Rule Number 9: Never Go Anywhere Without A Knife (NCIS)
“Rule number 9: Never go anywhere without a knife” (Gibbs, NCIS). Just like this rule is not a real rule in the Navy, many things seen on crime television dramas are not real either. NCIS is a popular crime drama on television that follows 3 main investigators who work for NCIS, Naval Criminal Investigative Service, that conduct criminal investigations involving the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps. In season 1, episode 20 “Missing”, a Marine, Bill Atlas, is kidnaped by Vanessa, one of four girls who Atlas and his fellow Marines tried to bring back to the United States. Their plan failed and Vanessa was the only one to make it back alive. To get revenge on the men, she set out to kill each one of them by putting them through the same death as her
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friends. In the end she is captured by Anthony DiNozzo, Caitlin Todd, and Leroy Jethro Gibbs when she tried to kill Atlas in the sewers. Concepts of the criminal system that are covered in this episode include the serial killer typology of a mission-oriented killer, the time rate at which evidence is analyzed, and the time it takes to get a confession or evidence from a suspect. Although there are these differences, the show follows a path similar to crime science investigation in real life. The first representation in the episode is the serial killer typology; a mission-oriented killer. A mission serial killer typology by definition from the Aggression and Violent Behavior journal says it is someone “who is following a religious or political imperative to eradicate a certain group of people”. In this episode, Vanessa is attempting to eradicate a group of Marines who, although had good intentions, killed three of her friends and almost her. She seeks to take revenge on them by putting them through the same pain and death her friends experienced. It is represented in the show well, because wanting to eradicate this group of men roughly fits this typology of a serial killer. Although there is no set definition of any serial killer so one could make a new typology or mix ideas from multiple typologies. However, the biggest inaccuracy shown in this episode is the speed at which evidence is processed. Abby and Ducky were able to process evidence and old autopsies in what appears to be a day. Abby is able to find information on three missing Marines from the last eight months, ones that no one knew about it.
She later is not able to find a record of Mark Cohen after he got a bad conduct discharge, and later finds out that he is dead. The next day, she is able to process fingerprints and find out that there is a match but with no name in the system, only that they were on Carol Power’s credit card receipt from the bar. In reality, it takes much longer to get all of this information, not just two days. It can take on average two days to two years to process DNA evidence (Connecticut General Assembly). Crime shows like to speed up the process of DNA collection, or any evidence collection, and analysis because it would not be good television if the characters had to wait a year or two to get their evidence back and make an identification on a person. The third problem is the speed at which the detectives are able to get confessions and information out of the suspects. In the episode, Gibbs interviewed Carol Powers, a suspect in the disappearance of Atlas because of her current affair with him. Within a minute, she revels all that she knows about Atlas and what he told her because he hinted at her possible attack because of her association with Atlas.
This is called the “third degree” which is defined as “the inflicting of pain, physical or mental, to extract confessions or statements from witnesses or suspected criminals” (Beyle, Parratt). The third degree is a way of gathering information and confessions in a brutal way and is generally used extensively. It can also include prolonged illegal detention, and this is because the “third degree” can go on for hours or sometimes a day. Whether this is a legal and fair process or not, it is still not accurately portrayed in television shows. Television shows, like NCIS, speed this up and do not show the actual severity of what happens. When investigating a crime scene, similarly to interrogation or the analysis of evidence, it is sped up for the sake of the episode. The steps in collecting evidence include taking photographs and documenting the scene, collecting trace materials, collecting low-level DNA by swabbing areas of likely contact, other items that may contain biological evidence, and locating and collecting fingerprints (forensicsciencesimplifed.org). In the episode, all of these steps are covered, however they are done at the same time to save time. While someone is looking for fingerprints, someone else is taking photographs. The definition of a serial killer by the FBI is having at least two killings and a temporal separation between the different murders, which was described as: separate occasions, cooling-off period, and emotional cooling-off period”. In order to understand the typologies of serial killers, the different typologies must be learned, such as in a class. In class they were discussed as well as in the book. The three typologies that are covered in class are “thrill-oriented”, “mission-oriented” and “profit-driven”. “Thrill-oriented” are killers that enjoy the act of killing people, they fantasize about it. “Mission-oriented”, which is what Vanessa was, are killers who want to rid the world of filth or evil and they do it through targeting a specific group of people. “Profit-driven” serial killers take lives in commission of another act, like robbery. It is important to understand these different types of typologies because a serial killer most likely will not fall into a single category. Vanessa for example is a “mission-oriented” killer, but could also have some parts of a “thrill-oriented” typology because she had been killing these Marines for eight years so she must have enjoyed it and waited for the day to kill them all. To understand how it takes so long for evidence to be analyzed, the very basic concept of overcrowding can be looked at. Overcrowding is due to a large amounts of inmates in county jails and state prisons, mainly due to the fact that they take plea bargains. If they did not take plea bargains, they would be in holding for longer awaiting trial because evidence needs to be collected and trial created. Plea bargains are encouraged as to free up space in the criminal justice system. Just as there is a lot of potential cases in the court systems, there is a lot of evidence of all kinds that comes through to be analyzed. This is not to say that evidence should not be submitted to be analyzed, only that there is a lot of crime and cases that cause a backup in both the court system and cases that need to get evidence in order to carry out the investigation. The third topic of the “third degree” goes along with police brutality and modern issues in policing. An issue faced in modern policing is police discretion. Police discretion is when an officer uses his or her best judgement to control the situation. In many cases though this has turned out negative for the officer. This then leads to political movements such as “Black Lives Matter” vs “Blue Lives Matter”. However, statistically, it is unlikely for something to happen because of an excessive force from an officer. Today, people try to catch potentially controversial or rude things on camera to show the world. Only the negative videos are then posted and shared, creating this illusion that there is a lot of police brutality in the world. With this being said, there is still excessive forced used behind closed doors, such as “third degree”. Although it has been more controlled since the 1930s, it is still prevalent in everyday cases. If there is a place where police brutality occur, it will more often be here, not out on the streets.
