Day 83: International Crime Research: Killed for Kindness

In the South African newspaper 'Weekend Witness', December 22nd, there is an article about a man and his 24 year old passenger whom he was giving a lift to from work, who were attacked after he decided to give two hitchhikers a lift. The two men after getting in the car shot the man, and drove the woman off to a secluded area, where they raped her and abandoned her and the car.


The question that most will ask, after reading this article is why did the two men do this, as it is obvious that they were not doing it to steal the car for monetary gain, but rather these acts point towards spitefulness and the deliberate intention to cause harm to others.

There are many ways of looking at this event, as people try and make sense of why such things are happening, especially in South Africa where 'hate crimes' are a common place occurrence, after the apartheid regime. Now we are left on a global scale with the aftereffects and consequences of atrocities such as apartheid. Most countries have some dubious historical recollection of Abuse between various ethnical and political groups - and the outflow, as we have noticed is usually, mostly a retaliation for many generation by the group that was oppressed towards the oppressors or the state. What is not being learnt or grasped by anybody - as we are able to see by these vengeful acts - where unfortunately we will probably again one day see a hatred for young black men by those who have been victimised - where the cycles of race discrimination is merely going to repeat itself - is 'self responsibility'. Lets look at the example again of this murder and rape - which is a common place occurrence with South Africa; The two men responsible for the act - were doing so based probably on a combination of factors - as one will notice is the case in most of these attacks. In some cases it is due to them acting out towards society, for being oppressed within socio-economic lives that have cased them fear and distress, at other times it forms part of the 'new south african syndrome' which Criminologists discuss as being the result of the younger generation, who themselves were not even part of the abuse that was done to their parents and grandparents within the apartheid ear - but who are now part of a 'culture of violence' in which young people are feeding of the anger of the previous generations and allowing this to be their outlet for other angers, fears or in some cases expressions and outlets for boredom and alcohol/drug related actions.

So, let's look at these various factors involved and see how and when and to whom the responsibility belongs of directing the problem. Through the media and constant bombardment of picture, the youths are shown that it is 'cool' to take what you want and be who you want - now that apparently oppression is over with. This has also been the tactic of politicians to get the masses to vote for them as they promise 'opportunities' for all to have 'better lives' if they make it possible for that political part to be in power. This if one uses basic maths, has been a clear deception as no political party has thus far established any equality for people to have dignified lives by making it possible for all to have a decent income - as the politicians are only interested in yet again protecting the system fo capitalism, from which they themselves profit, so that the Elite may become richer and the only way to do this is obviously to maintain a gap between the rich and poor - because after all if everybody has the same stuff - then it would not be such a special experience for the Elite to have more stuff than other people.

Therefore,'doing what you want and being who you want' -in this current world system - requires money. So, what is not being explained to any young person being impulsed only with the luxurious life style they 'could have' are the technicalities behind getting what you want, as this would imply that those doing the explaining such as parents and educators would have to explain why the existing money system for example forces people into categories of life according to what money you have, which is dependent on what job you have and that for most people their incomes does not match their basic life necessities.

This the younger generations are seeing and understanding for themselves, as they are encouraged to 'think for themselves' -and this is mostly creating confusion, comparison, jealousy and eventually anger which fuels into rage as the person constantly uses backchat (internal conversations) to fuel the point through thinking and rationalising. Combine the socia-economic frustrations and angers from the parents and grandparents, with unmet desires - from constantly being bombarded through movies, celebrities, music and the media with pictures of wealth, comfort and accomplishment - and you are sitting with a generation that is explosive, to say the least. This problem is not going to go away - so getting back to the question of self responsibility - who is responsible for eventually one day, when human starts considering that there must be another way - for CHANGE? It is easy for us, living comfortable middle and upper class lives who are becoming the victims of such 'offenses' to say 'they must change' - as if the people acting out on their brainwashing and impulsing must just 'do what is best for all' - when there is really no incentive for them - as the entire point and motivation of such violent acts - is the only reward they know - within a contant life of survival and abuse.

