close to having the evidence that they needed to nail him for the murder.

One day, my mom and grandma were going to the store. When they left, he was sitting in his driveway in his car. He waved at them as they left. When they get home, there are police and an ambulance outside his house – he was slumped over dead in his car – suicide by carbon monoxide.

They literally saw him as he was killing himself after he killed his wife. Yikes.”

16. “ Andrea Yates  drowning her five kids. Happened five minutes away and our family still sees her ex husband and his new family on occasion. They’re very nice.”

17.  “Let’s see… Where to start? This list doesn’t even include the stuff related to the meth epidemic.

(1990’s) A guy cut another dude into pieces with a carving knife and stashed the body in the deep freezer in his apartment. The police only found them a week later.

(2000’s) A guy got into an argument with their cousin at the club, drove to their house and chucked a firebomb inside. The fire killed all five of their kids, who were home at the time.

(2000’s again) Another guy heard that his estranged parents had a huge life insurance policy in their name. One night, he left home, drove to his parents’ place in Iowa, and killed almost everyone (6 people) with a shotgun, then drove home to eat dinner, while awaiting the news. He was only caught because his 7 year old niece hid in the closet the whole time and she was able to tell who did it.

(2015-now) Several fatal shootings and beatings that have killed a few people. Heroin epidemic.

Oh also, Michael Swango AKA “Dr. Death”, a serial killer known for poisoning victims (4-60; true number unknown), worked as an EMT around the area here in the 80’s.

So, yeah, Central Illinois is just low-key slang for ‘Trevor Philips country’.”

18.  “Just happened this month, a mother of a one month old punched her baby to death because she was tired of feeding it. She then blamed the father. Fucked up.”

19.   “Whitey here. I live in a small south east town. Back in the 80’s the town was still pretty segregated school wise. Where the railroad tracks once ran through town, was the diving line. South side of the railroad was probably 99.9% black. My backyard fence was part of that dividing line. When I was 10, my parents fostered a black boy my age. He lived in my neighborhood, played on my baseball team. His dad went to prison up in NY and the boy lived with us for 4 years. He moved back when his dad got out. But 30 years later, we still tell people we are brothers.

‘D’ taught me a lot about black community. Especially about times when crimes are committed and the whole black community knows who did it. But don’t tell because “fuck the police” or retaliation from the criminal.

we lived 2 blocks from the closest convenience store/arcade. People walking to the store from the south side of the tracks, walked by my house. It wasn’t the wild west or anything. We may not have gone to the same school sometimes, but we only had 1 recreation department so we played sports together. So we always saw people we knew at the store.

But there was this one guy. For the late 80’s this dude was pretty out and flamboyant when it came to being gay. Remember those 70’s and 80’s short shorts with the stripe. If you hung em just right, your balls were exposed.

Anyway, dude used to walk up and down the street, short short, flip flops, tank top t shirt, medium size afro, and usually sucking on a sucker. He was very friendly. He would stop and talk. He acted like he was a girl. He was alright. My sister and her friend were nice to him. He stopped and talked to them if they were ever about.

Fast Forward. So the dude is found in the bathroom at the ballfield. He had been murdered. Just fucked up big time. Beat to hell and back. And the story every one has head as an urban legend before. They had cut his dick off and put it in his mouth. His balls were in his hand and a broom stick had been shoved in his ass.

No suspects.

Year later, out in the county, a white sherriff’s deputy off duty from another county happens to be in our jurisdiction, checking on his parents’ house. Happens to catch 2 black guys robbing the house. He shoots and kills both after a scuffle.

Oddly enough, under routine drug test, because of the shooting, cocaine shows up on his system. This story is really fishy. Investigation goes on for a long time. The cops finally drop the case, declare it self defense or what have.

This is where my foster brother ‘D’ comes into play. Years later. We’re in our 20’s, shooting the shit and somehow bring up the murder of the gay dude. I was like, ‘I can’t believe they never solved that case.’

D was like what you talking about? Everybody knew who did it. What? He asked, ‘remember the 2 black dudes the off duty cop killed breaking into his parents house?’

Yea I remember that.

Well those were the dudes that did it. Everybody in the “hood” knew it was them. They were always terrorizing everybody. And the house they were breaking into and got caught? Drug deal. Those 2 dudes were dealing drugs, and that white guy, off duty sheriff deputy from another county. Shot em in the middle of the deal.

So two drug dealers/murderers are murdered by a crooked cop, but in the end, I don’t really consider that justice for our friendly neighborhood gay boy that probably never hurt a flea in his 20 years of life.

You may not have any love for ‘the man’ or ‘the police’ but how can a community be silent when innocent people are hurt?”

20.  “Second week in my new apartment and my neighbor gets robbed and stabbed. I heard the whole encounter and was the one that called the cops.”

21.   “I was emancipated really young. I just moved into emergency housing commission and had to sleep in the lounge room because it had the only light bulb and I’m scared of the dark.

For anyone not in Australia Housing Commission is cheap units or houses owned by the government and rented to disadvantaged people. Mostly junkies and welfare bludgers.

Anyway I was sleeping in the lounge room which had the front door attached when I hear the most blood curling screams.

One junkie had poured boiling water over another chick, stabbed her repeatedly and cut off one of her tits.

I was laying maybe 10 meters away.”

22.   “A child was raped and murdered. Guy was arrested and he was killed within 24 hours of being arrested and in a community cell of like 6 inmates instead of segregation he died and no one in the cell seen it.”

23.  “I only remember some of the details as I was on holidays at the time and only heard second hand what happened. So a guy who lived around the corner had an argument with his wife over something, got pissed off and then shot her. People heard the gunshot and called the police, which prompted him to run away in his car down the main road about 2km to his parents house where he got into their gun locker, killed his parents and then had a standoff with the police that lasted a couple of hours and ending in him shooting himself.”

24.  “We had a group of people who would pretend to be the cops, dressed in all black and wore ski masks and stuff, knock on your door, say they had a warrant, and if you opened it up, they would force their way in and rob you.

This went on for months, like, month after month after month. They decided they were above the law, so their crimes kept getting worse and worse, one of their later houses they beat an old man until he had jaw, facial, and skull fractures so bad he had to have a life flight to a major trauma center where he had emergency surgery. The next old couple they killed.

They were sure the local police couldn’t do anything, the newspaper even said the police had nothing to go on, and it just kept getting worse. One of their last home invasions, they just killed the homeowner as he opened the door for absolutely no reason.

I realized that if someone had defended themselves earlier in the chain of criminality, things never would have reached this point. I ended up getting a Ring Video Doorbell and a Strikemaster II door reinforcements for each external door. I keep firearms in electronic safes ready to use at any moment. Nothing like that is going to happen to my family.”

25.  “There was a family in the area I used to live in and I played soccer with the middle daughter. It was three girls — two were adults and one was still in high school — and the parents. The parents were very religious, the mother especially, and they had a lot of beliefs that I (and many people) found…strange.

The eldest daughter (whose name I don’t recall) had a serious mental illness that she managed perfectly well when she lived out of home. She had a job, had a decent life and all was well. The relationship she was in fell apart and she had to move back home for financial reasons. One of the rules her parents had was that she wasn’t to take her meds anymore because they weren’t what they considered ‘godly.’

Things deteriorated over time and the parents continued to withhold her medications. Now, I have a chronic mental illness myself and without my meds things descend into chaos quite quickly so I can’t imagine what it would’ve been like for her with her illness being more serious than mine. Her parents were told by their church to pray over her and everything would be ok.

As I’m sure you can imagine things were  not  ok. She lost her tenuous grip on reality and became unstable. She attacked her family while doing battle with a series of hallucinations that were telling her awful things about her parents and sisters. She took a sharp kitchen knife and went after her youngest sister (the middle one that I knew wasn’t home at the time) and stabbed her to death in the kitchen. Her father kept trying to defend his youngest child while trying to settle the eldest and he sustained serious injuries. The eldest followed him when he ran from the house to get help and she caught him from behind and stabbed him multiple times in the neck. He died on the front lawn. The mother was injured as well but appeared not to be the target of the eldest daughter’s hallucinations and she managed to survive.

The girl was taken down by tasers when the police arrived — they were called by neighbours who heard the commotion — and she was sent to a high security facility where she still is now. She was very obviously not in control of herself at the time so she avoided criminal charges and the mother moved away from the area.

I feel for the mother most; she essentially lost her whole family. The youngest and her husband had been killed and the middle child moved away eventually too, changing her surname when she got married and chose to disconnect from her mother. I know she blames her mum for what happened because she was the one who withheld the medication. I can imagine that the mum blames herself too.

When that happened it helped my mum to put my illness into perspective — if I’m treated properly, everything will be alright. It was a “there, but for the grace of God, go we” moment.

That was the worst crime that happened in our area for quite a while. Years before that there was a massacre (the Milperra Masacre, if you want to google it) between rival biker gangs who had, and continue to have, a presence in that particular suburb. Since then there was a child drowned during an exorcism after parents were told by a priest (or something) that the kid had a demon inside him and trying to force it out was the only way to save him…he was going through puberty, that’s all.”

26.  “The kidnapping of Michael Dunahee. He is still just considered missing but its been 20+ years. You’d have to be pretty optimistic to believe he didn’t meet a horrible fate. He was just a small boy when taken and the incident absolutely ROCKED My small crime free city. It changed everything…parents kept a much more careful eye on us kids..many of our freedoms were taken away…I still feel sick when i think about what horrible things must’ve happened to that poor boy.”

27.   “Growing up two brothers murdered their parents and put them in bags in the Attic. They did this because their parents would not let them go to a party nor own a cell phone, this was when cell phone were just becoming affordable for the upper middle class.”

28.   “DEA bust next door, serial killers dumping ground five minutes from my house, and Sandy hook is within a 30 minutes drive.”

29.   “We sold our house when I was 9 and moved a few miles away. The couple we sold the house to was nice enough, but a little odd. I don’t even know what it was, but even  I  noticed they were weird, and I was a little kid.

Fast forward about 12 years. I’m in college and these people have a son themselves. One day the man cornered his wife in the dining room and blew her head off with a shotgun. They had been having marital trouble prior to that but I’m not sure what exactly set him off. Kind of creepy to know that happened in my old house.”

