Behave Magazine

volume

I — issue XXII

FOR CRIME, IS ANATOMY DESTINY?

WWW.BEHAVE.COM

a study conducted questioning whether a persons looks affect whether or not they will commit a crime.

SEEDS OF DECLINE

ARSON GAINS FLIGHT

a brief look into the gloomy meth incline throughout the midwest.

update on the man who is terrorizing the nation with flames.

WHEN GOOD PEOPLE DO BAD THINGS page 10

Behave© is a magazine designed for the every day American intellect. The man who works from nine to five and turns on Law and Order: SVU when he gets home. The eighteen year old woman who loves to read Steven King novels. The father who reads the newspaper every morning, and the teacher who enjoys to keep up with current events. This magazine gives its readers the most current news stories and studies done by the best

INTRODUCTION / EDITOR’S NOTE

sociologists pertaining to a topic America has always been so fascinated by: crime. Deviance in youth, how criminals think, and studies based on real facts are what Behave© gives it’s readers in every issue.

Think of it as a perfect blend of intriguing stories, intellectual studies, and current events. Enjoy, from the staff here working hard to keep you

WHEN GOOD PEOP DO BAD THINGS

[FEATUR

interested.

4

FOR CRIME, IS ANATOMY DESTINY? An article discussing the relevance to a person’s level of attractiveness to the probability that they will commit a crime. This article takes an entire new spin on controvery when they give the statistic that people considered more attractive are less likely to commit crimes.

Written by Patricia Cohen

BEHAVE

2

Published May 10, 2012

10

ARTICLE NAME

ARSON GAINS FLIGHT A glimpse into the mind of an extreme arsonist who has escaped every institution he has been placed in. His

PLE

houdini-like qualities have captivized the nation but his ability to burn down anything is something not to be taken lightly.

RE] Written by Joseph Scott

28

THE SEEDS OF DECLINE 18 Take a closer look into the deep suburbs in the American midwest. Meth use and addiction is growing rapidly and it doesn’t appear to be slowing down. Why are suburbian residents in Wyoming, South Dakota, etc turning to extreme meth use? Is there really nothing else to do out there?

Written by Timothy Egan Source: New York Times

BEHAVE

4

FOR CRIME, IS ANATOMY DESTINY?

ARTICLE NAME

ACCORDING TO A STUDY, BOTH MEN AND WOMEN WHO WERE RATED UNATTRACTIVE (AS RATED ON A FIVEPOINT SCALE) IN HIGH SCHOOL WERE MORE LIKELY TO COMMIT — OR AT LEAST MORE LIKELY TO BE CAUGHT WHILE COMMITTING ONE OF SEVEN CRIMES, INCLUDING BURGLARY AND SELLING DRUGS, THAN THOSE RATED AVERAGE OR ATTRACTIVE.

6 BEHAVE

POVERTY, GREED, ANGER, JEALOUSY, PRIDE, REVENGE. These are the usual suspects when

biology,” what some refer to as anthropometric

Gregory Mankiw, an economist at Harvard and

economics or history, said Gregory N. Price, an

the former chairman of President George W.

it comes to discussing the causes of crime. In

economist at Morehouse College and one of the

Bush’s Council of Economic Advisers, has face-

recent years, however, economists have started

authors of a paper on height and crime. There is

tiously proposed taxing taller people more, since

to investigate a different explanation for crimi-

already a sizable stack of research that examines

someone 6 feet tall can be expected to earn

nal activity: physical attributes. A small band

the connections between physical characteristics

$5,525 more a year than someone who is 5-foot-

of economists has been studying how height,

and the labor market. Economists have found,

5, after accounting for gender, weight and age.

weight and beauty affect the likelihood of com-

for example, that every inch of additional height

Linking physical traits to criminality may sound

mitting — or being convicted of — a crime. Looking

is associated with a nearly 2 percent increase in

like a throwback to the biological determin-

at records from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries,

earnings; that employees rated beautiful tended

ism advocated by 19th-century social Darwin-

they have found evidence that shorter men are

to earn 5 percent more an hour than an aver-

ists who believed that there was a genetic pre-

20 to 30 percent more likely to end up in prison

age-looking person, while those rated as plain

disposition for wrongdoing. Practitioners are

than their taller counterparts, and that obesity

earned 9 percent less; that obesity can cause a

quick to distance themselves from such ideas.

and physical attractiveness are linked to crime.

drop in white women’s earnings in every aspect

It just so happens that when we look at this in

“The profession has developed a large interest in

of the world. To make a point about income tax,

perspective; that we could never imagine before.

