Becker, H. (1953). Becoming A Marihuana User. American Journal of Sociology, 59(3), 235242. (8 pages).
Most people know of using marijuana to receive pleasure. According to Howard S.
Becker, there are three key component that must be met in order for a person to truly be able to
feel pleasure from using marihuana. First, the marihuana user must smoke the drug in a way that
produces certain effects. Second, the marihuana user must recognize the effects of marihuana
and tie together the effects of the drug to the usage of the drug. And third, the marihuana user
must learn to enjoy the sensation the drug causes. Once these three criteria are met, that is when
the marihuana user will truly be able to receive pleasure from using the drug.
The second phase for being able to receive pleasure from marihuana is to recognize the
effects of marijuana. For example, the article titled “Becoming A Marihuana User” states, “It
suggests that being high consists of two elements: the presence of symptoms caused by
marihuana use and the recognition of these symptoms and their connection by the user with his
use of the drug” (Becker 237-238). Interestingly, the first time most people use marihuana, they
are unable to tell that they are high. This is due to the fact that most people cannot recognize the
symptoms associated with being high. Even if a person is insanely high, it is possible that they
are completely unaware they are high. After a person has used marihuana a few times, this is
when they begin to recognize the effects of marihuana.
New Report Highlights Views of Experts. (2008, July 7). Retrieved March 7, 2015, from
http://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/2008/july/serialmurder_070708 (2 Pages).
Serial killers are a lot different in real life compared to how they are depicted on the
television screen. A group of experts on serial murders came together to collaborate for two
specific purposes. First, they came together to show people the statements that are true and those
that are false about serial murders. Second, to build our knowledge on serial murders. Serial
murderers are very rare to come across. So, when a person does come across evidence of a serial
murder, they will be able to better investigate with the help from the experts. The experts provide
information in the article about how law enforcement agencies should properly conduct
investigations to be able to successfully catch the criminal.
One of the best pieces of advice the experts on serial murders can provide to law
enforcement agencies is who to contact during the investigation. The experts advise law
enforcement to contact crime analysts. For example, the article titled “New Report Highlights
Views of Experts” states, “A team of crime analysts who can help investigators develop
timelines of murders and backgrounds on suspects, highlight similar case elements, etc. (note: if
your agency doesn’t have such a team, ask for help from a neighboring jurisdiction or from our
National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime).” When law enforcement agencies are able to
call on the assistance of crime analysts, crime analysts are able to help develop similar
characteristics the victims share. This will help answer what the serial murderer is looking for in
their victims. Thus, law enforcement will be able to stop the criminal before they strike again.
Cooper, A., & Smith, E. (2011). Homicide Trends in the United States, 1980-2008 Annual Rates
for 2009 and 2010. U.S. Department of Justice, 1-35. (35 pages).
The FBI’s Supplementary Homicide Reports has gathered data to show the patterns of
homicides in the United States from 1980 to 2008. The FBI’s Supplementary Homicide Reports
breaks up information onto charts according to age, sex, and race. This article by Alexia Cooper
and Erica L. Smith describes what type of a relationship existed between the offender and the
victim. The authors report also shows trends by what weapon was used, trends by the city size,
and the different circumstances that lead to homicide. The data presented in this article was
organized into tables and charts to help one see the trends that occurred for homicide.
One of the main trends this report covers is the trend of firearms used during the
homicide. More specifically, the use of a handgun during a homicide. Unfortunately, in past
years handguns were commonly used in homicides. For example, authors Alexia Cooper and
Erica L. Smith state in their article “Homicide Trends in the United States, 1980-2008 Annual
Rates for 2009 and 2010,” “Handgun-involved incidents increased sharply in the late 1980s and
early 1990s before falling to a low in 2008” (Cooper and Smith 27). The use of handguns
increased throughout the years. For 28 years the use of handguns in homicides continuously
increased. Fortunately, the use came to a halt when there was a drastic decrease in handgun use
for homicides.