30.   “The girl who got stabbed by the two slenderman girls? My second cousin. My younger siblings actually played with her 2 weeks prior at a family gathering. Crazy.”

31.   “Some kid beat another to kid to death with a bat over an argument that had to do with something related to weed. Mind you the population in my town is like 8,000. This was crazy.”

32.  “Well, we’ve got a serial killer running around now – he’s killed seven people so far. (Referring to the  current serial killer loose in Phoenix, Arizona ).”

33.  “I live in Downtown Dallas. I was packing for an international trip the night of the police shooting. I took note of the crowds after work and just made a mental note to “stay inside for awhile” after I got home. It wasn’t until I walked downstairs to get some tacos at around 10pm and a couple cops with sniper rifles were posted up in our lobby and told me to “get the fuck back upstairs, we are on lockdown!” that I realized some shit went down. What I witnessed that night and the following day really changed my perspective on a lot. They didn’t show the majority of it on the news. I have always been very supportive and stood behind a lot of social movements…but there is zero excuse for a 14 year old to spit on a cop, tell me I was a “Mexican bitch” that he “ought to rape,” loot a 7-11, or do any of the insane things that I saw.”

34.   The Snowtown, Australia Murders

“In my city some guys went around torturing people to death and then dissolved their bodies in vats of acid. But they used the wrong type of acid (Not strong enough) and people complained of a foul smell, so the police investigated and found semi-liquified remains in barrels.”

35.   “Two people ordered a pizza and killed the teenage driver because they wanted to know what it was like to kill a man.”

36.   “The 10 mile radius around my childhood home is like catnip to serial killers and evil. BTK dumped one of his victims in a ditch a mile away from my house (before I was born,) the Carr Brothers murdered a group of 5 people in the soccer field 4-5 miles from my home (6th one survived because she wore a metal hair clip that caused the bullet to ricochet away from her head,) A man molested small children on the same street, the old lady that hated us kids ended up murdered by her own son (my mom was the one to find her since she started to smell the decomposing body and a family member asked her if she was willing to go in for her.)

Tons of crimes that never were recorded, gunshots going off in the dead of night, a scream that suddenly got cut short, we were just told to lay on the floor while my father paced the house with a shotgun until he felt it was safe.”

January Nelson

January Nelson is a writer, editor, and dreamer. She writes about astrology, games, love, relationships, and entertainment. January graduated with an English and Literature degree from Columbia University.

More From Thought Catalog

The 10 Most Anticipated Shows Of Summer 2024 You CAN’T Miss

The Most Scandalously Romantic ‘Bridgerton’ Moments In Season 3 and Prior That Captured “Obsessive Yearning”

6 Things That Are Extremely Likely To Happen In ‘Furiosa’ (We Swear)

‘Book Of Shadows: Blair Witch 2’ Is Better Than You Remember, Here’s Why

Are The Rumors True? Our Totally Reasonable Theories For ‘Shōgun’ Season 2

The 12 Best Rom Coms On Max Right Now (May, 2024)

Criminal Justice - Essay Samples And Topic Ideas For Free

Essay topics on criminal justice are not easy. It requires much research and knowledge of the justice system of a particular country and the law rights of residents. This topic combines much information, but you should focus on one to reveal it well in your essay. For example, you can write about the United States criminal justice system: its foundation, laws, and punishments. Along with this, you can mention certain problems that touch on criminal law or how the government should react to a range of crimes. Also, you can explain the consequences of breaking the law.

To start such an essay is always difficult. There should be precise thesis statements that will be a focus throughout the entire research paper. It is essential to highlight it in the introduction so you will hook the reader and keep them interested until the end of the essay, its conclusion. If you don’t know what to start with, we recommend you get familiar with research paper examples about criminal justice. They will surely guide you in coming up with your own thoughts and assumptions of what problem to raise. Remember to get started with an outline that is a good predecessor for your successful essay. By doing so and studying essay examples on criminal justice, you will improve your writing skills.

Corruption of the Criminal Justice System

There is a long history report of police violence against civilians in the United States which has resulted in creating laws by the government so that citizens may find a way to find a possible solution when their rights are violated. Section 242 of the constitution allows police officers to be fined or even imprisoned for any law enforcer who deprives a person of their rights on the basis of their colour or race (Kevin). The corruption investigations done by […]

Three Problems of the Criminal Justice System and how to Fix them

The criminal justice system has an important role in society to maintain order and to ensure that law is equal and fair; no matter age, ethnicity, race, sex, or social economical status. Unfortunately, this is not true within the current judicial system. Racial discrimination, youth incarceration, and health related infirmities result from incarceration (Simonson, 2017). Three Problems of the Criminal Justice System and How to Fix Them There are many problems that plague our current criminal justice system. The problems […]

Gender Equality and Crime

The court and the Judiciary, in general, are guided by the basic principles of justice to all. Judges usually give rulings based on the rule of law with the intention of protecting the public, deterring crime, rehabilitating law offenders, punishing offenders and offering reparation to the victim. The principles of justice mean fairness, protecting the rights of all regardless of gender, race or religion. However, gender equality has been a significant issue for many years, and there has been a […]

We will write an essay sample crafted to your needs.

Dispute Resolution in Criminal Justice

In my class of Sociology of Criminal Justice, we are learning what happened socially in the United States to cause the criminal justice policy to change so dramatically into a punishment policy, where we deliver harsher punishment to individuals to incapacitate and deter them from committing punishment. The class also explores what the aspects are of this punishment policy and what the consequences have been for the past decades from this policy. One particular topic that has stuck with in […]

The Current Trends and Issues of Social Media and its Effects on the Criminal Justice System

Technology keeps changing and getting more and more in everybody's face we can't avoid it. With that being said the more it advances and what if has become from say 50 years ago takes a big effect on the criminal justice system in many ways. Now there are good and bad ways it affects it. A good way would be someone could record and officer doing something that is actually wrong and he gets in trouble for it or a […]

Gender and Crime

Gender has been attributed as one of the key factors that act a significant role in the crime patterns and the criminal justice systems. For a very long time, it has become a fact that women and men differ in their rates of committing crimes as well as their victimization pattern experience. However, from this report, we find that the victimization risk of violence among the male adults almost equal to that of female adults. My perception, however, is different […]

Presenting Juveniles as Adults in the Criminal Justice System

The word most frequently used to describe the growth in the rate of violent crime among children 17 years old and younger is epidemic. The alarming rate at which children are committing crimes has increased the amount of questions on what should be done with these juveniles. The National Center for Juvenile Justice states how “Every state but Hawaii now allows juveniles to be tried as adults for certain crimes,” so why are people struggling with laws allowing young offenders […]

How the Media Portray Crime and the Criminal Justice System?

Crime has become one of the most consumed topics in America media. Since the U.S citizens greatly believe, rely, and get fooled on whichever the media spit out to them mostly with anything regarding crime, therefore, they do not take a moment to find, think, and analyze what they have heard, watched, or read from the media to compare with statistical facts. Rather, they digest any news that is being released from the media as true and credible. In fact, […]

Juvenile Correctional Counselor

Introduction In the criminal justice system there are numerous available career opportunities one can choose. By definition, criminal justice is “the system of law enforcement, involving police, lawyers, courts, and corrections, used for all stages of criminal proceedings and punishment” (D. 2018). Any career one may choose will follow the three-tiered system found within criminal justice: law enforcement, the court system, or the correctional aspect of criminal justice. For this paper, I have chosen to discuss what entails the career […]

Latinos in Criminal Justice

Latinos have a large presence in America, and have for a long time. This large Latino presence is due to the freedoms that are afforded by the United States government since the founding of our nation. Latinos may come to The United States for many reasons, one reason that Latinos may have the desire to come to the states is due to the corruption and violence in Latin America and their home countries. Countries in Latin America may not be […]

Racial Profiling Within the Criminal Justice System

Abstract There are many different reasons for people to engage in criminal activities. Unfortunately, there is no way to pin point the source of crime. The purpose of this research paper is to reveal the influences that race has on the Criminal Justice System. More specifically, the researcher (Danielle Clarke) will be discussing the ethical issue of Racial Profiling within the criminal justice system.? Introduction Sampson and Wilson (1995) stated that, “The discussion of Race and Crime is mired in […]

Constitution of the United States and the Fourth Amendment

The method by which law enforcement should treat people is based on the Bill of Rights section of the Constitution of the United States. The Fourth Amendment protects individuals from unreasonable search by law enforcement. Police must show evidence, that a threat to public safety exists, and probable cause that a crime is, or will be, committed for courts to issue a search warrant. The details of the what, where, when and whom they are searching must be provided. Items […]

Women Mental Health and the Criminal Justice System

Veronica Sutton COUN 603 Prof. Clarisse Domingo October 20, 2018 Foundations of Mental Health Counseling Based on some estimates, as much as 50% of the U.S. prison population suffers from some form of mental illness. As a consequence, each year thousands of mentally ill men and women are sent to prisons because of limited community resources. Which, has lead to mass incarceration within correctional institutions that are poorly equipped to treat the mental ill as they are subjected to punishments […]

Spain Criminal Justice

Spain, one of the oldest and most successful countries in the world. One of the biggest countries in all of Europe, and one of the biggest tourist attractions in the world. The history of Spain can be traced back hundreds of years when monarchs ruled the country. Of course, over time many things have changed. The economy, politics, tourism, etc. But, one thing that obviously changed over time is there criminal justice system. How it has developed from the past […]

Careers in Criminal Justice

Education and Professional Law Enforcement The American police officer execrate a promise to defend and aid the people they embody. They are presented by the administration to implement the law by detaining offenders and sensing and averting misconducts. Germann (1967) commences by stating that “there was a time when the American policeman would be inclined to define his job and role in a very narrow fashion” (p. 603). However, he continues that policing obligations are no longer simple responsibilities necessitating […]

Supervision in the Criminal Justice Field

Abstract Law enforcement agencies understand the importance of a true partnership with the community. Positive relationships with some segments of the community are easier to come by than others. Most communities in America are rich with many different cultures. However, it is because of this diversity that many organizations struggle to build trust and secure relationships that lead to success. Law enforcement agencies have an obligation to make proactive efforts to bridge the divide between the officers and community. Existing […]