Yes - the people responsible for these deeds will have their own responsibility to consider - but about the rest of us that agree to the existence of the dividing line between rich and poor and all the impulsing that goes around making those who do not have money jealous of those who have? What if it is not just a matter of having the next gucci hand bag - which probably wont drive you to acts of murder - but what if you grew up in a life where your parents could hardly feed you and basic survival such as a place to live safely is a constant concern? Let's place ourselves in the shoes of those who are acting out - what did we expect -when we created a system of capitalism, which functions specifically according to spitefulness, and driving people to madness basically as they are impulsed through pictures, constantly being driven from intense human emotions and feelings to points of desire and fear? Who takes responsibility for the system of capitalism that has been designed by all of us as the consumer? Yes - money is the reason why we do what we do in business - but it is the human's need for being driven from energy, addictions and the obsession with consuming that gives capitalists permission to basically 'do whatever they want' to make sure the public will participate in the movement of money. Who takes responsibility for the layers of value systems given to things like sexuality? Nobody wants to take responsibility for sexual addiction, and the porn industry and always points fingers at 'them', they did it' not realising yet again that any industry only exist because of the human. So we as the human have all given permission to the world systems and how they function and how they evolve - we are always the cause of it - therefore in society and within the human psyche if there is a evolution towards an outlet in relation to how the system directs people through education, the media, societal value systems - we cannot be surprised - as we are seeing the consequences of what we have accepted and allowed thus far.

So - here you have an example of a family pleading for the police to capture their fathers murderer and for justice to be served - the facts are that we will see these 'crimes' escalating more and more -as we have already noticed over the last 30 years or so. The question is - are we always going to pick up a newspaper and only feel pity and shock as we read yet again another horror story which only serves to sell a newspaper by stimulating human emotions and feelings -and has no other solution to the problem explained in the paper? When do we stop just reading these stories and start changing the systems behind why these problems occur? I mean, we all know that Capitalism functions according to influencing, stimulating and manipulating humans through wants, needs, desires and fears - so are we really so surprised then when people act on how they have been impulsed such as in this case where two young men raped and killed two people simply out of rage and spitefulness?

Join us in discussion on the Principles of an Equal Money System: http://equalmoney.org/

Day 65: International Crime Research: Serial Killers, Mass Murderers and Sociopaths Part 2

This blog is a continuation from:

http://crimesjourneytolife.blogspot.com/2012/10/day-64-international-crime-research.html#

- Please read for a reference/introduction into how and why I will be walking this series.

Now I will draw extracts from the following document mentioned in Part 1, which will provide us with contextual background information on the Psychological findings behind the 'how and why' of Serial Killers. My next blog will focus on exploring the Childhood, Life experiences and choices of a Serial Killer, together with the Self-Forgiveness and Self-Corrective Statements. I will walk Self-Forgiveness and Self-Corrective statements on a few known Serial Killers to show how the Patterns exist within the Psyche and Mind -Construction of the Human being who takes the backchat as internal conversations to the extent of Self-Mind-Possession.



Title: CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF RESEARCH RELATED TO THE CRIMINAL MIND OF SERIAL KILLERS

Author: Cindy A. Pokel

Date: August, 2000

- Research has shown an increase in the amount of serial murders that has occurred in the second half of the twentieth century with a trend that is destined to continue. Federal Bureau of Investigation statistics report that there are 20,000 murders per year and over thepast 20 years murder and manslaughter has increased 300%.

- Dr Ronald Holmes in his book " The World of Serial Killers" has identified four types of serial killers. The first type is identified as a "visionary serial killer". The visionary serial killer is commanded to kill by voices or visions. The second type of serial killer is identified as the "mission serial killer". The mission serial killer is interested in ridding the community from undesirable individuals. The third type of serial killer is a "hedonistic serial killer". Lust, thrill and comfort drive the hedonistic serial killer. The last type of serial killer is the "power/control serial killer". The power/control serial killer is motivated by the need for power and dominance (Holmes, 2000).

- Though their crimes may be sickening, they are not sick in either a medical or legal sense. Instead, the serial killer is typically a sociopathic personality who lacks internal control, guilt or conscience to guide his own behavior but has an excessive need to control and dominate others. He definitely knows right from wrong, definitely realizes he has committed a sinful act, but simply doesn't care about his human prey" (Levin and Fox, 1985).

- For "the serial killer, the motivation is not one of only money or power. The serial killer is simply motivated to kill, as you or I need water, the serial killer NEEDS to kill" (Serial Killers, Online, 2000).

- Levin and Fox (1985) found that a murderer is trying to feel superior over the victim and triumph or conquer by destruction (Levin & Fix, 1985).

- Egger (1985) has noted that the motivational factor of a serial killer seems to be consistent with research on the nature of rape (Egger, 1985)

- Leyton identifies deprivation as a provocation for the multiple murderers' frustration.
Leyton has also argued that multiple murders are a "kind of sub-political and conservative protest, which nets the killer a substantial social profit ofrevenge, celebrity, identity and sexual relief' (Leyton, 1986, p.26).