FOR CRIME, IS ANATOMY DESTINY?

15,000 HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO WERE INTERVIEWED IN 1994, 1996 AND 2002. THEY FOUND THAT BEING UNATTRACTIVE IN HIGH SCHOOL WAS CORRELATED WITH A LOWER GRADE POINT AVERAGE, MORE PROBLEMS

WITH

TEACHERS

AND SUSPENSIONS.

Mr. Price, for example, argues that crime can be

“This is very new,” Mr. Mocan said of the research

viewed, at least partly, as an “alternative labor

into crime. “It opens up our horizons a little more.”

market.” If individuals with certain physical at-

A link between a physical attribute and salary, or

tributes are disadvantaged in the labor force,

crime, does not necessarily mean cause and ef-

they may find crime more attractive, he said.

fect. Mr. Mocan pointed out that we do not know

H. Naci Mocan, an economist at Louisiana State

why someone who is overweight, unattractive or

University and an author of a paper on crime

short is at a disadvantage in the labor market or

and attractiveness, explained that theories

more likely to commit a crime. It could be em-

about the relationship between weight, height

ployer discrimination, customer preference or

or beauty and the labor force emerged because

that the physical attribute may make the worker

“ECONOMISTS LOOKING AT STANDARD DETERMINANTS — LIKE EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, PRODUCTIVITY, HUMAN CAPITAL — FOUND THAT THEY COULD ONLY EXPLAIN SOME OF THE VARIATION IN WAGES.”

less productive. If a job involves carrying heavy loads, for instance, brawn would be an advantage.

8 BEHAVE

That is what both Howard Bodenhorn, an

dents tend to participate less frequently in

weight to assess changing social conditions.

economist at Clemson University, and Mr. Price

clubs and sports. As a result these students

Since biologists believe that 80 percent of

concluded from 19th-century prison records.

may suffer a drop in self-esteem or not de-

height is determined by genetics and 20 per-

In that era increased body weight was associ-

velop certain kinds of social skills that are use-

cent by environmental conditions, height — and

ated with a lower risk of crime. In the 21st cen-

ful later in life, the two economists theorized.

sometimes weight — can be an index of child-

tury, though, in which service jobs are much

Both men and women who were rated unat-

hood nutrition, health care and exposure to

more common, Mr. Price found that being over-

tractive (as rated on a five-point scale) in high

disease. This may be a sign of an impoverished

weight was linked to a higher risk of crime.

school were more likely to commit — or at least

upbringing. Mr. Komlos, for example, wrote a

Mr. Mocan and Erdal Tekin, an economist at

more likely to be caught while committing — one

2007 paper with Benjamin E. Lauderdale that

Georgia State University, analyzed data from

of seven crimes, including burglary and selling

found that Americans were the “tallest in the

a national survey of adolescent health that in-

drugs, than those rated average or attractive.

world between colonial times and the middle

volved 15,000 high school students who were

Mr.

economics

of the 20th century,” but have since “become

interviewed in 1994, 1996 and 2002. They found

was based on the work of economic histori-

shorter (and fatter) than Western and Northern

that being unattractive in high school was cor-

ans — including the Nobel Prize-winner Rob-

Europeans. In fact, the United States popula-

related with a lower grade point average, more

ert Fogel, John Komlos at the University of

tion is currently at the bottom end of the height

problems

Munich and Richard H. Steckel at Ohio State

distribution in advanced industrial countries.”

with

teachers

and

suspensions.

Other studies have found that shorter stu-

Price

University

said

—

anthropometric

who

have

used

height

and

ARTICLE NAME

“We conjecture,” they concluded, “that the

ductivity, skill and talent is influenced by looks.

United States health-care system, as well as

Mr. Price has suggested that there may be

the relatively weak welfare safety net, might

policy implications in his work, saying, “Pub-

be why human growth in the United States has

lic health policies successful at reducing obe-

not performed as well in relative terms as one

sity among individuals in the population will

would expect on the basis of income alone.”

not only make society healthier, but also safer.”

Though beauty would superficially seem to be in

Mr. Mankiw is skeptical of any real-world utility.

the same category as weight and height, stud- “Economists love quantifying things,” he said, ies that assess the economic advantage of be- “but there are so many possible interpretations, ing attractive are actually quite different, said

it doesn’t settle debates as much as it opens

Christina Paxson, an economist at Princeton

up questions.” He did note that his students at

who has studied the relationship between stat-

Harvard have been particularly fascinated by the

ure and status. While height is a sign of health

research that shows quantifiable economic ad-

and social conditions, the impact of beauty is

vantages of beauty. The benefit of these “weird

more psychological, she said. There the question

facts,” he said, is that it “forces you to think

is how someone’s perception of a worker’s pro-

about the world in ways you didn’t before.” •

WHEN GOOD PEOPLE

BEHAVE

10

DO BAD THINGs

A recent study finds that even if you were brought up learning proper morals and life lessons, your social class and where you grew up can increase the chance you will commit a crime.