The Constitution of America and Laws

The constitution of America established fundamental laws and guaranteed certain rights for its citizens. It was written in 1787 that replaced the Articles Of Confederation which had been governing character of the United States. The law of the United States was predominantly gotten from the precedent based law arrangement of English Law. Nonetheless, U.S. law was drawn significantly from its English ancestors both as far as substance and method. It has fused various common law developments. It had proven a […]

Why is it Necessary to Teach Ethics in Criminal Justice Law Business and Medical

Babies are born into the world with no knowledge or understanding of what is “good” or “bad”. You learn from the world around you and the people within it, what constitutes “good” or “bad”. Ethics plays a major role in one’s daily routines, judgements, and decision making. Why do we study ethics? From previous lectures, there are so many people in the world that truly believe they are ethical, and live in moderation. Ethics is understanding the difference between good […]

Alaska Natives Criminal Justice System

In 1993 the Alaska Native Commissioned Report revealed that 32 percent of the state's incarcerated population is Alaska Native, even though Alaska Natives represent only 16 percent of the overall population. More recent reports have found that these number have not drastically changed (The Alaska State Offender Profile, 2015). In this paper I will briefly outline and address what some scholars, researchers, and reports have cited to explain why Alaska Natives are disproportionately represented in Alaska’s prison system, as well […]

U.S. Criminal Justice System Overview

Mr. President, I would like to thank you and your front office for taking the time to read about my concerns during such a busy sports season. I know you’ve grown particularly fond of basketball and football games since your presidency. I recently tried to reach out to you in my recent letter, but I have assumed it never arrived. As I have previously stated, I represent the many Americans who would like to discuss with you the current state […]

Is the Criminal Justice System Prejudicial?

At first, I thought that it is not. But after doing some research, I was convinced to believe the opposite. Prejudice can be defined as the preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience. Bias is the prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair. To introduce why I have come to believe that the criminal justice system is prejudicial, I want to […]

Source of Information about Crime

Violent wrongdoings (otherwise called violations against people) rule the vast majority's contemplations of wrongdoing and wellbeing. Regardless of criminal justice experts explanations that an individual's probability of being victimized little depends on him avoiding certain places, for instance, street gangs and drug peddler spots (Koper, Taylor, & Woods, 2013). This accumulation characterizes brutal violations as murder, persuasive assault, burglary, and irritated assault. Property violations are wrongdoings that are arranged as offenses against property. This incorporates robbery, theft, thievery, pyromania, misappropriation, […]

The Virtual Criminal Justice Alliance

The operational director for the visual security force Mr. James Dunbar has a very distinct job responsibility; some those responsibilities include dealing with prison reconstruction and decongesting those prison at large to minimize the high over population of those prison. Based on this, Mr. Dunbar has also partner with other entities to mitigate the risk of overcrowding of prison by advocating for other avenues such as private prisons and the community-based correction programs. This however, has enabled him to be […]

Criminal Justice System

Criminal justice is known to be the system exercises, and institutions of government mandated to sustain social control, discourage and lessen crime or sanction those violating the law through rehabilitation and subjecting them to criminal penalties. People who are accused of crime also have constitutional protections from abuse of prosecution and investigatory powers (Abdolsalehi, 2013). Law has the purpose of providing a set of rules which govern the conduct and order in society. The law provides the rights of the […]

Racism in Criminal Justice System

Scott Woods once said, The problem is that white people see racism as conscious hate, when racism is bigger than that. Racism is a complex system of social and political levers and pulleys set up generations ago to continue working on the behalf of whites at other people's expense, whether whites know/like it or not. Racism is an insidious cultural disease. It is so insidious that it doesn't care if you are a white person who likes black people; it's […]

“Just Mercy” is Bryan Stevenson’s Perspective on the American Criminal Justice System

Stevenson argues that the society should be aware rather than punishment. His personal stories share a representation of the criminal justice system. Stevenson is responsible for reducing the amount of wrongly accused victims. Throughout the story Just Mercy, the author, Bryan Stevenson, uses an optimistic tone. During cases, he would notice that things weren't going the way he expected. However, he still had hope in those situations. Bryan Stevenson uses real life experiences to bring awareness to incarceration. He uses […]

Care of the Mentally Ill in Prisons

A common problem facing the mentally ill inmates today is whether or not the use of restraints is safe and effective, or a deadly abuse of power. There are a plethora of articles that support either side, but in order to form an unbiased opinion, one must hear both arguments. There are several positive aspects of restraints. For example, when restraints are used inmates no longer have the ability to inflict damage upon oneself or others, additionally inmates are stabilized […]

Social Issues and Criminal Justice

The first key social issue is justice in the media. The subject of justice has become a hot topic in America this year, finding itself not only in the Criminal Justice field, but also addressed as in Social Justice, Racial Justice, and Economic Justice. In fact, Merriam Webster has chosen “justice” as its 2018 Word of the Year. It was chosen because it was searched 74% more times in 2018 than in 2017, and was the top-searched word this year […]

Racism and the U.S. Criminal Justice System

Introduction The primary purpose of this report is to explore racism issues in the United States justice system and addressing the solutions to the problem affecting the judicial society. Racism entails social practices that give merits explicitly solely to members of certain racial groups. Racism is attributed to three main aspects such as; personal predisposition, ideologies, and cultural racism, which promotes policies and practices that deepen racial discrimination. Institutional racism is also rife in the US justice system. This entails […]

Core Components of Criminal Justice System

When one looks at the criminal justice system core components, and their functions one can develop an understanding of how our country is able to balance justice if each core is applied properly. There are three cores of the American Criminal Justice system; police, courts, and corrections (Schmalleger, 2016). While many people may claim to know how each core component functions, many are like most that watch football games; they do know the role of each component on the field. […]

Related topic

Additional example essays.

• Crime and the Why
• Pros and Cons of Punishment vs. Rehabilitation in the American Criminal Justice System
• The Murder of John Orner: Unveiling Justice Through Ballistic Forensics
• Cons Police Discretion
• Does the Death Penalty Effectively Deter Crime?
• War On Drugs and Mass Incarceration
• Leadership and the Army Profession
• Letter From Birmingham Jail Rhetorical Analysis
• Compare And Contrast In WW1 And WW2
• Why College Should Not Be Free
• Shakespeare's Hamlet Character Analysis
• A Raisin in the Sun Theme

How to Write an Essay About Criminal Justice

Understanding the criminal justice system.

Before writing an essay about criminal justice, it's important to understand the breadth and complexity of the criminal justice system. This system encompasses several institutions and processes established by governments to control crime and impose penalties on those who violate laws. Begin your essay by explaining the main components of the criminal justice system, typically including law enforcement, the judiciary, and corrections. Discuss the roles and functions of each component and how they work together to maintain law and order, protect citizens, and uphold justice. It's also important to consider various perspectives on the criminal justice system, including its effectiveness, fairness, and the challenges it faces.

Developing a Thesis Statement

A strong essay on criminal justice should be centered around a clear, concise thesis statement. This statement should present a specific viewpoint or argument about the criminal justice system. For instance, you might examine the impact of new technology on criminal investigations, analyze the challenges of prison overcrowding, or argue the need for reforms in the juvenile justice system. Your thesis will guide the direction of your essay and provide a structured approach to your topic.

Gathering Supporting Evidence

To support your thesis, gather evidence from a variety of sources, including academic research, government reports, and case studies. This might include statistical data on crime rates, research findings on criminal justice policies, or examples of criminal justice systems in different countries. Use this evidence to support your thesis and build a persuasive argument. Be sure to consider different perspectives and address potential counterarguments.

Analyzing Key Issues in Criminal Justice

Dedicate a section of your essay to analyzing key issues within the criminal justice system. Discuss current topics such as racial disparities in sentencing, the effectiveness of rehabilitation programs, or the impact of legal reforms. Consider both the theoretical aspects of these issues and their practical implications. Explore how these challenges affect not only the criminal justice system but also society as a whole.

Concluding the Essay

Conclude your essay by summarizing the main points of your discussion and restating your thesis in light of the evidence provided. Your conclusion should tie together your analysis and emphasize the importance of continued study and reform in the field of criminal justice. You might also want to suggest areas for future research or action needed to address the challenges identified in your essay.

Reviewing and Refining Your Essay

After completing your essay, review and refine it for clarity and coherence. Ensure that your arguments are well-structured and supported by evidence. Check for grammatical accuracy and ensure that your essay flows logically from one point to the next. Consider seeking feedback from peers, educators, or criminal justice professionals to further improve your essay. A well-written essay on criminal justice will not only demonstrate your understanding of the system but also your ability to engage with complex legal and societal issues.

1. Tell Us Your Requirements

2. Pick your perfect writer

3. Get Your Paper and Pay

Hi! I'm Amy, your personal assistant!

Don't know where to start? Give me your paper requirements and I connect you to an academic expert.

short deadlines

100% Plagiarism-Free

Certified writers

Home — Essay Samples — Entertainment — Bonnie and Clyde — The Historical Context of Bonnie and Clyde Criminal Story

The Historical Context of Bonnie and Clyde Criminal Story

• Categories: Biography Bonnie and Clyde Personality

About this sample

Words: 1466 |

Published: Jan 4, 2019

Words: 1466 | Pages: 3 | 8 min read

Who are Bonnie and Clyde?

Criminal activity bonnie and clyde.

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Prof Ernest (PhD)

Verified writer

• Expert in: Life Entertainment

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

5.5 pages / 2615 words

4.5 pages / 2006 words

10.5 pages / 4766 words

3 pages / 1291 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Bonnie and Clyde

In this analytical paper example analyzes a pivotal scene in the film "Bonnie and Clyde," highlighting its cinematic significance and thematic depth. The essay delves into how these elements contribute to the film's [...]

What do you think of when you think of the Great Depression? Most people do not think of Bonnie and Clyde, but they impacted the world vastly during this time period. For about two years, Bonnie and Clyde went on a crime spree [...]

The film that I will talk about is Bonnie and Clyde, released in 1967. This motion picture was formed by Robert Benton, David Newman, and Robert Towne, made by Warren Beatty, and composed by Arthur Penn. The genre that this film [...]