- Wilson (1972) would agree with Leyton: "Ifman is deprived of meanings beyond his everyday routine, he becomes disgusted and bitter, and eventually violent. A society that provides no outlet for man's idealist passions is asking to be torn apart by violence"

- Dr Helen Morrison, who examined John Gacy for 800 hours feels the serial killer is a new personality type (Berger, 1984).(p.233).

- Theories regarding inadequate socialization and childhood trauma are often found in homicide literature as a possible causal factor of serial murder. Starr (1972) theorizes that human cruelty may be connected to the development of a serial murderer (Starr, 1972).
Willie found the most common feature of the family background of serial murderers to be violent punishing practice inflicted upon the child ( Willie, 1975). Other literature has identified the existence of an unusual or unnatural relationship with the serial killer's mother (Lunde, 1996).
Ressler (1984) found that a number of serial murderers had been fascinated with law enforcement.

- In classifying serial murder four basic questions must be asked, which focuses upon looking at the behavioral background ofthe perpetrator, exploring the characteristics of the victims, examining the pattern of killing and method used and finally the location of the serial murders. The behavioral background examines three major root sources of criminal behavior to include biogenic, sociogenic and psychogenic. Motives can also be extrinsic in that the motives to kill are located outside the individual psyche or intrinsic when the motives are in the psyche of the killer.

- Holmes and DeBurger (1988) examine the social cultural background of
known serial murderers in the United States. There are two basic sociocultural sources that are important to the origins ofmulticidal behavior. One ofthese
includes the persistent culture of violence in today's society that is occupied by continuous change in the nature of society-individual relations. The other significant factor is in the impact of violence in early development in a family setting ( Holmes & De Burger, 1988).

- The Federal Bureau of Investigation in 1985 completed an exhaustive study that found that most serial killers spent their childhood in unhealthy, uncaring and
abusive homes (Federal Bureau of Investigations, 1985). The study also found that family histories of serial murderers highlighted multiple problems to include
alcohol and drug abuse. The study found that most ofthe murderers evaluated had a weak attachment to their family members, and that there was present a parent whom suffered from problems of substance abuse, criminality and aberrant sexual behaviors. A common theme among all the murderers was a childhood with the absence ofthe development of self worth. Fantasy was also a common theme among these murderers as often being isolated they turned to fantasy to escape their unpleasant environment (Federal Bureau of Investigations, 1984).

- Sears goes on to examine other personality traits that appear to be common among serial murderers. The absence ofthe presence of a loving and nurturing relationship with parents creates great difficulties in developing and maintaining meaningful relationships. The absence of meaningful relationships also impacts the aspect of sexual relationships. Often exposed to abuse and neglect as children, these murderers becomes fascinated with fantasy related to sex and violence. An obsession with pornographic materials acts as an aid for a serial murderer to construct a sexual relationship on his mind.

- The serial murderer may appear to be very normal often pleasant and amiable. There is often the absence of any overt mental illness. Serial murderers
have been found to be usually quite intelligent. Research has found the IQ level of such serial murderers as Ted Bundy, JohnWayne Gacy and Wayne Williams ranged
between 118 and 124. In both an academic and professional life, serial killers tend to be most successful and promising. Examples such as John Wayne Gacy and Ted Bundy are often cited. John Wayne Gacy was a very successful businessman and Ted Bundy was an up and coming attorney.

- Sears concludes his brief overview of the profile of a serial killer by stating "the serial killer is obviously a distinctive and extremely dangerous criminal". He possesses a superficial charm, whereby he may effectively mimic appropriate socially approved behavior in any given setting, but behind this carefully constructed facade he exhibits no genuine feelings and is insensitive to the welfare ofothers" (Sears, 1991).

- In examining the psychological explanations of serial murder the most predominant theory is he suffers from an antisocial personality disorder. Individuals with antisocial personality disorder display the following characteristics: superficial charm, intelligence, absence of delusions or irrational thinking, lack of nervousness, unreliable, untruthful, and insincere, exhibits poor judgment and fails to learn from experiences, pathogenic egocentricity and incapable of love. The antisocial personality disorder or psychopath is common among serial killers. A serial killer often engages in related criminal acts, experiences anxiety and tension, but experiences no guilt or remorse for his actions.