ARTICLE NAME

SOCIAL CLASS

has always been a fundamental variable in sociological

a general negative relationship between status and crime/delinquency,

study of crime/delinquency, and practically every theory has given socio-

while 13 (50%) find no significant class variation, and 4 (15%) find a nega-

economic status a prominent explanatory role. Although several patterns of

tive relationship only for some specific subcategory of individuals in the

relationship between class and crime have been theorized, the most popu-

sample. Overall, then, it appears that the purported relationship between

lar explanations assume an inverse relationship between class position and

social class and criminality is in fact problematic. Not only is the general

criminality. And despite some skepticism, the belief has persisted for a long

evidence tenuous, but there is a glaring deficiency in the types of extant

time that the bulk of evidence actually demonstrates such a relationship.

research. Of the 49 research reports we examined, 41 (84%) are studies

So firm is this belief that at least one recent book has been written to ac-

of juvenile misconduct, and of the 26 that analyze self-reported crime/

count for the “diverse empirical findings that link social inequality and de-

delinquency by social class, only 1 has included december 1977 adults. In

viant behavior, particularly in American Society” (Hewitt, 3). Further, even

fact, to our knowledge, there are in the entire literature only 2 studies of

though some writers, sobered by the results of some self-report studies, are

self-reported deviance among adults, and both are extremely limited in

now careful to limit their generalizations to statements about social class

applicability. Furthermore, victimization surveys reveal only the age, sex,

and “officially recorded” crime or delinquency, confidence that at least that

and race of offenders, and only then for those crimes in which there is

relationship has been established is almost universal. Yet, the literature

a direct victim-offender contact (Skogan, 16). To balance out the picture,

concerning this issue is unconvincing. For one thing, methodological weak-

then, there is a clear need for self-report research that uses subjects of

nesses render much of the evidence problematic. Some frequently cited

various ages, that is based on comprehensive samples, and that uses data

studies report the relationship between class and crime for ecological areas

concerning a variety of criminal acts. Methods Data for the study were ex-

rather than for individuals, and several ostensibly relevant investigations

tracted from a large survey conducted in 1972 of the populations aged 15

have not in fact employed indicators of individual socioeconomic status.

and over in New Jersey, Iowa, and Oregon. These states were selected to

For example, the massive work by Wolfgang and his associates used as a

represent variations in degree of urbanization and industrialization, and

measure of a boy’s family status the median income of the census tract

to minimize bias due to cultural variables such as exceptional age or eth-

in which he lived rather than the boy’s actual family income. Although

nic concentrations. The sample of 1,993 was selected by area probability

they reveal a lot about contextual effects, tract characteristics may not

techniques combined with random selection of respondents within each

be good proxies for individual status characteristics. Of 49 research re-

sampled household, and two callbacks were mandated. All areas in the

ports we were able to locate, only 24 (49%) report a general negative

three states were included and stratified on the basis of density. Response

relationship between socioeconomic status and crime/delinquency, while

rates were normal for large surveys. Seventy-four per-cent of all eligible

19 (39%) find no class gradient, and 6 (12%) report an inverse associa-

households were screened and 77 percent of the screened households

tion only for some specific subcategory of individuals within a sample.

yielded completed interviews for a total response rate of 57 percent of all

In addition, many of the associations that have been measured are quite

eligible households. One-hour interviews were conducted by professional

small or are inconsistent. Furthermore, those studies based on official po-

interviewers representing National Analysts, Inc. Associations between the

lice or court data are less consistent than has usually been assumed. For

independent variables of social class and social mobility and twelve indica-

one thing, such studies are actually not very numerous. Despite frequent

tors of criminality were examined under a variety of control conditions.

reference (without citation) in the literature to “many studies,” we were able to find only 16 investigations that used official police or court delinquency figures and only 7 studies examining official arrest or conviction data for adults. Of these 23, 15 (65%) do report a negative relationship, but 6 (26%) find no consistent class variation, and 2 (8%) detect class variation only for some specific subcategory of individuals. Thus the weight of evidence drawn from studies using official statistics does favor the class hypothesis, but the case is scarcely compelling. Moreover, evidence from

BEHAVE

12

self-report studies, which many people believe are less biased, severely challenge the class hypothesis. Of 26 such investigations only 9 (35%) find

surveying how much a persons socioeconomic status and class affect their likelihood of committing crimes.

