Why do they always use a criminal's full name on the news?

Question

ie: Mark David Carr or John Wilkes Booth. Is this just to prevent confusion with other people named Mark Carr or John Booth?

Answer 1

Public record the need to use the full name.

Answer 2

It's not in all cases that they use the criminals full name usually it;s only in High profile cases and the reason they use full names is the media likes to be prop per and to aware all people of the person.

Answer 3

It kind of gets annoying, really. Like, if I'm typing out an email, I have to type out John Mark Karr- because if I just put John Karr or Karr noone will know who I am talking about.... damn you cnn

Answer 4

I believe there are two reasons:

1. what you said

2. what I said ( which would be that they are publishing the full name so that vigilante justice can occur when some nutter tracks the criminal down and makes them pay for their injustices against humanity!)

Answer 5

You answered your own question, I believe there should be even more info, like social insurance #, address, blood type, DNA sample, fingerprint....Just to protect the public from criminals and sickos....

Answer 6

Probably to let everyone know exactly who the criminal is, since they some how violated somebody's rights to become a criminal, they are exposed.

Answer 7

It is public information. I think they should wait tell the trials are over!

Answer 8

You know the answer to your question... and still robbed yourself of 5 points.

Answer 9

I dont know why they used my full name