- In examining the sociological explanations for the existence of serial killers,
Sears makes the opening statement that "environmental factors are perhaps the most influential and very often a permanent affect in the shaping of the later development of a child" (Sears, 1991). Sears identifies seven aspects ofthe sociological explanations to include childhood deprivation, intense frustration, need for power, undercontrolled or overcontrolled behavior, excitement ofthe hunt, societal roles and media influence and pornography.

- It has been theorized that emotional deprivation combined with other environmental factors or damage to the inhibitive centers of the brain can account for the development ofpsychopathy.

- A serial murderer may commit murders in part because a build up of intense frustrations. This frustration buildup theory is similar to the psychodynamic theory developed by Freud. A buildup from birth creates aggressive energy. This energy is generally released in small amounts periodically. Ifnot released it can cause an explosion ofviolent behavior. Frustration can also develop from failed interpersonal contacts, school, military or employment.

- The third aspect of sociological explanations involved a need for power. This is one ofthe basic themes that have prevailed through most serial murderers. The serial murderer seeks a sense of power and control that his life seems to lack. He achieves this power and control by killing others.


- The fourth aspect of sociological explanations involved undercontrolled and overcontrolled behavior. The undercontrolled individual tends to have limited ability to control aggressive behaviors and often engages in violence. This type of individual when frustrated responds by use of aggression. The overcontrolled individual conversely learns to suppress aggression. This individual tends to build up aggression and frustration until one day a small and insignificant event causes a violent and explosive reaction.

- The fifth aspect of sociological explanations includes the excitement of the hunt. This aspect postulates that it is not the murder itself that motivates the crime of a serial murderer, but instead it is the exhilaration felt by the serial killer as he stalks his victim.

- The sixth aspect of sociological explanations includes societal roles. This theory proposes that the serial killer's actions portray the roles that society has assigned to man and women. Men are to be strong, powerful and unemotional. Women are to be weak and submissive. A serial killer looks to maintain society's roles by acting out what he perceives are expected of him.

- The seventh and final aspect of the sociological explanations proposed by Sears includes media influence and pornography. Researchers have completed numerous studies, which have correlated media violence and aggression. 'Thus, violence in the media does play a role in the short-term aggression exhibited by serial murderers as well as the general public" (Sears, 1991). Pornography is now also being linked to serial murderers. Often lacking interpersonal relationships, serial murderers develop an insatiable appetite for pornographic materials. Researchers believe that a serial murderer derives his ideas about torture and domination from the submissive roles he sees women and children play in this pornographic material.

- A biological aspect examined looks at levels oftestosterone and serotonin. It has been found that when testosterone levels are high and serotonin levels are low it tends to lead to increased aggression and sadistic behavior
according to Scott (Scott, 2000).

- Genetics have taught us that the nervous system of a psychopath varies from a normal person's. Psychopaths tend to need higher levels of stimulation and thus they seek dangerous situations. This thrill seeking leads a lot of serial killers to become police officers.

- The psychopath sees the victim as a symbolic object. Psychopaths are generally completely out of touch with reality, but seem to know what is right and wrong in society. Psychopaths are smooth talkers often well versed in psychology and skilled at manipulating evaluators. Serial killers who are psychopathic often blend into society.

- most commonly quoted factor of the making of a serial killer has been exposure to violence. Ed Gein, among others, witnessed the slaughter of farm animals as a child. Not every traumatic experience can lead a child to become a serial killer. But how much is too much. Research has not been able to provide us with a clear-cut answer. One serial killer, Albert Fish ( Bettemann) points a finger of blame at a Washington, D.C. Orphanage. Other serial killers have pointed a finger of blame at reform schools, jails and prisons. Reform school and jails in the 19th century often had stories told of sadistic guards and medieval punishments. Does violence in a confined setting create more violence?

- According to the The first Sociological theory (contributing to the explanation of serial killers), related to structural/functionalist approaches: The origins of this theory can be taken from the 1965 work of Durkheim who theorized that deviance and crime is the result of a breakdown in a social consensus regarding society goals and values. (Mitchell, 1996). The serial killer finds himself to be an outcast in society and unable to meet the goals and values of the society as a whole. The serial killer becomes helpless and turns to violence as outlet (Mitchell, 1996).