12%

39%

No class gradient; results proved that it has no effect on deliquency.

49%

General negative relationship between socioeconomic status and deliquency.

WHEN GOOD PEOPLE DO BAD THINGS

TOTAL OF 1,996 SECONDS OR 33.27 MINUTES.

crime timeline:

mapping per minute 0 min

15 min

30 min A MURDER HAPPENS EVERY 24 MINUTES A RAPE HAPPENS EVERY 5 MINUTES A SEXUAL ASSAULT HAPPENS EVERY 2.5 MINUTES A ROBBERY HAPPENS EVERY 54 SECONDS AN ASSAULT HAPPENS EVERY 29 SECONDS A VIOLENT CRIME HAPPENS EVERY 19 SECONDS A THEFT HAPPENS EVERY 4 SECONDS

If you were in a situation tomorrow where you had extremely strong desire o need to [behavior], what a the chances that you

BEHAVE

14

actually would do Two separate indexes of social class were con-

a three to those with one to three years of col-

highest class (19%) is composed of persons who

structed. One represents a combination of fam-

lege, and a four to those with college degrees or

are high and low white-collar workers, who have

ily income, occupation, and education of the in-

higher education. Income was scored: one for in-

been educated for at least twelve years, and

dividual or the head of the household in which

comes less than $7,000 per year, two for $7,001

who generally report family incomes in excess of

the individual lived. A five-category additive

to $10,000 per year, three for $10,001 to $13,000

$10,000 per year. Class three respondents (26%)

index of status was developed as follows. First,

per year, and four for those over $13,000 per

are predominantly high blue-collar workers (and

raw scores for each of the three components

year. 12 Scores for each of these three class in-

a few lower white collar), most have high school

were collapsed into four categories following

dicators were then summed to produce a total

educations, and most have incomes between

the rule of marginal equalization. Each of these

individual score ranging from three to twelve.

$7,000 and $10,000 per year. Of those included

categories was then assigned a score from one

Finally, the summed scores were collapsed into

in the second from the lowest class (31%) all are

to four. Occupations were collapsed as follows:

five classes that were most nearly equal in num-

blue collar, only about one-third are high school

laborers = one; skilled blue-collar workers, fore-

ber (or three in the case of nonwhites) and each

graduates, and over half live on incomes of less

men, and craftsmen = two; clerical, sales, and

individual’s position was designated by a number

than $7,000. Finally, the lowest class individu-

other white-collar workers = three; and profes-

ranging from one to five. This final index includes

als (17%) are entirely lower blue collar; only a

sional or managerial workers = four. Educational

in the highest class (9%) those individuals who

few have completed high school, and they sur-

categories were derived by assigning a score of

are high white collar, have educations of at least

vive on an income of less than $7,000 per year.

one to those with less than a high school educa-

some college, and who generally have incomes

tion, a two to those with a high school diploma,

greater than $13,000 per year.13 The second

WHEN GOOD PEOPLE DO BAD THINGS

n an or are

it?

Obviously, this composite index, like all others, is somewhat

Six different criminal acts were considered: (1) “taking some-

arbitrary, although we have attempted to minimize subjectiv-

thing that does not belong to you worth about $5,” (2) “tak-

ity by following the rules of equalization. We are well aware

ing something that does not belong to you worth about

of the long and controversial history of status measurement,

$50,” (3) “gambling illegally,” (4) “cheating on your income

and make no special claims for this simple additive index.

tax,” (5) “physically harming somebody on purpose,” and

The crucial test for any measure of “status” or “social class”

(6) “smoking marijuana.” Respondents registered the fre-

is whether it reflects the distribution of persons or groups

quency with which they had done each of these acts over

of persons in the status hierarchy being investigated (Hol-

the past five years (“past offenses”), and they estimated the

lingshead, b:567). Since students of crime generally have in

probability that they would engage in the behavior in the

mind that type of inequality most clearly signaled by income,

future (“If you were in a situation tomorrow where you had

education, and occupation when they discuss “class” as a

an extremely strong desire or need to [behavior], what are

correlate or determinant of individual non-conformity, our

the chances that you actually would do it?”). The report of

index is appropriate for the research problem. If we were re-

past offenses is assumed to indicate the criminality that has

searching the effect of “class” on the outcome of apprehen-

already been expressed while the estimate of future prob-

sion or on the structure of the law we might need an index

ability is designed to assess individual willingness to express

that more directly reflects power or prestige. But our focus is

criminality in action should the occasion arise. Our objective

the criminality of the individual. Therefore this index follows

in employing the future probability measure was to neutral-

theoretical mandates, and it is faithful to previous research

ize class variation in the utility of the behavior by asking all

which has universally used the same type of indicators and

individuals to imagine extremely strong desire or need, and

combination of indicators in investigating the problem, albeit

then to record willingness to commit the offense. Reports of

usually in less sophisticated form. Moreover, we have heeded

past offenses were recorded in the following categories: (1)