The American Dream varies for individuals, but for most it includes providing a stable home for their children and ensuring future generations will have more opportunities to become successful. In the play, A Raisin in the Sun [...]

The controversy surrounding Brett Easton Ellis's American Psycho and Anthony Burgess's A Clockwork Orange relates primarily to the central themes that are explored in both books. Nevertheless, the brutality and explicit [...]

Many philosophers have believed for centuries that no intrinsic meaning exists in the universe. From this belief emerged many responses, including absurdism and existentialism. Although all are heavily influenced by the beliefs [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

• How It Works
• All Projects
• Top-Rated Pages
• Admission essay writing
• Book report writing
• Coursework writing
• Dissertation writing
• Essay editing
• MBA essay writing
• Scholarship essay writing
• Write my essay
• Free sample essays
• Writing blog

Fresh Writing Prompts for a Killer Crime Essay (2023)

If you are a newbie or curious first-time reader, you may be asking yourself, “What is crime essay?” As the name suggests, it is a coherent set of ideas on an illegal act for which the government punishes someone.

Wait a minute,

“What does that have to do with me? I am only but a high school or college student.” Bottom-line is that you will have to write a crime essay at one point of your academic progress. It is, therefore, crucial for you to be ready. First of all, why don’t we take a look at the sample essay on the crime and punishment?

Crime And Punishment Essay Sample Under classical theories of criminal justice, people commit crimes when there is a lack of proper or sufficient punishments or deterrents in place (Rawlins, 2005). These theories place a heavy reliance on the notions of free will and self-pleasure, essentially arguing that people commit crime because they have the chance or opportunity to, and that by doing so they are gaining some sort of pleasure or enjoyment out of it (Samaha, ). On the other hand, sociological theories of criminal justice, people commit crimes due to a lack of proper ways and means of rehabilitating criminal behavior (Rawlins, 2005). Yet interestingly enough, when it comes to why people commit crimes, a lack of rehabilitation is not the only reason these theories offer as an explanation. Instead, sociological theories sometimes claim that criminal activity is often the result of the relationship individuals build with other people, or the environment that is surrounding them, and that the only way to fix this is to change their behaviors by changing the relationships that they have or improving the quality of the environments in which they live (Rawlins, 2005). Some of the sociological theories of crime commission take these notions even further and offer more specific explanations for why people commit crimes. One example of this comes from social conflict theory, which explains that the reason why people commit crimes is because the law is controlled by the rich and powerful and that these people are simply defining their behaviors as illegal (Rawlins, 2005). Another example takes this even further and comes in the form of the labeling theory, which essentially argues that people commit crimes because they are given labels as criminals at a point in their lives, and then these individuals end up having to organize their lives around such a label and in turn, end up continuing to commit crimes because it is what they believe they are supposed to be doing (Rawlins, 2005). On the other hand, I think that people really commit crimes due to a combination of different reasons, and that the best explanations for their behaviors comes from the mixed perspectives offered by biological and psychological theories. With that being said, each of these theories for why people commit crime on their own, are also a bit of a stretch. For one, biological theory blames people committing crimes solely on the genetic, biochemical, or neurological problems that they inherited in their gene pool through birth (Rawlins, 2005). Likewise, psychological theory says that personality imbalances that arise through problems that occur during childhood (Rawlins, 2005). Although each of these seems to offer valid explanations for criminal behavior, often times when they are used just by themselves they appear to be offering more of an excuse for why most people commit crimes rather than explaining the full picture of why they take place. Under these positivist theories, all of the blame is basically take off of the individual who commits the crime and placed either on society or biology (Samaha, ). Instead, I strongly believe that people commit crimes for a whole host of different reasons and that each of these theories comes into play in some way, shape or form. Ultimately, biology and psychology may certainly play a big role in leading people towards a life of crime, and the sociological environment of people can put them in situations where they are even more likely to act on those biological and psychological roots that they possess. However, there still is the action itself, which in many ways is still best explained through classical theories on why people commit crimes.

Essays about crime are sensitive, and thus we have come up with professionally handpicked prompts to set the ball rolling for you.

Are you ready? Let’s get right into it then!

Latest Causes of Crime Essay Writing Prompts

• How do people decide to commit crimes? Are there any pre-meditations?
• Do people commit a crime to think about the benefits and the risks?
• Why do some criminals go ahead with their actions regardless of their consequences?
• Write on why some people never commit a crime regardless of the situation.
• What are the biological, social, psychological, and economic factors for crime?

Impressive Crime and Punishment Essay Prompts

• What is the relationship between punishment and opportunities in crime?
• Should social conditions fuelling crime be addressed first before punishment?
• Why most individuals fail to accept responsibility for their actions
• Are the current laws addressing punishment for offences effectively?
• Address the Biblical interpretation of crime and punishment
• Is murder a rational punishment for crime? Why?

Hate Crime Essay Writing Ideas for College Students

• Why do factors such as race, religion, and sexual orientation act as a catalyst for hate?
• Give examples of traumatic national events that sparked hate crimes
• Are hate crime laws effectively mitigating this menace?
• Do hate crime laws violate a fundamental democratic principle? Explain
• Political values and attitudes that spread hate crimes during campaigns and elections

Hot Cyber Crime Essay Ideas

• Why is hacking of financial accounts the most prevalent type of cyber-crime?
• How has modern-day cyber terrorism evolved over the last five years?
• How the fast pace of internet growth has opened a world of information
• What is the performance of cyber cells in police stations?
• How cyber-crime violates not only the law but also human rights

Inspiring Poverty Causes Crime Essay Prompts

• Is poverty still in America, one of the most developed countries in the world? Why?
• How has crime contributed to poverty?
• Why impoverished urban areas are the salt for crime
• Why tossing cash at poor populaces does not help end crime.
• Why the shortage of fundamental necessities stirs up crime

Juvenile Crime Essay Ideas

• Why youthful crimes are rampant in modern society
• The dynamic role of the Juvenile Justice System
• Personality and juvenile crime offenders
• Practical strategies to curb juvenile delinquency
• How middle and high school contribute to minor offences

Why Do People Commit Crimes Essay Prompts

• Peer pressure as a cause of crime
• The role of poor parenting in crimes
• Addictions to alcohol and drugs and how they trigger crimes
• Discuss how education is a big part of committing crimes
• Do serial killers find it a pleasure killing people or they are slaves to this habit?

When tasked with a crime essay, do not get yourself all worked up. Instead, use our guru writing prompts or better still, ask for our professional custom writing help . We will be glad to help you come up with a top-grade paper!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Have a team of vetted experts take you to the top, with professionally written papers in every area of study.

Presentations made painless

• Get Premium

114 Crime Investigation Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

Inside This Article

Crime investigation is a fascinating field that involves the study of criminal behavior, evidence collection, forensic analysis, and the pursuit of justice. If you are studying criminal justice or simply have an interest in the subject, writing an essay on crime investigation can be both enlightening and informative. To help you get started, here are 114 crime investigation essay topic ideas and examples to inspire your writing.

• The role of forensic evidence in solving crimes.
• The impact of DNA analysis on criminal investigations.
• The evolution of crime scene investigation techniques.
• The use of technology in modern crime investigation.
• The challenges faced by crime investigators in cold cases.
• The role of the profiler in criminal investigations.
• The importance of eyewitness testimony in solving crimes.
• The impact of social media on crime investigation.
• The ethics of undercover investigations.
• The psychology of serial killers and their investigation.
• The use of lie detectors in criminal investigations.
• The challenges of investigating cybercrime.
• The role of forensic anthropology in crime investigation.
• The use of surveillance in criminal investigations.
• The investigation techniques used in white-collar crime cases.
• The challenges of investigating organized crime.
• The role of forensic entomology in determining time of death.
• The use of geographic profiling in serial murder investigations.
• The impact of forensic botany in criminal investigations.
• The investigation techniques used in arson cases.
• The role of forensic odontology in identifying human remains.
• The challenges of investigating hate crimes.
• The use of forensic accounting in fraud investigations.
• The role of forensic linguistics in solving crimes.
• The impact of forensic psychology in criminal investigations.
• The investigation techniques used in drug trafficking cases.
• The challenges of investigating cold cases without physical evidence.
• The use of forensic toxicology in determining cause of death.
• The role of crime scene reconstruction in criminal investigations.
• The impact of ballistics analysis on solving firearm-related crimes.
• The investigation techniques used in child abduction cases.
• The challenges of investigating crimes committed by juveniles.
• The use of forensic anthropology in mass disaster investigations.
• The role of forensic entomology in determining postmortem interval.
• The impact of forensic botany in environmental crime investigations.
• The investigation techniques used in human trafficking cases.
• The challenges of investigating crimes committed by the mentally ill.
• The use of forensic accounting in money laundering investigations.
• The role of forensic linguistics in identifying anonymous threats.
• The impact of forensic psychology in profiling sex offenders.
• The investigation techniques used in art forgery cases.
• The challenges of investigating crimes committed by terrorists.
• The use of forensic toxicology in determining impairment in DUI cases.
• The role of crime scene reconstruction in domestic violence investigations.
• The impact of ballistics analysis on solving gang-related crimes.
• The investigation techniques used in missing persons cases.
• The challenges of investigating crimes committed by corrupt officials.
• The use of forensic anthropology in identifying victims of genocide.
• The role of forensic entomology in determining location of death.
• The impact of forensic botany in wildlife crime investigations.
• The investigation techniques used in elder abuse cases.
• The challenges of investigating crimes committed by cults.
• The use of forensic accounting in corporate fraud investigations.
• The role of forensic linguistics in identifying plagiarism.
• The impact of forensic psychology in investigating mass shootings.
• The investigation techniques used in art theft cases.
• The challenges of investigating crimes committed by hate groups.
• The use of forensic toxicology in determining substance abuse history.
• The role of crime scene reconstruction in stalking investigations.
• The impact of ballistics analysis on solving drive-by shootings.
• The investigation techniques used in human rights abuse cases.
• The challenges of investigating crimes committed by drug cartels.
• The use of forensic anthropology in identifying victims of natural disasters.
• The role of forensic entomology in determining insect-related deaths.
• The impact of forensic botany in agricultural crime investigations.
• The investigation techniques used in fraud against the elderly cases.
• The challenges of investigating crimes committed by cult leaders.
• The use of forensic accounting in Ponzi scheme investigations.
• The role of forensic linguistics in analyzing ransom notes.
• The impact of forensic psychology in investigating child abuse cases.
• The investigation techniques used in historic artifact smuggling cases.
• The challenges of investigating crimes committed by human traffickers.
• The use of forensic toxicology in determining drug-facilitated crimes.
• The role of crime scene reconstruction in workplace violence investigations.
• The investigation techniques used in war crimes cases.
• The challenges of investigating crimes committed by cybercriminals.
• The use of forensic anthropology in identifying victims of plane crashes.
• The role of forensic entomology in determining insect infestation in food.
• The impact of forensic botany in illegal logging investigations.
• The investigation techniques used in online scams and frauds.
• The challenges of investigating crimes committed by human rights violators.
• The use of forensic accounting in uncovering money laundering networks.
• The role of forensic linguistics in analyzing hate speech.
• The impact of forensic psychology in investigating child abduction cases.
• The investigation techniques used in art smuggling cases.
• The challenges of investigating crimes committed by human smugglers.
• The use of forensic toxicology in determining poisoning cases.
• The role of crime scene reconstruction in domestic terrorism investigations.
• The impact of ballistics analysis on solving gang-related drive-by shootings.
• The investigation techniques used in war crimes against civilians cases.
• The challenges of investigating crimes committed by identity thieves.
• The role of forensic entomology in determining insect-related diseases.
• The impact of forensic botany in environmental pollution investigations.
• The investigation techniques used in online child exploitation cases.
• The challenges of investigating crimes committed by international terrorists.
• The use of forensic accounting in uncovering corruption schemes.
• The role of forensic linguistics in analyzing online harassment.
• The impact of forensic psychology in investigating domestic violence cases.
• The use of forensic toxicology in determining drug overdoses.
• The role of crime scene reconstruction in mass shooting investigations.
• The impact of ballistics analysis on solving gang-related homicides.
• The investigation techniques used in war crimes against prisoners cases.
• The challenges of investigating crimes committed by online hackers.
• The use of forensic anthropology in identifying victims of mass disasters.
• The role of forensic entomology in determining insect-related allergies.
• The impact of forensic botany in food contamination investigations.
• The investigation techniques used in online financial fraud cases.
• The challenges of investigating crimes committed by international drug cartels.
• The use of forensic accounting in uncovering corporate embezzlement.
• The role of forensic linguistics in analyzing online radicalization.