- Mitchell next looks at the strain theory, which was first developed by Merton in 1968. The strain theory much like Durkheim's theory looks at the fact that social end and means to achieve them are learned behaviors. Some people have high aspirations and others do not. The cultural norm presents a goal of achievement and success. Some individuals within society lack the abilities to achieve that societal goal of achievement and success. These individuals thus feel the "strain" of society. In order to feel a sense of accomplish goals may be reached through illegitimate means. For the serial killer these goals and achievements are reached through killing (Mitchell, 1996).

- According to the subculture Theory: Serial killers who have grown up in an environment filled with domestic violence and physical abuse may view violence as a more "natural" environment. This creates a subculture where violence is an acceptable action that is not viewed as morally wrong (Mitchell, 1996).

- Researchers theorize that violent behavior is often learned in the context of gender roles. Media, family and peer groups teach the differential roles of the genders. Males are taught to "take" and strive for power and women are taught to be passive and subservient. It is clear that serial murder itself is not socialized, but certainly the important precursors, such as violence and power are often socialized (Mitchell, 1996).

- Mitchell has theorized that serial murder represents an "ideological breakage". He explains it as a type of disruption in the status quo (Mitchell, 1996). Leyton has theorized that serial murder may even be a form of social protest (Leyton, 1986).

- The ninth theory examined by Mitchell involves a theory related to glorification. The media has helped contribute to society's intense interest in serial murder.

- The final theory examined by Mitchell looks at the role religion plays in the concept of serial murder. There is a great deal of debate as too how much or how little influence religion plays in serial murder. In the visionary serial killer, God may be telling him to kill. In cases such as Manson, Lucas and Ramirez there was a satanic cult link.

- A psychiatric approach examined by Mitchell includes multi personality disorder. The symptom of dissociation (the lack of integration of thoughts, feelings and experiences into consciousness) is often observed in serial killers. It is unclear as to whether this dissociation is an ongoing symptom or connected to commission of the offense. Bundy often talked about his crimes in the third person. It is not clear as to whether this was a legal ploy or a symptom of mental illness.

- Another psychiatric approach examined by Mitchell includes neurotic disorders. Mitchell quotes Hirose(1979) in associating homicidal behavior with depression. Research has shown that serial killers tend to display higher scores in psychoticism and neuroticism on inventories than other subjects. In the past research mood has not been viewed as a major contributor in serial murder (Mitchell, 1996).

- Sexual dysfunction is often reported by serial murderers, but is that so unusual based on the fact that serial murderers have often become isolative and lack the experience of socialization?

- Studies have found a prevalence of substance abuse as high as 50% in serial murderers (e.g. Dietz, 1990). Sears has reported that in interviews he has had with known serial killers the report of drug and alcohol use is high. It is believed that drugs and alcohol may be more likely to be incidental to serial murder (Sears, 1991).

- Mitchell lastly examines the biological explanations of serial murder. Mitchell looks at five biological aspects that may lead to an explanation of serial murder. The first explanation looks at the evolutionary and ethological approaches. For centuries man has sought to achieve power and control from the early days of the caveman to present day. Society reinforces this evolutionary belief through providing rewards for dominance and power. Power has often been gained through violence. Males have evolved to be effective users of violence to gain dominance and control. This very simple explanation is explained the rare existence of a female serial killer and the over abundance of male serial killers (Mitchell, 1996).

- The next biological aspect examined by Mitchell included the biochemical approaches. Research has shown speculation about the role of serotonin in aggressive behavior. An excess amount of serontonin may play a role in the offense of serial murder. Hormonal factors may also play a role in serial murder. Androgens such as male testosterone may have a direct influence on the brain making a particular behavioral response.

- By far the most startling research related to the development of the criminal mind of a serial killer lies within a theory postulated by Dr. Herbert Strean and Lucy Freeman. In their book "Our Wish to Kill", Strean and Freeman theorize that the instinct or murder can lurk in all ofour psyches and that some people can control those urges better than others. An example of that would be a situation in which you get angry with your spouse, partner or children and you blurt out the comment, "and you make me so angry I could just kill you". Could you really kill that person? It is certainly startling to think that you could actually commit the act of murder, but how many times have we learned of the tragedy of murder and perhaps known directly or indirectly the murderer and questioned how that person could have committed the crime of murder. Research literature simply can't answer that question. Murder and especially serial murder has been a crime that psychologists have been unable to explain....

Day 20: International Crime Research – Child Pornography Part 4

This is a continuation from:  http://crimesjourneytolife.blogspot.com/2012/06/day-19-international-crime-research.html


Research taken from: http://www.crime-research.org/articles/536/


USES OF CHILD PORNOGRAPHY

“Experts cite several reasons why individuals collect child pornography. U.S. Senate Report, supra note 7, at 10-12.
1. Arousal and gratification: Individuals use pornography to stimulate their sexual drive and to aid in sexual stimulation. Some may only fantasize and others may use it as a prelude to actual sexual activity with minors.”