the caveat of Haug and Sussman concerning placement of

never, (2) 1 or 2 times, (3) 3-5 times, (4) 6-10 times, (5) 11-25

status inconsistent individuals, and have structured the in-

times, (6) 26-50 times, (7) more than 50 times. Estimates of

dex to minimize such inconsistency. Finally, as a check on the

future probability were made using a five-category response

validity of our measure (and following the recommendation

matrix with only the two ex-tremes (almost no chance and

of Haug and Sussman) we repeated the analyses using oc-

excellent chance) and the middle category named to give

cupation alone as the class indicator. Similar findings with the

the impression of a continuum as well as a set of categories

composite index and with occupation by itself suggests that

(see Tittle and Villemez for evidence that such a procedure

both are tapping the same “class” dimension. Thus the index

is desirable). Analysis of incidence assumed any admis-

used here passes every test of adequacy that we know about,

sion of these criminal acts over the past five years or any

and it appears to be an improvement over the class measures

estimated probability of future violation to be indicative of

used in most other investigations of the class-crime issue.

criminality. Analysis of frequency of admitted offense used

Mobility is indexed by comparing the occupational level

break points of three or more and six or more offenses over

of the respondent or the head of the respondent’s house-

the past five years while analyses of strength of criminality

hold with the occupation of the head of the respondent’s

used estimates of 50 percent and greater than 50 percent.

household when he was growing up. Since a broad measure of mobility was desirable, both occupation of origin and of destination were first collapsed into the four occupational categories noted above, and then mobility ascertained. Those whose destination status exceeded origin status were designated “up-mobile”; if origin exceeded destination, the individual was classified as “down-mobile”; and “stables” were those of equal origin and destination status.

16 BEHAVE

class variati measures of c were graphed compared to d if repetitive of variation detected.

ARTICLE NAME

ions in the criminality d and determine patterns could be

the seeds of decline how drugs and crime are unraveling in rural america

18

LOUP COUNTY, NEB.,

the poorest county in

rusty sink. Or Dalhart, Tex., a Panhandle to of

which generated a national debate about causes

the nation, is down to 712 people -- a third of

7,000 people where the murder rate last year

and solutions, the rural collapse has been largely

the population it had nearly a century ago. A

was more than twice the national average.

silent, perhaps because it happened so slowly.

four-bedroom house goes for $30,000. But

Around the country, rural ghettos are unravel-

Crime, fueled by a methamphetamine epidemic

building a life is much harder. In Loup County,

ling in the same way that inner cities did in the

that has turned fertilizer into a drug lab compo-

what rides on the unrelenting winds are symp-

1960’s and 70’s, according to the officials and

nent and given some sparsely populated counties

toms of despair that have taken hold there

experts who have tried to make sense of a gen-

higher murder rates than New York City, has so

and across a large swath of rural America.

erations-old downward spiral in the countryside.

strained small-town police budgets that many are

It could be Chemung County in upstate New

In this view, decades of economic decline have

begging the federal government for help. The rate

York, which lost people and jobs even in the

produced a culture of dependency, with empty

of serious crimein Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma

boom of the 90’s. Or Bighorn County, Wyo.,

counties hooked on farm subsidies just as wel-

and Utah is as much as 50 percent higher than the

where some high school seniors say their only

fare mothers were said to be tied to their monthly

state of New York, the F.B.I. reported in October.

choices are to move out of town or take up

checks. And just as in the cities, the hollowed-out

with people cooking methamphetamine in a

economy has led to a frightening rise in crime

BEHAVE

and drug abuse. But unlike the cities’ troubles,

ARTICLE NAME

Towns of 10,000 and 25,000 people are now the most likely places to experience a bank robbery.

Drug-related homicides fell by 50 percent in urban areas, but they tripled over the last decade in the countryside. ’We have serious drug crime in places that never used to have it,’’ said Allen Curtis, executive director of the Nebraska Crime Commission. Of the 25 poorest counties in the nation, 5 are in Nebraska, 5 are in Texas and 4 are in South Dakota, the Commerce Department found.