These essay topic ideas and examples cover a wide range of crime investigation areas, from traditional forensic techniques to modern technological advancements. Choose a topic that interests you the most, conduct thorough research, and present a well-structured and informative essay that showcases your knowledge and understanding of crime investigation. Remember to cite your sources properly and enjoy the process of exploring this intriguing field of study.

Want to create a presentation now?

Instantly Create A Deck

Let PitchGrade do this for me

Hassle Free

We will create your text and designs for you. Sit back and relax while we do the work.

Explore More Content

• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Service

© 2023 Pitchgrade

• SI SWIMSUIT
• SI SPORTSBOOK

Michael Irvin won’t be charged after criminal police investigation in Texas

Dustin mosher | 13 hours ago.

• Dallas Cowboys | News, Scores, Schedules & Standings

Dallas Cowboys Hall of Fame wide receiver Michael Irvin has been cleared of criminal charges following a police investigation in Texas. The investigation, which centered around an unspecified “allegation” made against Irvin, was closed by the Allen, Texas police department weeks ago.

The case first came to light when NBC Sports ’ Mike Florio reported the existence of an “allegation.” At that time, the police confirmed that the investigation was in its early stages. 

Irvin’s lawyer, Levi McCathern, vehemently denied any wrongdoing on Irvin’s part, stating that there was “absolutely no truth” to the allegation and that Irvin had not acted inappropriately.

Former Cowboys WR Michael Irvin was vaguely connected in January to an “allegation” that prompted an Allen police investigation. That case is now closed, as investigators found no basis to continue exploring the matter. https://t.co/cJQxaa4Sob — Michael Gehlken (@GehlkenNFL) May 17, 2024

This recent investigation is not the first legal challenge Irvin has faced.

In February 2023, he sued Marriott International in Collin County, Texas, alleging defamation and tortious interference in a business relationship. The hotel chain had accused Irvin of inappropriately approaching a female employee, leading to his suspension from all NFL Media. 

The lawsuit was settled in September, and Irvin was reinstated at the network before his contract ended.

Michael Irvin, who played for the Cowboys for 12 seasons between 1988 and 1999, was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2007. He worked as an NFL Network analyst from 2009 to 2024.

Despite the recent legal battles, Irvin’s legacy remains intact as a prominent figure in football history.

DUSTIN MOSHER

Criminal Justice Essay

Parker’s crime control model, packer’s due process model, best model for americans interest, reference list.

The two models -crime control and due process- put forward by Hebert Parker have a major bearing on the criminal justice system greatly. The models have been useful in helping to deal with the complexities in the criminal process. The models make it easier to understand the workings of the justice system by simplifying the values underlying the process.

The two modes have both similar and different values but the major difference between the two is that the due process model concerns itself with the protection of individual rights while the rime control model advocates for societal security as well as order. The focus of the paper will be on the overview and analysis of the two models. In addition, it shall look at which model serves American citizens better.

The crime control model has the following main assertions. The fundamental goal of the criminal process should be to repress crime. The police should have the authority to conduct arrests and do fact- finding. Suspects are guilty until proven otherwise. The mode suggests that the main aim of the justice system is protecting the rights of victims and not making the defendants and their rights a priority.

The criminal process should operate smoothly and swiftly and the main goal of the criminal justice process should be uncovering the truth and establishing factual guilt of the arrestees (Packer, 1968).

The main assumption of the crime control model is to repress crime in the criminal process. The model draws it authority from the legislature and not the courts. Crime control guarantees social freedom and helps to maintain law and order in the society. Applying the model helps to protect the people together with their property from harm.

The model asserts that lack of proper law enforcement is tantamount to breakdown in the public order and consequently the loss of human freedom. If the laws are not reinforced and leads to a perception that there is a failure in apprehending and convicting criminals in the criminal process.

Consequently, a disregard for legal control sets in and innocent citizens become victims of unwarranted invasions to their interests. The increased rate of crimes hinders the members of the society from enjoying their freedom thus limiting their liberty. The model fundamental value is guaranteeing social freedom to the members of the society through the criminal process (Packer, 1968).

To guarantee social freedom the crime control model advocates for efficiency within the criminal process to identify criminal suspects, determine their guilt and take appropriate actions in terms of convictions. Packer was of the opinion that a strong police force could contain crime for the known crimes (1968). However, it is important to note that many numbers of crimes go unreported and thus the efficiency of the model in crime suppression is questionable.

For the model to be considered successful, the rate of catching criminals and bringing them to convictions must be high. For this reason, the model relies heavily on legislature instead of the courts to speed up the process as cases in courts may take a very long time before their conclusion. To achieve speed and finality in the criminal process, the process must be efficient and allow the cases to proceed without undue delays.

The speedy progress in the crime control model happens because the methods used are informal hence reducing chances of delaying cases by following the formal methods that might be challenged and waste time trying to prove the challenges. The typical formal processes of cases should be removed because they slow down the speed of cases.

The process can be made simple and fast by interrogating suspects at the police stations instead of taking them to court where they go through the formal process that involves time-consuming examinations and cross-examinations (Packer, 1968).

The model advocates for an extrajudicial process to a judicial process. Informal operations should be employed in the criminal process, as they are faster unlike the formal operations that follow many rituals. The assumption of the model is operating, as managerial models where different activities go on from one-step to another seamlessly just like a conveyer belt.

In other words, the crime control mode is perceived as a screening process where each stage leads to a successful finality. To achieve the successful convictions the model screens cases at the initial stage and using expertise it can be determined which suspects are likely to be guilty or not.

Those who have a high likelihood of being guilty are taken through the successive process expeditiously and a conclusion arrived at sooner. On the other hand, those cases that have minimal or no likelihood of being found guilty are thrown out of the process.

The police perform the task of fact finding in stations or in the streets and do not rely on judges and lawyers in courts. The crime control model relies on factual guilt, which is brought by the police through their fact find and used as evidence to prove that a suspect is guilty without a doubt (Roach, 1999).

The basis for screening the cases is the guilty assumption. The arrestees are guilty according to this model until their innocence can be proved. Thus, according to the model, arrestees are considered guilty and hence the government has the responsibility of punishing them. Moreover, law enforcement agencies prefer this model because they treat the suspects as if guilty and thus should be arrested, prosecuted and convicted for breaking the law.

In this case, the police have powers to make arrests and establish whether arrestees are factually guilty (Roach 1999). However, some limitations are set on the interrogation methods to ensure their reliability by the police because coerced confessions would lead to incarceration of innocent people.

The arrestees are barred from contacting their lawyers as this would only lead to delays and those who are guilty might get off the hook by following their lawyers advice. They say that a lawyer should not come to the station as his or her place is reserved in the courtroom.

Moreover, the police should have the authority to conduct arbitrarily searches on suspects because only the guilty would have anything to hide. The evidence obtained illegally should be acceptable during trial because evidence such as drugs or stolen property is a proof of crime regardless of the methods used to obtain them (Roach 1999).

The due process works on the following assumptions. Reduce the power of the police to prevent them from abusing innocent people. Suspects are innocent until proven otherwise. Protect the rights of the defendants in the criminal justice process. The constitutional rights of every individual should be upheld by the criminal justice authorities for instance, the fourth amendment, which prohibits arbitrary searches.

The criminal process should have obstacles that safeguard the defendant from until proven factually guilty. The government should refrain from considering people guilty based on facts until they go through legal procedures to prove their guilt.

Unlike the crime control model that resembles a conveyer belt in its smooth operations, the due process model is an obstacle belt. It has stages designed in such a way that they impede the case from going up further through the process. The model relies on the Supreme Court to validate its operations as well as on courts restrictions in the criminal process (Roach, 1999).

The aim of the due processes is to ensure that defendants are treated fairly by the criminal justice system by relying less on efficiency unlike the crime control model.