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing myself to use images of people, things or animals to stimulate myself sexually


I forgive myself for accepting and allowing myself to use images of people, things or animals to stimulate myself sexually, without realizing and understanding that in doing so I am creating an energetic entity within myself with which I have to keep participating to experience sexual gratification, instead of establishing effective sexual relationships with myself or a partner, which is established in self trust, intimacy and mutual respect for the expression of oneself in the physical.


I forgive myself for accepting and allowing myself to disregard the physical body, it expression and the abuse that occurs in the world to each other and the innocence of children, we if secretly believe we can participate with these energetic entities created within the mind, which knows no limit as we have proven within how the human abuses life to entertain the mind.


I forgive myself for accepting and allowing myself to continue justifying why I get to participating in the generation of pictures within my mind until I am addicted to masturbating to these energies that overwhelm me, while refusing to see, realize and understand that the same energies that flow through, up and within me as the energies I claim to be addicted to and have no control over and must masturbate to – or else it will drive me to distraction and the inability to function property, are the energies existent within each and every other human who watched child pornography, rape pornography, bestiality and other forms of sex abuse – that I claim to separate myself from and judge the other for.


I forgive myself for accepting and allowing myself to not consider for a moment the responsibility we all have as equals within this mess we have created, to go and explore how the mind really functions, to develop an effective self-honest understanding that the world is not facing the extent of sexual abuse, simply because satan is making people do it – but instead it is each one of us as the human participating together within what we accept and allow within ourselves – that contribute to the permission that is given equally to the world as it is.


I forgive myself for accepting and allowing myself to make such statements as ‘child pornography must stop’ while refusing to see, realize and understand that I too have a responsibility then to look at my own secret mind behaviors and to clean myself equal and one to the child abuser, until NO-ONE abuses the physical to entertain the mind as energy.


I commit myself to stand as the physical support of myself, within sexuality, to no longer accept and allow myself to follow energy as addiction, but instead to establish effective touch and intimacy within myself towards myself and/or a partner – to no longer accept and allow judgments and fears to separate me from participating with the Physical Body.

“2. Validation and justification of pedophile behaviour: The paedophile uses pornography to convince him/her self that their behaviour or obsession is not abnormal, but is shared by thousand of other sensitive, intelligent and caring people.”

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing myself to consider my behavior within my addiction to pictures and to energy as normal, because all humans function the same way within sexuality, due to no human being self honesty about how the mind functions within the physical and how thus far that has always been the directive principle within sex, with no regard for how we abuse in the name of these beliefs.


I forgive myself as humanity for grouping together within the lie that has become sexual expression, and together to justify each other’s addictions and misuse of the physical for the purpose of individual sexual gratification.


I commit myself to learn how to work with the physical body, as this is the key to effective self-responsible sex, which will stop sexual abuse, because by indication – effective self-honest self-expression, free from addictions – is how we stop all physical abuse.

Day 7: South African Crime Research - The Voice of the Victim

The Victim Impact statement

The Victim Impact statement is used within South African law, as a written document by a victim, whom is the person who suffered personal harm (physical, psychological, social and financial) as a direct result of an offense (The South African Law Commission 2002:68). 

A victim impact statement differs from the general victim testimony in court, as it allows the victim to ‘personalize the crime’ and to ‘express their anguish, pain and devastation caused to them, so that the consequences of the crime may be understood by all involved in the law proceedings.

A criminologist compiles the victim impact statement to contribute towards a ‘more balanced view’ between the various components such as the seriousness of the offense, the physical harm, psychological harm, evidence provided, testimonies. Therefore the purpose of the victim impact statement is for those involved in the law proceedings to get a glimpse into the actual experience of the victim, as a means of grasping the seriousness of the crime on the life of a victim. (Criminology and Security Science 2012: 77 – 85) 

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing the existence of crime within my world.

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing no real solutions to be found for the existence of crime and to instead have to manipulate the jurors and judges through emotions and feelings to find it within them to relate to the victim and punish the perpetrator, without any clear understanding of how and why crime exists.

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing the existence of victim impact statements, instead of getting to the direct cause of why people commit crimes and to address the issue directly, equally for all.