In Loup County, the dead center of Nebraska, per capita personal income is $6,606 per year, just 22 percent of the national average, according to a listing compiled by the Commerce Department.

“we have serious drug crime in places that never used to have it.”

THE SEEDS OF DECLINE

Equally telling is a growing wage gap that finds

‘’We give a lot of tax breaks and direct payments to

people who work in rural areas making just 70 per-

big agriculture companies that don’t do much for the

cent of the average salaries of workers in urban

local economy, but rarely do we give anything to the

areas. The cost of living, of course, is much lower

little guy trying to start a business and stay in town.’’

outside the big cities. But workers in rural areas

In Nebraska, nearly 70 percent of all farmers rely

are 60 percent more likely to earn minimum wage

on government largess to stay in business. Yet the

than urban wage-earners. No wonder then that the

biggest economic collapse is happening in counties

exodus from large parts of rural America is continu-

most tied to agriculture -- in spite of the subsidies.

ing, extending far beyond the long-suffering Great

Unaffected by the downward trends are cheap

Plains. While the nation as a whole grew by 13 per-

labs used to make methamphetamine, a syn-

cent in the 2000 census, many counties in upstate

thetic form of speed that the White House calls

New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Michigan

the

and three Southern states, for example, lost 9 per-

Nationwide, meth use has nearly tripled since 1994,

cent or more of their population during the 1990’s.

and there are now far more regular users of meth

The pastoral farms of cider presses and pumpkin

than crack, according to the annual survey of drug

patches still exist, of course, but the ones that pros-

use done for the National Institute on Drug Abuse.

per are at suburban edges, or they are places with

In Wyoming, the least populated state, officials es-

sublime scenery or an energetic college. Bonner

timate that 1 out of every 100 people needs treat-

County, Idaho, for example, grew by 38 percent in the

ment for meth addiction. Users of meth tend to

last decade, hooking its fate to outdoor amenities

be white and rural. There were 300 times more

and second homes for early-retiring baby boomers.

seizures of meth labs in Iowa in 1999, for ex-

Though the politicians who inveighed against mor-

ample, than in New York and New Jersey com-

al and economic decline in the big cities have yet

bined, the Drug Enforcement Agency found.

to weigh in on rural breakdown, plenty of voices are sounding alarms from this Other America.

Some say that entrepreneurship has been stifled by central government subsidies to agribusiness, while the real problems of rural America -- which have little to do with farm policy -- have been ignored. ‘’The slide is not inevitable,’’ said Chuck Hassebrook, director of the Center for Rural Affairs in Walthill, Neb.,

BEHAVE

20

a nonprofit group that studies trends in rural areas.

fastest-growing

drug

threat

in

America.

SEEDS OF DECLINE

users of meth tend to be white and rural.

FOR CRIME, IS ANATOMY DESTINY?

BEHAVE

22

“Meth seems to be everywhere in Nebraska right now. it’s mostly Beavis and Butthead labs, with poor white kids making meth out of their cars.”

LIKE CRACK, METH DRIVES UP ALL THE OTHER PROBLEMS IN THESE COMMUNITIES. Meth us-

during the decline-of-cities phase, the topic was

the subsidy loop. About 1.2 million of the nation’s

vigorously debated. By contrast, the problems of

2 million farms do less than $10,000 a year in an-

ers tend to be erratic, violent and in some cases,

rural America were not discussed much in the re-

nual sales, the Agriculture Department reports.

borderline psychotic -- especially when on a

cent national election, even in South Dakota and

In any case, with barely 1 percent of Americans liv-

sleepless binge or ‘’tweaking’’ episode. Small-fry

Missouri, which had close Senate races. Instead,

ing on farms, most rural jobs are nonagricultural.

dealers steal and war among one another. Users

the issue was farm price supports. In South Da-

About 25 percent of those jobs pay wages below

abandon families, lose jobs and batter spouses

kota, which received $3.2 billion in farm subsi-

the poverty level for a family of four, said Repre-

and loved ones. ‘’Meth seems to be everywhere

dies over the last five years and stands to gain an

sentative Eva Clayton, a Democrat of South Car-

in Nebraska right now,’’ Mr. Curtis of the Nebras-

even larger amount in the coming decade, can-

olina who is retiring this year, and who served as

ka Crime Commission said. ‘’It’s mostly Beavis

didates of both parties swore to uphold the sta-

chairwoman of the Congressional Rural Caucus.

