What is the difference between a serial killer before they have ever killed and after they killed 3+ people?

Question

Would there be any value in attempting to help them or make counseling available to people who fit the profile of serial killers, serial rapists, serial child abusers, before they ply their trade for the first time? Would such a person seek or accept help? Could lives be saved? Am I being overly optimistic?

It's not that I think we are being too hard on them. Personally, I don't care if they rot in hell.

It's just that if we wait until they've killed 3 or more people before we begin to profile, identify, pursue, prosecute, or find other ways to stop them., are we not doing society a disservice?

Answer 1

You've given me alot of food for thought. At first before I read your entire question, I thought why body count of course. They DO have the profile of the potential serial killer and child abusers. I don't know if they do for rapists, but, I imagine they do. It's worth a try in any case right? I mean even if they only stopped one in a hundred, it would be worth it. I agree with you wholeheartedly. Of course the problem would be to identify these people and they would have to agree to treatment. They couldn't be forced because they aren't felons yet. Definitely food for thought. I like it when anyone gets me thinking, thank you.

Answer 2

First of all, the operative word in serial killer is "series," so there's no way to stop a "serial killer" before they've killed. There are warning signs that predict the likelihood of somebody's predilection towards violence, and ultimately towards becoming a serial killer (homicidal triad: pyromania, abuse/torture of smaller children or animals, and post-maturity bed wetting), but no concrete formula to say a person will be a serial killer.

Second, to the last part of your question, a profile can only be worked up usually after there's been more than one homicide. A profile is a detailed analysis of MO and signature, and other evidence elements left at a crime scene by the unknown subject (UNSUB), that help narrow the police' scope of investigation to a certain type of suspect they may be looking for, or may already have in investigation. A common misconception is that profiling is supernatural, psychic, or can be done with ease after looking at a single scene, which isn't true, at least, not often.

The FBI's Investigative Support Unit (ISU) is the formal name of the people who conduct "profiles" and believe me, these people do everything they can to apprehend these types of people as soon as possible. They're elite, intelligent, and well trained, if there's a way to detect these types of people more easily, they'll think of it.

Answer 3

A serial criminal is someone who merely commits a SERIES of crimes, rapes, murders, or whatever. There are no exterior or physical clues to warn the future victims, all the madness is on the inside. Hard to profile someone who looks like any average Joe. or Betty, etc. And there are plenty of programs available for mental help, but expensive, the "serial" criminal is usually too far gone mentally by the time the 1st victim's been picked. All we can really do is hopefully catch 'em, kill 'em, and dispose of them like the garbage they've become. Instead we give 'em a place to sleep and 3 meals a day, and cable TV, forever, for free. Now that's a disservice to society!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 4

It would be a horrible stigma for someone if people knew they were being counseled for being prone to be a serial killer, rapist or child abusers & it could push some over that invisible edge of decency. We could make it easier on victims of abusers & rapist since it is known they are likely to become abusers. If victims & their families felt more cared for & received counseling it may make drop of numbers of abusers. I am afraid that the horrible killers lack compassion for others & I do not think you can teach compassion to adults, but we can teach children. I do not believe you can be too optimistic but reality is hard to have to accept sometimes. More money for police will stop repeat killings & rapes.

Answer 5

It's done to some degree, like in Illinois they have the Sexually Dangerous Person Act. They don't have to commit a crime, but they have to show a propensity toward committing a sex crime and deemed sexualy dangerous by a state psychiatrist. Once they're found to be Sexually Dangerous they'll remain in prison until they're no longer considered sexually dangerous. I worked as a supervisor at a parole office, and of 5000 sex offenders on parole each year, I've only seen 1 Sexually Dangerous Person on parole. The otheres are pretty much in prison for life.

Enacting legislation like the type you proposed would take a lot of resources and Big Brother style invasion of privacy to seek out serial killers and sexual predators.

Answer 6

Having worked as a criminal investigator for some 24 years, I believe serial killers could be rewired, but how would we know who they are? Same with serial child abusers, whom I believe cannot be changed. Your question is a good one, but again, how would we identify them before they act?

Answer 7

Child abuse is learned and could be preventative with education.
Pedophilia is an addiction...seated deep in the brain. Pedophiles constantly lust after children. They are driven and if they want your child they will get him/her. And when they get out of prison they will lust and kill again.
We just had a pedophile released into the community. He went on to kill and mutilate all the children in a home here and then kill the Mom.
No amount of counseling seems to help.
Same with rapist.

Answer 8

alot of known serial killers had behavioral problems in adolesence. but at the same time, other people have exibited those same behaviors and dont grow up to be killers.so i'm not sure how any preventitive measures would be effective.


i'd have to say that one would have to be psychic to stop them before they start.


I myself am fascinated with the whole serial killer thing. i've read any and everything i can get my hands on about them.

Answer 9

I think I'm correct when I assert that all serial killers are sociopaths. So yeah - if they're profiled and interventions are implemented, I think there's a good chance that many lives could be saved. Better than nothing at all, don't you think? Worth a shot, but who's going to pay for it?

Answer 10

Good question..like an eight hundred number, I think we need one for people in a rage whom are about to physically hurt their children.....or before you take a substance, there are far too many crazy thoughts out there today....to catch someone before they step off the deep end would take a lot of thought.....good question....