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing the use of inner conflict within beings to fuel the current situation within the world based on anger and fear towards each other.

I forgive myself for not accepting and allowing myself to stand firstly for the end of all crime, by ending all crimes against life, as that which I have already manifested as the world systems, which by definition abuses and separates and forces people into abusive lives, which then has the outflow and consequence of further abuse.

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing ignorance to exist within me as an idea and opinion that bad people commit crime and should be punished.

I forgive myself for not accepting and allowing myself to realize that the real evil that exists in this world are those who stand by and enjoy the fruits of the abuse that is done towards the humans, animals and planet earth whom are in positions and whom have no say and have no choice but to survive.

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing the capitalistic system, on which we have built this deceitful acceptance of abusing beings on this planet for the profit and greed of a minority while the rest of us as the elite who benefit from capitalist, sit back and pretend ignorance.

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing money to be the driving force behind everything I do on this planet, as the driving force of me as survival.

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing money to be my life and that which motivates me, instead of me being motivated to live life and to see life equally being lived by all, with no fear and hatred and greed being the driving force of myself.

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing greed to exist in this world and to use that as an excuse for why we can force billions of beings into survival daily where most do not have sufficient needs met, forcing many into survival based abusive practices to feed themselves and their families.

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing the period of waiting to see what happens, where the end result is people having to write out emotional letters placing themselves as further victims within the system, instead of priority being given to the welfare of each.

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing myself to ignore the effect that our current world system has on the beings that inhabit this planet, and instead of acting to solve the problems, to postpone the inevitable, waiting generation after generation for suffering to compound until it is too late.

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing myself as the victim, the one that waits for somebody else to change my world, to change me and to stand up for the life within me.

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing myself to be the victim, because growing up I believed I was nothing and that some god or man would come and take care of me, through which I abdicated my self-responsibility and my self-will – to stand before the system dependent and without a voice, accepting life without question.

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing myself as the perpetrator – the one that wants to take from others, without considering and applying myself here within practical self-responsibility.

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing the existence of the perpetrator within me, the hiding and sulking and blaming others for the decisions I have made in my life.

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing myself to become the judge and jury who judge others for their actions, without considering my part in this reality and that which I have directly and tacitly agreed to by accepting out current reality as it is.

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing myself as the perpetrator – the one that wants to take from others, without considering and applying myself here within practical self-responsibility.

I commit myself within equality to stop the abuse that I allow in my world in the name of greed and self-interest.

I commit myself through writing to reveal that within my world, within myself which does not serve life on this planet.

I commit myself to reveal to myself the practices and ideologies that are based on lies and deception.

I commit myself to stop emotionally feeding off the suffering of others in the name of self-entertainment.

I commit myself to re-write myself as the living word into a being that can be trusted and who will stand for all life, and to serve life as what is best for all.

I commit myself to stop the crimes against life that I have come to accept as myself – where I live in a world where starvation and abuse is acceptable because we make money from it.

I commit myself to find ways to stop any and all forms of abuse and to not ‘beat around the bush’ about why crime exist, but to directly see and communicate the lies we have come to accept as our society, for all to see and hear.

I commit myself to stop the genocide of life, before it is too late and there is nothing left of us but our ugly nasty entity minds that devour and consume everything round us.

I commit myself to stop participating in the rotten child syndrome, through which we feed of the spoils of the earth, watching countless beings suffer and crying for mercy once it is too late.

I commit myself to see, hear and understand what it is that I am required to do to bring about a dignified life for all.

I commit myself to not accept the existence of crime as normal and to not accept any justification for abuse and crime, as no reason could possibly exist for us to abuse each other, this planet and nature.

I commit myself to stop participating in the energy reactions of listing to someone’s crime story in which I allow my curiosity to have reactions direct me to maintain my world of abuse and torture where I will deliberately turn a blind eye to what is happening in my world because it stimulates my mind.

I commit myself to bring about a world system that is best for all, so that all may have their basics needs met and have equal opportunity to love and express here in dignity and in full expression of life as the physical.

I commit myself to bring about a new economic system that will benefit all who live on this planet and to transform my old ways of living and being as the crime against life into something new – which will be the living manifestation of what is best for all.

