Hi I’m Elliott and this is Mental Floss on YouTube. Today I’m going to talk about
some misconceptions about crime.
Misconception #1: Pleading insanity is often successful.
The Insanity Defense is actually not that effective. According to a 1991 study done
by the National Institute of Mental Health, people plead insanity in less than 1% of court
cases and it only works 25% of the time. The Insanity Defense is also banned in three states
-- Montana, Idaho, and Utah. Plus, according to Dr. Ewing, who wrote Insanity: Murder,
Madness and the Law, those who succeed at pleading insanity are often sent away for
longer than those who plead guilty. The difference is that they spend that time in a lock-down
psychiatric facility as opposed to prison.
Misconception #2: Violent crime is on the upswing in the U.S.
In the United States, violent crime has actually been cut in half since 1993. Good job, you
guys. In 2012, the FBI reported that there were
387 violent incidents per 100,000 people. That has decreased from 747 in 1993. The homicide
rate alone has declined by 51%. And the robbery rate has declined by 56%.
Misconception #3: Prison population is increasing because more people are going to prison.
Prison population IS increasing. In fact, the number of incarcerated Americans tripled
between 1980 and 2010. Currently, we have around 731 incarcerated people per every 100,000,
which is by far the highest incarceration rate of any country. But it’s not as simple
as more and more people are just going to prison. In fact, the U.S. does NOT have the
most people sent to prison per capita in the world.
The reason that the incarceration rate in the U.S. is the highest is because of the
long prison sentences. For example, according to the Washington Post, “140,000 prisoners,
or one of 11 inmates, are incarcerated for life, many with no chance of parole.”
Misconception #4: The reason violent crime is declining is because so many criminals
are incarcerated. According to the Wall Street Journal, experts
have not come to an agreement on how the massive number of prisoners affects the decrease in
crime rates. William Spelman and Steven Levitt, who study prison and crime rates in the U.S.,
claim that those prisoners probably account for around 25% of the decrease in crime. Other
possible reasons cited for the crime decline include: better security systems, stationing
police resources in high-crime areas, and even the recent decline in cocaine use. Basically,
we don’t know for sure why crime is decreasing, but it’s probably a combination of factors.
And it's probably a really good thing, you guys.
Misconception #5: It’s impossible to get tried twice for the same crime.
The U.S. Constitution does protect against someone being tried twice for the same crime,
known as “double jeopardy.” A great movie, by the way. But, in 1992, The Supreme Court
determined that, quote, “offense and a conspiracy to commit that offense are not the same offense
for double jeopardy purposes.” Basically, you can be tried for a crime as well as conspiracy
to commit the same crime. Mistrials and hung juries will also result in being tried again
for the same crime. So take that, murderers.
Misconception #6: Collecting and identifying DNA is easy and fast.
People who collect DNA have a lot of stuff to think about. They have to very careful
so the DNA isn’t contaminated by the DNA of another person. They have to use paper
bags because plastic bags can trap moisture and compromise the DNA. And they have to make
sure it stays at room temperature. It’s still a pretty rare form of evidence, too.
The amount of crimes that have been solved by DNA are actually less than one percent.
Misconception #7: A single person handles the bulk of a crime investigation.
You can blame TV for this misconception. It’s more dramatic and fun if your favorite character
is doing everything they can to catch the bad guy. But, that’s not how it works in
real life. The person who collects DNA at a crime scene is not the same person who will
analyze it in a lab. DEXTER. And that’s totally separate from people who are doing
the detective work. DEXTER. Basically, if you’re going to pursue a career in criminal
justice, you’re have to choose a specialty. Not killing people, Dexter.
Misconception #8: Released prisoners always end up going back to jail.
Many do. According to one study, around two-thirds of released inmates end up committing another
crime within three years, known as “recidivism.” But, there is actually evidence that certain
programs can lower that number. For example, in 2006, the Kentucky Department of Corrections
got a $1.5 million grant to implement cognitive behavioral therapy programs in prisons in
the state. Within two years, the state saw a 5% decrease in recidivism.
Misconception #9: You’d never suspect a white-collar criminal.
When we read about white-collar crime, it’s often a story about how no one saw it coming.
Sometimes the stories emphasize how everyone thought the criminal was such a good person.
But, actually, 40% of white-collared criminals already have a criminal record. WHAT?!
Misconception #10: Legalizing marijuana leads to an increase in crime.
Now, we’re not trying to take a stance on marijuana legalization because there’s enough
of that on the Internet. But, I CAN tell you about a 2014 study done at the University
of Texas at Dallas. The study looked at crime rates for every state in the U.S. between
1990 and 2006. This time period included the legalization of medical marijuana in eleven
states, which did not experience an increase in crime. And the researchers actually claim
that the legalization of medical marijuana may be correlated with a decrease in violent
crimes. How about that?
Thank you for watching Misconceptions on Mental Floss on YouTube, which is made with the help
of all these nice people. If you have a topic for an upcoming Misconceptions episode that
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you next week, bye!