friends. In the end she is captured by Anthony DiNozzo, Caitlin Todd, and Leroy Jethro Gibbs when she tried to kill Atlas in the sewers. Concepts of the criminal system that are covered in this episode include the serial killer typology of a mission-oriented killer, the time rate at which evidence is analyzed, and the time it takes to get a confession or evidence from a suspect. Although there are these differences, the show follows a path similar to crime science investigation in real life. The first representation in the episode is the serial killer typology; a mission-oriented killer. A mission serial killer typology by definition from the Aggression and Violent Behavior journal says it is someone “who is following a religious or political imperative to eradicate a certain group of people”. In this episode, Vanessa is attempting to eradicate a group of Marines who, although had good intentions, killed three of her friends and almost her. She seeks to take revenge on them by putting them through the same pain and death her friends experienced. It is represented in the show well, because wanting to eradicate this group of men roughly fits this typology of a serial killer. Although there is no set definition of any serial killer so one could make a new typology or mix ideas from multiple typologies. However, the biggest inaccuracy shown in this episode is the speed at which evidence is processed. Abby and Ducky were able to process evidence and old autopsies in what appears to be a day. Abby is able to find information on three missing Marines from the last eight months, ones that no one knew about it.
She later is not able to find a record of Mark Cohen after he got a bad conduct discharge, and later finds out that he is dead. The next day, she is able to process fingerprints and find out that there is a match but with no name in the system, only that they were on Carol Power’s credit card receipt from the bar. In reality, it takes much longer to get all of this information, not just two days. It can take on average two days to two years to process DNA evidence (Connecticut General Assembly). Crime shows like to speed up the process of DNA collection, or any evidence collection, and analysis because it would not be good television if the characters had to wait a year or two to get their evidence back and make an identification on a person. The third problem is the speed at which the detectives are able to get confessions and information out of the suspects. In the episode, Gibbs interviewed Carol Powers, a suspect in the disappearance of Atlas because of her current affair with him. Within a minute, she revels all that she knows about Atlas and what he told her because he hinted at her possible attack because of her association with Atlas.
This is called the “third degree” which is defined as “the inflicting of pain, physical or mental, to extract confessions or statements from witnesses or suspected criminals” (Beyle, Parratt). The third degree is a way of gathering information and confessions in a brutal way and is generally used extensively. It can also include prolonged illegal detention, and this is because the “third degree” can go on for hours or sometimes a day. Whether this is a legal and fair process or not, it is still not accurately portrayed in television shows. Television shows, like NCIS, speed this up and do not show the actual severity of what happens. When investigating a crime scene, similarly to interrogation or the analysis of evidence, it is sped up for the sake of the episode. The steps in collecting evidence include taking photographs and documenting the scene, collecting trace materials, collecting low-level DNA by swabbing areas of likely contact, other items that may contain biological evidence, and locating and collecting fingerprints (forensicsciencesimplifed.org). In the episode, all of these steps are covered, however they are done at the same time to save time. While someone is looking for fingerprints, someone else is taking photographs. The definition of a serial killer by the FBI is having at least two killings and a temporal separation between the different murders, which was described as: separate occasions, cooling-off period, and emotional cooling-off period”. In order to understand the typologies of serial killers, the different typologies must be learned, such as in a class. In class they were discussed as well as in the book. The three typologies that are covered in class are “thrill-oriented”, “mission-oriented” and “profit-driven”. “Thrill-oriented” are killers that enjoy the act of killing people, they fantasize about it. “Mission-oriented”, which is what Vanessa was, are killers who want to rid the world of filth or evil and they do it through targeting a specific group of people. “Profit-driven” serial killers take lives in commission of another act, like robbery. It is important to understand these different types of typologies because a serial killer most likely will not fall into a single category. Vanessa for example is a “mission-oriented” killer, but could also have some parts of a “thrill-oriented” typology because she had been killing these Marines for eight years so she must have enjoyed it and waited for the day to kill them all. To understand how it takes so long for evidence to be analyzed, the very basic concept of overcrowding can be looked at. Overcrowding is due to a large amounts of inmates in county jails and state prisons, mainly due to the fact that they take plea bargains. If they did not take plea bargains, they would be in holding for longer awaiting trial because evidence needs to be collected and trial created. Plea bargains are encouraged as to free up space in the criminal justice system. Just as there is a lot of potential cases in the court systems, there is a lot of evidence of all kinds that comes through to be analyzed. This is not to say that evidence should not be submitted to be analyzed, only that there is a lot of crime and cases that cause a backup in both the court system and cases that need to get evidence in order to carry out the investigation. The third topic of the “third degree” goes along with police brutality and modern issues in policing. An issue faced in modern policing is police discretion. Police discretion is when an officer uses his or her best judgement to control the situation. In many cases though this has turned out negative for the officer. This then leads to political movements such as “Black Lives Matter” vs “Blue Lives Matter”. However, statistically, it is unlikely for something to happen because of an excessive force from an officer. Today, people try to catch potentially controversial or rude things on camera to show the world. Only the negative videos are then posted and shared, creating this illusion that there is a lot of police brutality in the world. With this being said, there is still excessive forced used behind closed doors, such as “third degree”. Although it has been more controlled since the 1930s, it is still prevalent in everyday cases. If there is a place where police brutality occur, it will more often be here, not out on the streets.