The due process lays emphasis on equal treatment of defendants or suspects in spite of their social or economic class. For instance, all have a right for counsel representation. Thus, those people who are arrested are allowed to call their lawyers. The suspects who cannot afford a lawyer, the government appoints one on their behalf because the due process objective is to accord equal protection even to the disadvantaged members of the society.

The due process does not allow police to find facts in stations and in the streets to convict the arrestees. The suspects are treated fairly and Miranda rights made known to them during their arrest.

This will prevent them from giving information to the police that is self-incriminatory and can be used against them in trial. The police should not take advantage of a suspect to get a confession to build a case against them. This step is taken to reduce the instances when police arrest people and sentence them before taking them through the legal criminal process.

The police do not have the right to detain people as they do their fact-finding, they can find the facts then make the arrest unless when there is reason to believe that they will not attend trial (Roach, 1999). The due process does not rely solely on the ability of the police of conducting investigations because the process can be faulty as it is not error-proof.

Packer says that people are poor in observing disturbing events and their recollection of the events maybe incorrect and the confessions that arrestees make in stations maybe because of coercion and the police may end up listening to what they may want to hear instead of seeing the truth (1968).

The witnesses of the criminal events maybe biased and against the accused and the police would not work towards finding the truth to its logical conclusion because protecting them is not their primary responsibility. Hence, the due process rejects the informal processes of fact-finding.

The model insists on formal fact-finding processes where an impartial tribunal listens to a case. Moreover, the model provides an opportunity for defendants to bring civil actions against police abuse or violation of their rights. The model also gives the defendant an opportunity to discredit the case set before them before making its ruling.

The model also recognizes that there is a possibility of making an error during the criminal process and allows further scrutiny of facts in case the truth was overlooked in the proceedings. As long as the defendant can prove that an error was made during, the criminal process scrutiny can be allowed. The due process model does not demand finality like the crime control does because the aim is not to conclude cases but ensure that the process is fair as possible to the defendant (Packer, 1968).

The arrestees are innocent until their guilt is proven according to this model. It therefore follows that a criminal process should be conducted in such a way that the defendant is proved either innocent or guilty beyond any reasonable doubt.

The prosecutor and the judges should not encourage the defendants to enter guilty pleas during pre-trials by offering them deals. The criminal process should not be looked at as a burden that has to be done away with by entering pleas rather as a proper way process in the criminal justice system.

The due process recommends that the criminal trial establish that a defendant is legally guilty beyond any shadow of doubt instead of proving factual guilt (Packer, 1968). The model urges that the police cannot do this but only judges and defense lawyers in a court of law can (Roach, 1999; Packer, 1968).

The American citizens ought to have an effective justice system. The strategy for ensuring that the justice system is effective has been debated for many years. The two criminal processes modes proposed by Herbert Packer have been debated for long because they represent two philosophies- conservative and liberal.

The crime control model advocates for a safe society where there is law and order and its philosophy is conservative. On the other hand, there is the due process model that advocates for the protection of the rights of people from any form of injustice and this perspective is liberal in nature.

The political climate determines which model is favored by the society at a particular time. The two positions are in conflict and the justice system has had to choose one over the other over time. However, choosing one model to follow is not easy because various people have different opinions.

The due process appears to be the best model for the American citizens. Some propose the due process model that seeks to protect individual freedoms. In this process, the arrestees do not lose their right to be treated well as they are taken to be innocent. The law enforcers uphold the constitutional guarantees of the individuals and thus protect innocent people from being convicted wrongfully.

The mode is good because many people have been convicted wrongful and served behind bars for crimes they did not commit. For example, Cornelius Dupree was exonerated after serving thirty years behind bars in Texas following a DNA exam.

The due process for allowing the contest of the rulings against defendants gives them an opportunity to make appeals that may actually result in their exoneration. Moreover, this provision makes the American people feel that the justice system is fair in its treatment of all citizens because the constitution protects all American citizens regardless of their race and ethnicity.

Therefore, the American citizens are protected against racial profiling even though this may not be the case on the ground. Through the due process, the justice system puts checks and balances upon itself to prevent the government from treating the citizens arbitrarily.

Those who oppose the due process say that it puts the rights of the defendants and completely ignores the victims of crimes. Moreover, the law enforcers say that the Fourth Amendment in the constitution makes it hard for them to carry out their activities of crime prevention as it limits them from conducting raids and searches.

The limitations arise from the various interpretations of the Fourth Amendment by the courts. The interpretations change over time making the work of the law enforcers hard because of the confusion that ensues thereof.

Not only do the police have to consider the fourth amendment, but also the individual rights outlined in the bill of rights such as right to an attorney, assume an individual innocent until proven otherwise amongst others. In addition, the due process limits how far the government can go in treating and individual because the constitution allows individual a right to privacy.

On the contrary, the due process follows the criminal process formally thus giving any American arrestee an opportunity to go through the process and through their legal counsel present evidence to the court that may prevent them from going to jail.

Moreover, the obstacles in the process ensure that they are not sentenced prematurely before the cases are exhausted completely before they are either found to be innocent or guilty.

The due process model unlike the crime control model which advocates for speedy prosecutions and convictions and relies heavily of the evidence of the police through their fact-finding acknowledges that the police can be wrong and thus does not rely on factual guilt but legal guilt proved in a court of law.

The due process is far more realistic than the crime control model, which seems to infringe upon the ideals contained in the declaration of independence and ideals held dear by the American citizens.

Packer, H. (1968). The limits of criminal sanctions . New York: University of Stanford Press.

Roach, K. (1999). Four Models of the criminal process. Journal of Criminal Law & Criminology , 89 (2), p 671.

• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2018, May 22). Criminal Justice. https://ivypanda.com/essays/criminal-justice/

"Criminal Justice." IvyPanda , 22 May 2018, ivypanda.com/essays/criminal-justice/.

IvyPanda . (2018) 'Criminal Justice'. 22 May.

IvyPanda . 2018. "Criminal Justice." May 22, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/criminal-justice/.

1. IvyPanda . "Criminal Justice." May 22, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/criminal-justice/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Criminal Justice." May 22, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/criminal-justice/.

• Should Marijuana Drugs Be Decriminalized?
• The "Brownies" Short Story by ZZ Packer
• Crime Control Perspective & the Due Process Perspective
• How Judges Think at a Criminal Trial
• Persuasive Piece: A White Paper
• History of Pension Abuses
• Juvenile Delinquency
• Homeland Security: Collecting Information about Terrorism

• International

Michael Cohen testifies in Trump hush money trial

By CNN's Kara Scannell, Lauren Del Valle and Jeremy Herb in the courthouse

Key takeaways from Michael Cohen's first day of testimony

From CNN's  Jeremy Herb, Lauren del Valle and Kara Scannell

Michael Cohen implicated his former boss  Donald Trump  in the hush money scheme to pay Stormy Daniels just days before the 2016 election, saying he doled out $130,000 at Trump’s direction and was promised reimbursement.

Cohen’s testimony ties together the prosecution’s allegations that Trump broke the law by falsifying business records to reimburse Cohen and conceal the hush money payment that Cohen said he made at Trump’s direction. Trump has pleaded not guilty and denies having an affair with Daniels.

Here are some of the key takeaways from Cohen's first day on the stand:

• Cohen ties Trump to the Daniels hush money payment: Through roughly five hours of testimony Monday, Cohen walked jurors through how he worked with former National Enquirer editor David Pecker on Trump’s behalf during the 2016 campaign to kill negative stories; how he kept Trump apprised of his hush money negotiations with Keith Davidson, the attorney for Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal; and how Trump approved and was aware of how Cohen would be falsely repaid in 2017 for the Daniels payment as legal services.
• Cohen ties the hush money reimbursement to Trump, too: Trump is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records – 11 invoices, 12 vouchers and 11 checks – records that prosecutors say stem from the monthly reimbursements Cohen received in 2017 for the hush money payment he made to Daniels. On Monday, jurors heard through Cohen for the first-time evidence directly connecting Trump to those reimbursements.
• Cohen describes being Trump’s protector: As Cohen described each media story he killed and nondisclosure agreement he locked down ahead of the 2016 election, it was always in the name of protecting Trump. When it came to the settlement agreement with Daniels, Cohen said he kept control of a document revealing the identities of “David Dennison” and “Peggy Peterson” so that he could protect Trump. And he testified that he used the Essential Consultants LLC to facilitate the payment to Daniels “to protect him and to isolate him from the transaction.” Hoffinger asked Cohen whether he would sometimes bully people. Cohen confirmed he would.

Cohen is expected back in court tomorrow

Donald Trump's ex-attorney and fixer  Michael Cohen  took the stand today to testify about the  Stormy Daniels hush money payment  and Trump's  alleged involvement in the scheme .

He's expected to face more questions tomorrow. Court proceedings are expected to resume at 9:30 a.m. ET.

Michael Cohen took the stand as a key witness in Donald Trump's hush money trial. Here's what he said

From CNN's Elise Hammond

Michael Cohen took the stand on Monday in Donald Trump’s hush money trial in New York.

When he was Trump’s personal attorney, Cohen made the $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 election. He landed in federal prison  over that transaction for breaking campaign finance laws. 

Through previous witnesses’ testimony, jurors have already heard plenty about Cohen. They have painted an unflattering portrait of an aggressive, impulsive and unlikeable attorney. The former “fixer,” now a critical witness , testified about the payment and Trump’s alleged involvement.

