Clinical and Psychological Perspectives on Foul Play

Description

Clinical and Psychological Perspectives on Foul Play examines a wide range of factors that can influence how police determine foul play in possible homicide cases and in other possible crimes. It develops a new theory of uncertainty at micro, meso, and macro levels to explain how law professionals arrive at this decision. Specifically, it examines the extent to which uncertainty in these situations can be influenced by media coverage, family and community pressures, socioeconomic factors, demographic elements of victims, as well as police knowledge and resources. Written for forensic practitioners, this book describes how these professionals can consult with law enforcement on such issues as the staging of crime scenes to mask intent, the initiation of community strategies to find missing persons, and the reliability of behavioral profiles. The latest research from the Foul Play Project and the Missing Persons Project are employed to support the recommendations in this book and to point the way toward further research in this area. Front Matter ....Pages i-ix Death Investigations (Stephen J. Morewitz)....Pages 1-33 Law Enforcement Agencies (Stephen J. Morewitz)....Pages 35-59 Child Victims (Stephen J. Morewitz)....Pages 61-98 Children Abducted and Missing During Child Custody (Stephen J. Morewitz)....Pages 99-131 Kidnapping and Missing Person Hoaxes and False Reports (Stephen J. Morewitz)....Pages 133-150 Suspicious Suicides and Homicides Staged as Suicides (Stephen J. Morewitz)....Pages 151-170 Arson and Arson-Associated Homicides (Stephen J. Morewitz)....Pages 171-196 Substance Misuse and Drug Overdose (Stephen J. Morewitz)....Pages 197-223 Suspicious Objects (Stephen J. Morewitz)....Pages 225-238 Bomb Threats (Stephen J. Morewitz)....Pages 239-247 Cemetery Damage and Vandalism (Stephen J. Morewitz)....Pages 249-265 Back Matter ....Pages 267-269