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Copycat crime

A copycat crime is a criminal act that is modeled after or inspired by a previous crime. It notably occurs after exposure to media content depicting said crimes, and/or a live criminal model.

"Copycat killer" redirects here. For the EP, see Copycat Killer.

According to a study, copycat crime is a social phenomenon that persists and is prevalent enough to have an impact on the whole criminal landscape, primarily by influencing criminal tactics as opposed to criminal motive or the emergence of criminal traits.[1]

Copycat effect[edit]

The copycat effect is the alleged tendency of sensational publicity about violent murders or suicides to result in more of the same through imitation.[2]


The term was first coined in the early 20th century, following crimes inspired by Jack the Ripper. Due to the increase of replicated crimes, criminologists soon began to believe that media coverage played a role in inspiring other criminals to commit crimes in a similar fashion, and even for non-criminals to begin committing crimes when they otherwise might not have done so.[3]


A book written by Loren Coleman called The Copycat Effect describes the effect that the media has on crimes and suicides, which are inspired by crimes that have been widely covered across the media. Coleman's view on the media is that the constant coverage of these events, rather than the events with a positive message, gives these criminals a type of fame. The five minutes of fame, book or movie that is dedicated to these criminals provokes other individuals with a tendency to behave in a similar way. Due to this type of fame, the "copycat effect" takes place.[2]


The US documentary television series CopyCat Killers investigates murders that appear to be based on Hollywood films.

Prevention[edit]

American cryptozoologist Loren Coleman and author Zeynep Tufekci have suggested that copycat crimes can be prevented through a number of means, including: the use of carefully selected, non-sensationalistic language on the part of law enforcement and the media when communicating news of crimes to the public; avoiding the release of details on both the methods of crimes and the name of any suspects; avoiding the perpetuation of cliches and stereotypes about criminals and the causes of their behavior; emphasis on the effect of the crimes on the victims and their loved ones; and including protective factors like helplines when publishing stories on such crimes.[8]

Blue colored methamphetamine, seemingly inspired by Walter White's meth, has been found by law enforcement across the United States; the first reports of such meth was in in 2010,[9] while by 2014, it had reached the show's main setting of New Mexico.[10]

Kansas City, Missouri

In 2013, a 27-year-old man, Jason Hart, was found guilty of strangling his girlfriend to death, and then used sulfuric acid in a plastic tub to dispose of the body. The incident had many similarities to various scenes in Breaking Bad, where Walter White and Jesse Pinkman dispose of bodies in a similar fashion. It was later found out that he had been a fan of Breaking Bad.[9][11]

Nine Mile Falls

teacher and former member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives from 1981 to 1995, was arrested in 2013 for methamphetamine trafficking when police found $10,000 in cash, as well as equipment. He appeared in court with a clean-shaven head, and it was later found that he had been battling with cancer. He had been inspired by the television show to take things into his own hands and earn cash so he could receive the surgery/therapy he needed.[11][12][13]

Stephen W. Doran

In 2015, a 31-year-old man, Mohammed Ali, was sentenced to eight years in prison after trying to buy 500 mg of ricin, a toxin which plays a major part in the show's plot, on a darknet market.[14] In his testimony, he stated he was merely curious as to what he could buy off the dark web and as "[he] had been watching Breaking Bad, [he] just had ricin in [his] mind."[15]

Liverpool

, a 1999 film that inspired copycat crimes

Attack the Gas Station

, a 1995 film about a copycat serial killer

Copycat

Copycat suicide

, a 1996 film that inspired several copycat killers

Scream

Crime mapping

Fear of crime

Gun violence

Mass shooting contagion

Hate crime

(born 1967), a serial killer in New York, known as the "Copycat Zodiac Killer"

Heriberto Seda

Insanity defense

Sex crime

Social policy

Victimology

, a 2012 TV series about copycat crimes

The Following

, an animated television series where police are investigating a string of copycat crimes inspired by "The Laughing Man"

Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex

a 1994 action comedy about two kids who go on a killing spree that inspired multiple copycat crimes

Natural Born Killers

Copycat Crimes