Here’s a look at what Cohen said on the stand today:

• Relationship with Trump: Cohen said he worked directly for Trump , not the general counsel's office at the Trump Organization. He said working with the press was a “portion” of his job and would sometimes call news outlets and ask them to redact or take articles down. Cohen testified that it was required for him to keep Trump updated about his work.
• On the presidential run: Cohen said Trump was worried about stories about his personal life coming out as he weighed a run for president, with Trump saying, “Just be prepared there’s going to be a lot of women coming forward,” according to Cohen. He testified that he didn’t have a formal role in the 2016 campaign, but he used his press contacts to be a surrogate .
• The doorman story: Cohen said he learned about the doorman story circulating about Trump having fathered "a love child” and testified Trump told him to “handle it.” He confirmed that the strategy was to take the story “off the market” for $30,000, and Trump was grateful it wouldn’t be published. Cohen said he went to Trump to tell him the agreement was completed , as well as to get credit for executing it. 
• Karen McDougal: He said Trump told him to make sure the story about former Playboy model Karen McDougal didn’t get released, which he believed meant acquiring it . Cohen recounted a call with Pecker and Trump about the story. When Cohen told Trump the cost of controlling the McDougal story, Cohen testified Trump said, “No problem, I’ll take care of it.” Later, David Pecker, former CEO of the National Enquirer’s parent company, spoke to Cohen and insisted on being reimbursed .
• "Access Hollywood" tape: When he learned about the video , released by the Washington Post, Cohen said he wanted to "ensure" things were being taken care of properly and that Trump would be protected . He testified that it was Melania Trump’s idea to say the language in the video “was locker room talk.” Cohen recalled thinking the tape would impact women voters.
• Stormy Daniels: When he initially told Trump about the Stormy Daniels story, Cohen testified that Trump said, “Women are going to hate me” and that it would be “a disaster for the campaign.” Cohen said his former boss told him to work with Pecker to “take care of it.” As the agreement unfolded, Cohen said he kept Trump informed on the deal with Daniels.
• Timing of Daniel’s payment: Trump wanted the situation with Daniels to be under wraps until after the election “because if I win, it will have no relevance because I'm president. And if I lose, I don't even care,” Trump said, according to Cohen.
• Making the payment: Cohen said he spoke with Trump twice to get his sign-off before making the payment to Daniels using a company he created , Essential Consultants LLC. He said he would have never gone forward to the bank without Trump’s approval. He testified he also let Trump know he signed the agreement with Daniels.
• Repayment to Cohen: Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg told Cohen he would be paid $420,000 for Daniel’s payment over 12 months . He testified that the payment series set up for future legal services was actually a reimbursement .

Trump rails against judge and says there's no crime in remarks outside of Manhattan courthouse

From CNN's Maureen Chowdhury

Donald Trump slammed Judge Juan Merchan and called the hush money trial a "scam" as he left the Manhattan courthouse on Monday.

“This is a scam, I think it’s it’s terrible thing that’s happening to democracy in this country,” Trump said. He then called the case a "rigged deal" and Merchan "conflicted." 

He went on to read comments made by his allies regarding the case.

“There’s no fraud here, there’s no crime here," Trump said.

Trump's motorcade leaves the courthouse

Donald Trump's motorcade has left the courthouse. His car slowed down so he could wave and flash a thumbs up to supporters gathered outside.

Testimony in Trump's trial continues tomorrow.

Afternoon sketches show Michael Cohen on the stand as his former boss sits nearby in court

From CNN Digital's Photo Desk

Sketch artists Christine Cornell and Jane Rosenberg have been providing us with courtroom perspectives throughout the trial as cameras are not allowed inside during proceedings.

Here are some of their latest sketches from Michael Cohen’s testimony Monday afternoon:

More sketches from Cohen's testimony can be seen here .

The final moments today in the courtroom: Trump stacks his papers and Cohen nods toward jurors

As Judge Juan Merchan gives his daily instructions to the jury, Donald Trump is stacking up his papers and whispering with attorney Todd Blanche.

His hands are folded on the table and he then flips through the papers one more time.

Michael Cohen, for his part, pans the courtroom and then looks down at his hands as Merchan is speaking.

Cohen gives a small smile and nods toward the jurors as Merchan dismisses them for the day.

The key points of Michael Cohen's testimony about how he was reimbursed for the hush money deal

From CNN's Eric Levenson

Michael Cohen finished the day’s testimony by explaining how he, former Trump Org. CFO Allen Weisselberg and Donald Trump agreed to reimburse him for the $130,000 hush money payment to Stormy Daniels.

After Trump won the election, Cohen pitched Trump on a set up in which he would serve as Trump’s personal attorney for free but would be paid by companies hoping for insights on Trump.

In early January, Cohen went to Weisselberg about being reimbursed for the $130,000 payment, and Weisselberg agreed, Cohen testified. He showed Weisselberg the wire transfer document, and Weisselberg took handwritten notes calculating what Trump owed Cohen based on their conversations.

Weisselberg suggested Cohen take the money as income rather than as untaxed reimbursements, Cohen testified. "I didn’t really think about it. I just wanted to get my money back,” he said.

According to Cohen, they agreed that Trump would pay him $420,000 in all: $130,000 to reimburse him for the payment to Daniels, $50,000 to reimburse him for unrelated tech services, $180,000 to account for estimated taxes and a $60,000 bonus. The payments would be made over 12 months “as like a legal service rendered since I was then going to be given the title of personal attorney to the president,” Cohen testified.

They presented the plan to Trump, and he approved it, Cohen said. The payments were designed to look like future legal services, but they were actually reimbursement for the Daniels’ deal, he testified.

Cohen never actually put together a retainer agreement for any future work he'd do for Trump, “because I knew there was going to be no compensation,” he testified.

Court is breaking for the day

The court is breaking for the day and the jury is leaving the courtroom.

Donald Trump's ex-attorney Michael Cohen is expected to continue to be questioned by prosecutor Susan Hoffinger tomorrow.

Please enable JavaScript for a better experience.

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

Guest Essay

Biden Can Do Something at the Debates That Trump Never Could

By Patti Davis

Ms. Davis is the author of “Dear Mom and Dad: A Letter About Family, Memory and the America We Once Knew.”

In 1960, I sat on the living room floor in front of a black-and-white television and watched one of the presidential debates between Richard Nixon and John F. Kennedy. It wasn’t my preferred programming, but my parents were watching it and communicated to me that this was sort of a homework assignment, as in, “this is how democracy works.” I was nearly 8. I remember fidgeting with the shag carpet, wondering how long this was going to go on, yet also taking in the fact that the two men on the screen opposed each other, probably didn’t like each other, but were being unfailingly polite in their disagreements. My takeaway was: This is how adults are supposed to behave.

Twenty years later, in 1980, I watched my father, Ronald Reagan, debate Jimmy Carter. There was the moment when then President Carter decisively (but politely) criticized my father for his opposition to Medicare. My father smiled, cocked his head and said, “There you go again.” He went on to explain that though he had opposed one bill, he had favored another that he thought would have offered better health care. What was memorable was the way he did it — without anger, without sarcasm or meanness, but instead with humor. Shrugging off the criticism and gently, easily setting the record straight came across as a stark contrast to Mr. Carter’s solemn demeanor. In that moment, I think, he won the debate, showing Americans, some of whom had questions about his temperament, that he was unflappable.

Cut to 2000, when George W. Bush and Al Gore debated. There was a moment in the third debate when Mr. Bush was speaking and Mr. Gore crossed the stage and got way too close to his opponent. Mr. Gore basically invaded his space, but Mr. Bush just turned, gave him a friendly nod of his head and smiled. He may as well have said, “Howdy.” Mr. Gore may have scored more points on substance, but people remembered that moment. They remembered the guy who exuded a coolheaded likability in the tense environment of a debate.

Many of us still recall when people in the political arena were expected to meet a base-line level of dignity, when candidates presented themselves as adults who understood the value of civility — because, they thought and we all generally believed, that’s what voters wanted and expected. But sadly, there are more and more Americans who regard maturity, sportsmanship and most of all civility in politics as elitist, phony hallmarks of an establishment that doesn’t talk or act like regular people. As a result, some politicians think of campaigning as another version of an M.M.A. fight. There was a time when presidents gave State of the Union addresses without being heckled by the elected representatives sitting in the audience. There was a time when candidates debated one another without interrupting and insulting. There was a time when Republican presidents and Democratic speakers of the House spoke to one another like Americans in the same boat together and tried to solve problems in a give-and-take. Seems like a long time ago, doesn’t it?

It’s true that not everything in the past was clean and respectful. Politics has always involved some insults and name-calling. But there was a huge change in 2016. Donald Trump pulled the cork out of the bottle, made cruelty mainstream and was rewarded for it. A disabled reporter was mocked; Republican rivals (and their relatives ) were smeared; crowds of people, when Hillary Clinton’s name was invoked, chanted, “Lock her up!” And the man who gave permission for all of it was sworn in as president.

So who are we as a country? Do we revere democratic principles and know that in order to uphold those principles, civil discourse is vital? Or have we become so enamored of down-and-dirty fighting that we can’t seem to get out of the mud pit?

President Biden has an opportunity to reclaim what was once a prominent characteristic of American politics in his upcoming debates with Donald Trump, but he isn’t off to a great start. His invitation to debate included the sarcastic taunt “ Well, make my day, pal .” Hearing a president imitate Clint Eastwood rubbed me the wrong way. Later I realized my father had used that line, too. It wasn’t his finest moment, either.

So how about standing on a ledge above the mud pit? Mr. Biden is effusive in his optimism about America and all this country is and can be. He has a chance to set an example for the nation. Obviously, Mr. Trump is not going to be civil on the debate stage. He doesn’t know how. But the president of the United States should refuse to be baited into sloshing around in mud, too. How hard can it be to rise above a man who just recently praised “the late, great Hannibal Lecter” as though he were a real — and admirable — person? It shouldn’t be that difficult to ignore Mr. Trump’s taunts, his insults, his interruptions, and choose dignity instead. If Mr. Biden has one overarching goal in his debate with Mr. Trump next month, it’s to remind voters that he is and will be the adult in the room, and that he will preserve the country’s dignity.

Because civility in this country is plummeting, on the streets, in businesses, on social media and pretty much everywhere else. Wouldn’t it be helpful if the person holding the highest office in the land gave us a concrete example of what it means to comport ourselves with dignity and restraint?

Patti Davis is the author of “Dear Mom and Dad: A Letter About Family, Memory and the America We Once Knew.”

The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips . And here’s our email: [email protected] .

Follow the New York Times Opinion section on Facebook , Instagram , TikTok , WhatsApp , X and Threads .

Scottie Scheffler arrested before start of Round 2 of the PGA Championship

LOUISVILLE, Ky. – World No. 1 golfer Scottie Scheffler was arrested and booked into a Louisville jail Friday morning after an incident with police near the entrance of Valhalla Golf Club, the site of this week's 2024 PGA Championship .