and Butthead labs, with poor white kids making

tus quo. Supporters of subsidies say they keep

meth out of their cars.’’ Whether people would

entire counties from going under and ensure a

be less prone to using meth if there were more

cheap and abundant food supply. But opponents

good-paying jobs in rural areas is an echo of an

say that the biggest checks go to large corpo-

old question -- the one posed about crack and

rate farms and do little to stem rural decline.But

heroin use in gutted inner cities. But at least

farmers who are just getting by tend to be out of

ARTICLE NAME

Or, she said, more often the rural wage-earner

Nebraska, has been trying to get small ‘’action’’

rural areas and small towns. History has provid-

makes a long commute to a minimum-wage job

grants -- somewhat similar to the ones the big cit-

ed us a model to help the communities that are

in the nearest regional hub city. There are some

ies used to go after -- as a way to jump-start busi-

hurting in the heartland, Senator Dorgan said.

bright spots on the open map. In some regional

nesses in western Nebraska. In desperation, other

But history, at least since the end of the

hubs, like Fargo, N.D., wages and jobs have in-

rural politicians are looking to an earlier model.

last homestead act around 1920, has also

creased. Across the Midwest, a number of com-

Two major homestead acts were largely responsi-

shown that people who live in depressed rural

munities have attracted enough immigrants to

ble for people moving to some of least populated

America have been going only one way out. •

show population growth. But these immigrants

areas to begin with. Now comes the New Home-

come to work at meatpacking plants or corporate

stead Economic Opportunity Act, introduced by

hog farms. And recent studies have shown those

Senators Byron L. Dorgan, Democrat of North

jobs tend to drive out other people who might

Dakota, and Chuck Hagel, Republican of Nebras-

normally stay in an area for its quality of life.

ka. The bill would forgive student loans and pro-

Representative Tom Osborne, Republican of

vide tax credit for home purchasers in depressed

RECENT CRIME NEWS A COLLECTION OF BRIEF AND CURRENT NEWS STORIES THAT DEEPLY AFFECT OUR COUNTRY.

SIERRA LAMAR MISSING: 5 SEX OFFENDERS ARRESTED DURING SIERRA LAMAR INVESTIGATION

CUYAHOGA VALLEY NATIONAL PARK BOMB PLOT: FBI SAYS SUSPECTS PUT FAKE EXPLOSIVES ON BRIDGE

Authorities investigating the case of missing California teenager Sierra

CLEVELAND -- Five men charged with plotting to bomb a bridge link-

LaMar have arrested five sex offenders. The arrests come after au-

ing two wealthy Cleveland suburbs placed what they thought were real

thorities interviewed nearly 300 sex offenders in regard to the teen’s

explosives at the site and repeatedly tried to detonate them using text

unsolved disappearance. “As a result of contacting ... sex offender

messages from cellphones, according to an FBI affidavit filed in court.

registrants, for information in the Sierra LaMar case, the Sheriff’s Office

Federal authorities on Tuesday described the men as anarchists who

Sexual Assault Felony Enforcement Task Force has arrested five separate

are angry with corporate America and the government and unknowingly

persons, and is investigating several others,” said Sgt. Jose Cardoza, a

worked with an FBI informant for months as they crafted and carried

spokesman for the Santa Clara County Office of the Sheriff. According to

out their plan. The FBI said suspects bought fake explosives from an

Cardoza, the men were arrested for violating sex offender registration

undercover employee and put them at the base of a highway bridge over

requirements.

the Cuyahoga Valley National Park, about 15 miles south of downtown Cleveland, on Monday. After leaving the park, they tried to initiate the explosives using a text-message detonation code, and they called the

UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA INVESTIGATED BY OVER HANDLING OF SEXUAL ASSAULT REPORTS

person who provided the bombs to check the code when it failed, according to the FBI affidavit.

of Montana have responded to reports of sexual assault and harass-

NORTH CAROLINA PASTOR SEAN HARRIS: PARENTS SHOULD ‘PUNCH’ THEIR GAY-ACTING CHILDREN

ment after the agency learned of complaints that cases were not being

Sean Harris, senior pastor of Berean Baptist Church in Fayetteville,

properly handled. The investigation was disclosed Tuesday after a pre-

spoke at length in support of North Carolina’s proposed Amendment 1,

liminary examination conducted earlier this year concluded there was

which would define marriage in the state constitution as between one

enough evidence to move ahead with a full probe, Assistant Attorney

man and one woman and would outlaw civil unions and domestic part-

General Thomas Perez said.

nerships, during an hour-long sermon on Sunday.