Scheffler, 27, is facing four criminal charges − including second degree assault on a police officer, which is a felony − after an encounter with a Louisville police officer who was directing traffic in front of the golf course, following a fatal collision in the area earlier Friday morning .

In a criminal complaint obtained by USA TODAY Sports, the officer wrote that Scheffler disregarded his verbal instructions, accelerated his car forward and dragged the officer to the ground, causing pain and swelling to his left knee and wrist. Scheffler said in a statement that he was "proceeding as directed" by officers and called the incident "a big misunderstanding."

"It was a very chaotic situation, understandably so considering the tragic accident that had occurred earlier, and there was a big misunderstanding of what I thought I was being asked to do," he wrote in the statement. "I never intended to disregard any of the instructions. I’m hopeful to put this to the side and focus on golf today.  

"Of course, all of us involved in the tournament express our deepest sympathies to the family of the man who passed away in the earlier accident this morning. It truly puts everything in perspective."

Scheffler was arrested just before 6:30 a.m. and booked into jail roughly an hour later, according to online records published by the Louisville Metropolitan Department of Corrections. He is being charged with second degree assault on a police officer, criminal mischief, reckless driving and disregarding signals from an officer directing traffic.

Tee times were delayed by almost 90 minutes Friday due to the traffic accident, in which an employee of one of the event's vendors, John Mills, was killed.

By 9:15 a.m., Scheffler had been released from jail and arrived at Valhalla. He teed off less than an hour later and went on to shoot a 5-under 66, moving to 9 under and just two strokes off the lead entering Saturday.

Louisville police did not immediately reply to requests from USA TODAY Sports for comment and more information on Scheffler's arrest. His arraignment is scheduled for 9 a.m. Tuesday.

Louisville-based attorney Steve Romines confirmed Scheffler's charges to local reporters in a brief interview Friday and said "we'll litigate the case as it comes." Romines indicated to multiple news outlets that Scheffler intends to plead not guilty.

"Apparently there had been a traffic accident, or maybe even a fatality down the road, and that had changed the traffic patterns, and he was unaware of that," Romines said, according to video posted by WLKY-TV . "And, I think the officer that was directing traffic was maybe not part of the event traffic detail and so that's where the miscommunication arose and that's why we're here."

The arrest came as a shock to the world of golf, where Scheffler has become known as not only one of the top ball-strikers on the PGA Tour but also one of its most affable characters. He has won 10 PGA Tour events and two majors, including the most recent edition of the Master's earlier this spring. A recent article on Golf.com dubbed him "golf’s best player (and) maybe its most charming, too."

ESPN reporter Jeff Darlington first broke the news of Scheffler's arrest after witnessing it take place outside of Valhalla on Friday morning. He wrote on social media that "a misunderstanding with traffic flow led to (Scheffler's) attempt to drive past a police officer" toward the golf course.

Darlington later posted a video clip on social media of Scheffler being escorted by police while in handcuffs and described the events as he witnessed them on social media and on ESPN. The video shows police detaining Scheffler and an officer telling Darlington that the golfer is going to jail.

Darlington added that Scheffler, while in handcuffs, looked toward to the reporter and said: "Please help me."

"They told him to stop," Darlington said in an appearance on ESPN . "When he didn't stop, the police officer attached himself to the vehicle. Scheffler then traveled another 10 yards before stopping the car. The police officer then grabbed at his arm attempting to pull him out of the car before Scheffler eventually opened the door, at which point the police officer pulled Scheffler out of the car, pushed him up against the car and immediately placed him in handcuffs."

Romines told reporters that Scheffler showed police officers his credential and was attempting to enter the golf couse like he had been instructed to. In the criminal complaint, meanwhile, the officer alleges that Scheffler accelerated forward. The officer was taken to the hospital and wrote in the complaint that his uniform pants "were damaged beyond repair."

Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear alluded to Scheffler's arrest in a statement expressing condolences about Mills' death in the traffic accident Friday, calling it "the unfortunate result of this tragic incident."

"We are hopeful that all parties involved can come to a resolution," Beshear said.

Louisville Mayor Craig Greenberg also released a statement describing Scheffler's arrest as "unfortunate" but adding that police were investigating and "the legal process will proceed." The Louisville prosecutor's office did not immediately reply to an email from USA TODAY Sports about the case Friday.

Scheffler shot a 4-under-par 67 in Thursday's opening round and was tied for 12th entering Friday. He has won four of the past five PGA Tour events that he's entered dating back to the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March.

  Contributing: Scooby Axson

Republicans flock to court to ‘kiss the ring’ during Trump criminal trial

Ambitious Republicans are eagerly parachuting onto the sidelines of the first criminal trial of a former president, with even onetime Trump critics and dissenters plunging themselves into the proceedings.

NEW YORK — Sen. J.D. Vance, who once recoiled from Donald Trump’s lewd comments about women, was in court to support Trump this week as prosecutors rehashed the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape that upended his 2016 campaign.

House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), an amiable advocate of conservative Christian morals, came to the courthouse the next day to call Trump’s trial a “shame,” a “travesty” and a “partisan witch hunt.” He left without taking questions, including one referencing the allegation that Trump falsified business records to cover up a hush money payment to a porn actress.

An hour later, one of Trump’s former presidential rivals stood in a nearby park attacking the witnesses the former president is legally barred from disparaging himself. “Straight out of a Kafka novel,” said onetime Trump opponent Vivek Ramaswamy , the latest in a parade of GOP lawmakers, activists and potential running mates flocking to New York to support the party’s presumptive presidential nominee.

Ambitious Republicans are eagerly parachuting onto the sidelines of the first criminal trial of a former president, with a lineup that includes former Trump critics plunging themselves into the proceedings. The pilgrimages demonstrate the imperative in today’s GOP to show loyalty to Trump and his fervent base in the midst of a case that has become a showcase of salacious scandal.

Notably absent from court: Trump’s wife, Melania Trump, who defended her husband after the “Access Hollywood” tape in 2016. She has stayed away, even as Trump’s lawyers try to convince the jury that he is a “family man” who wanted to protect his reputation and his loved ones from tawdry accusations he has denied. Also keeping her distance is Trump’s daughter Ivanka Trump, once a key adviser, who has retreated from politics and has not joined her brother Eric in the pews.

The visits show how the party has changed in some respects since 2016, when Republicans initially scrambled to distance themselves from Trump’s suggestion on the “Access Hollywood” tape that, as a celebrity, he could kiss and grope women whenever he wanted. Now, they have provided a small army of surrogates arguing that the charges are unfair and unusual, and amplifying his often exaggerated or baseless claims about the case and the legal system.

To his critics, the shows of support are a testament to the shameless lengths that Republicans will go to align themselves with Trump and his movement — the allegations they are willing to wave off and about-faces they have executed.

“Who are they performing for? Him. There’s so much of this audience-of-one,” marveled Dan Scheffey, 68, a New York Democrat who got in line around 3 a.m. Tuesday in the hopes of getting one of the precious few public seats in Trump’s trial. He showed up too late to make it in on Monday but still heard about the appearances that day from Vance (R-Ohio) and Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.).

Trump has pleaded not guilty in New York to charges of falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to Stormy Daniels, an adult-film actress who claimed to have had sex with Trump in 2006 and whose story threatened to become public ahead of the 2016 election.

Prosecutors are arguing that Trump was anxious to suppress her story amid the fallout from the “Access Hollywood” tape. Star witness Michael Cohen this week portrayed Trump as concerned with his political prospects rather than the reaction from his wife — prompting Trump to furiously shake his head from the defense table.

The group that has showed up to back him is fitting for a candidate who has blasted through conventions for a trial and tried to turn his legal peril into a political rallying cry — a strategy that helped propel him in the GOP primaries but faces a murkier outlook in the general election.

“I’ve done a whole bunch of campaigning,” said Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.), who is up for reelection and spent a day in court with Trump last week. In the counties he visited, Scott said, “people came up and said, I just want to thank you for standing with the president.”

Scott said in an interview that he made the trek after a conversation with top Trump adviser Susie Wiles, a friend of Scott’s who managed his 2010 campaign. “She asked me if I would think about going to the trial, and I immediately said sure,” Scott said.

Other Republicans reached out to Trump and his team, according to people with knowledge of the situation. Johnson — who recently survived a challenge to his speakership with Trump’s full-throated support — was not proactively invited by the campaign, according to a person familiar with his thinking, who, like some others, spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations. A person close to Vance said no one on the Trump team asked him to attend but that he “just thought it was the right thing to do.”

For weeks, the area outside Trump’s trial has featured scattered demonstrators but not mass protests, which Trump has bemoaned.

“We got nothing here right now, let’s be real,” one Trump supporter, Gary Phaneuf, complained one afternoon as he walked the park outside the courthouse, chanting alone. “You don’t see any prominent Republicans here today, do you?”

But the visits from GOP politicians have picked up over the past week. On Tuesday, Ramaswamy, Johnson, North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum , and Reps. Byron Donalds and Cory Mills of Florida descended all at once. Assembled in suits and red ties, they stood behind Trump as he gave his usual remarks in a hallway outside the courtroom.

“It is sad that we’re here today and not out talking to the American people about the issues that matter to them the most,” said Burgum, who ran a long-shot campaign as an understated, policy-oriented candidate and who is now considered a contender to be the bombastic Trump’s running mate.

Ramaswamy — who defended Trump at every turn even while running against him — gave a brief, fiery speech at the park, drawing attention to something the judge has forbidden Trump from talking about: the judge’s adult daughter, whose political firm has done work for Democrats. Ramaswamy echoed Trump’s claims that the prosecution was meant to derail the campaign and said indignantly that “our justice system should be blind to politics.”

The park was busier than usual on Tuesday but still hardly overflowing with demonstrators — for or against Trump. Kenneth White, a former federal prosecutor in California, emphasized that the procession of Republican lawmakers recently is unlikely to affect the jury and suggested that it is instead about “assuaging Trump’s ego.”

“They’re there to kiss the ring,” echoed Alan Morrison, the associate dean for public interest and public service at George Washington University Law School.

LeVine reported from Washington. Adriana Usero and Jorge Ribas contributed to this report.