MISSOULA, Mont. - The U.S. Justice Department has opened an investigation into the way Missoula police, prosecutors and the University

DEPARTMENTS

MISTIE ATKINSON HAD SEX WITH 16-YEAR-OLD SON, FACES INCEST CHARGES, COPS SAY

DAVID WILLIAMS, OKLAHOMA MAN, ACCUSED OF HAVING A METH LAB IN HIS PANTS

A Nice, Calif. woman faces incest charges after she allegedly had sex

Is that a meth lab in your pants or are you just unhappy to be arrested?

with her 16-year-old biological son. Police said they found Mistie Atkin-

News On 6 reports that a meth lab in David Williams’ pants exploded

son with the boy in a hotel room in March as they were serving a warrant,

during a scuffle with a police officer, according to the Oklahoma Highway

the Napa Valley Register reported. Atkinson pleaded not guilty on March

Patrol. Williams and his friend were originally pulled over for speeding

9 to incest and oral copulation of a minor among other charges. Napa

early Friday morning in Okmulgee County, Okla., but when a trooper

police said that videos captured on the boy’s phone show Atkinson alleg-

asked about a chemical smell coming from the car, Williams fled, ac-

edly performing oral sex and having sexual intercourse with the teen in

cording to police. “After a brief struggle, it was determined there was an

February. She’s also accused of sending sexually explicit images to the

active meth lab in his pants that burst during the struggle and got all

boy electronically. “Atkinson and the victim are aware they are biological

over his body,” trooper Shiloh Hall told News On 6.

mother and son,” cops said in a release.

TESSA VANVLERAH SENTENCED TO CONSECUTIVE LIFE SENTENCES FOR RAPING INFANT DAUGHTER

PRESCRIPTION DRUG ADDICTION: A MEDICAL CONDITION, NOT A MORAL FAILURE

CLAYTON, Mo. - A judge sentenced a Missouri woman to consecutive

Prescription drug abuse and addiction is prevalent in America yet it

life prison terms for sexually assaulting her infant daughter along with

lurks in the shadows. We don’t like to talk about it because of the stigma

a California man she met online. Vanvlerah pleaded guilty in January

associated with it. But if you are still reading this, you probably know

to incest, statutory sodomy and statutory rape in the attacks against

someone close to you it has affected. This is an issue that is near and

her daughter, who is 3 but who was 5 months old when the pair first

dear to me and my family. Both of my parents own pharmacies (my

attacked her. The woman who fostered and then adopted the girl said

father’s is in Attleboro, Mass., and mother’s is in Plainville, Mass.). Both

initially, the girl would scream when anyone bathed her or changed her

have had their share of robberies from persons suffering from drug ad-

diaper. She still has night terrors and asks at each bedtime to make sure

diction. In September 2010, there was a well publicized case of a 17-year-

nobody else comes into the home. However, she said the girl is improv-

old boy found nearly comatose in the ceiling of Plainville Prescription

ing day by day and “is no longer Tessa’s plaything and she is no longer

Center. That is my mother’s store, and it wasn’t the first break-in she or

Tessa’s child.”

my father has experienced.

TITUS TAGGART, NEW YORK STATE POLICE TROOPER, SUSPENDED IN PROSTITUTION PROBE

BRIDGE STOLEN IN CZECH REPUBLIC RESULTS IN MILLION-DOLLAR GAP There’s a million-dollar gap in the Czech Republic’s railroad budget

Three state troopers in western New York have been suspended as part

thanks to the theft of a 10-ton bridge near the eastern town of Slavkov.

of a State Police investigation into allegations that at least one of the

The bridge burglary is being credited to a “train gang” who reportedly

troopers was involved in prostitution. According to New York State Po-

arrived at Slavkov depot with forged paperwork claiming that the foot-

lice Superintendent Joseph D’Amico, Titus Taggart, a 41-year-old trooper

bridge over the disused railway track had to come down, the Telegraph

assigned to Troop T in Buffalo, was suspended without pay, effective

reported.

April 26. Taggart, an 18-year veteran of the state police, “is alleged to have organized parties that may have involved the promotion of prostitution, while off-duty,” D’Amico said in a press release.

volume

I — issue XXIII

WWW.BEHAVE.COM

WHAT YOUR KID IS DOING NOW

NO COPS IN BANKHEAD

DECIDED FATE OF THEFT

a study conducted thoughout the us observing what teenagers are actually doing no matter how old they are, and how to stop it.

a special peering into bankhead, a sub-area of atlanta, georgia that is known for its extreme violence.

as the economy gets worse, a very highly respected sociologist predicts what will happen if our ecomony really tumbles.

THE TEEN DEVIANCE EPIDEMIC IN CITIES page 10