Day 6: Drunk and Horny

Last night after I wrote my previous blog: ‘Day 5 Radical changes made to Rape Laws’ – I had an interesting dream.  I dreamed about a guy I use to know when I was a police reservist. He was married and his wife was pregnant, but he was into messing around with other woman. At quite a few police parties he tried to wangle his way into my pants. After one such evening, where we had a braai (barbeque) at the police station, he got very drunk and attempted the whole evening to get me to go off to some dark corner and have sex with him. I was somewhat intrigued by all the attention he was giving me as he was a very ‘attractive guy’ with a ‘well-built body’. So I played hard to get because I was still a virgin and very shy when it came to guys and also had made the decision that I would not do anything with him because he was married. 

This particular evening the 2 of us were catching a lift with a lady who was off being intimate with someone in a dark corner. It was cold, the party was over and now we were ready to go home. The two of us decided to sit and wait in the car for our lift. After a few minutes he again starts rambling on about how he wants to have sex with me and leans over (we are both sitting in the backseat) to try and kiss me. I stop him and I pull away, realizing that this situation was not to be encouraged and firmly explained to him, again that I was not interested in doing anything with him. 

He drunkly mumbles something else, leans forward and locks the two front doors. Watching him, I cannot quite grasp what it is that he is doing, until he locks his back door and leans across me to lock my door. My brain tells me that something is wrong, but at the same time I try and make light of what I am witnessing and explain it away as ‘he’s probably just playing with me’. He turns and pounces on me, pulling on my shirt with his mouth on mine. I squirm underneath him, realizing due to his intensity that he was being very serious. I struggled with him and found it difficult to say anything as his mouth was kissing mine so hard that he was pushing my head against the seat. He was attempting to undo the buttons on my shirt and alternated between my shirt and my jean buttons.  I am very glad actually that he was so drunk, because I was able eventually to push him off me and yell at him to ‘STOP!’ He sat back in his seat and I sat in mine frozen in disbelief. He stopped any further attempts and I think it was partly due to his inebriation, that he was unable to complete this idea he had to ‘have sex with me’.  After a few more minutes our driver arrives and we go home.

That evening and for a few days afterwards I was in shock. I felt disgusted and uncomfortable within my own sexuality. I was starting to blame and judge myself for having allowed it to ‘go that far’ simply because I allowed him in the past to flirt with me. Being a young woman, I was flattered by the attempts of this man; it made me feel wanted and special. After this event I judged myself for what I had allowed.

It was interesting that I had this dream after I wrote about rape and after applying self-forgiveness for myself from the perspective of accepting and allowing rape in this world.  Therefore I will now expand on the self-forgiveness done in my previous blog with regards to my fear of rape:

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing myself to judge myself for the experience I had when I was a young woman where a man attempted to force himself on me sexually.

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing myself to fear saying the word rape and for judging myself by saying I am ‘using such a strong word’ in an attempt to downplay what the man did.

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing myself to want to be strong and say to myself stop making more out of it than what it was.

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing myself to want to now and back then protect the man’s ego, by saying to myself ‘it was just one moment, it was not such a big thing’.

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing myself to want to protect my ego by saying to myself ‘don’t speak about it, you’ll just embarrass yourself’.

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing myself to fear being raped.

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing myself to fear the consequences of flirting with a man.

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing myself to judge my past.

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing myself to judge myself for the actions of another.

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing myself to judge my sexuality, based on the actions of another.

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing myself to want to hide away from scenes and stories of rape, because I allow myself to react to the act.

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing myself to react sexually to images of rape and of woman being overwhelmed.

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing myself to abuse sexuality by allowing myself and others to play sexual games and encourage sexual dishonesty.

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing myself to take my actions and allowanced for granted and for not taking self-responsibility for what I allowed within myself and within what I was encouraging in another.

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing myself to have judged myself for not knowing what I was doing and not being aware of the possible consequences.

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing myself to judge myself and my sexuality based on not understanding what I was doing and therefore separating myself from my physical body and my sexuality, through fear and judgment.

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing myself to create a polarity within myself based on the desire for a sexual experience and when I have the sexual encounter I program it as disgusting.

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing myself to design sexuality within my mind based on desire and disgust and living this our in repeating patterns.

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing myself to be programmed by my parents into believing that sex has to happen at certain times, with a certain man, within certain circumstances.

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing myself to design secret mind desires in relation to sex based on the fantasies of rape, dominance and to be desired.

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing myself to desire sex and then go into the polarity experience of disgust at self due to past experiences.

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing past experiences to determine my experiences now.

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing societal conditions of right and wrong to be the basis from which I have programmed my own sexual behaviors, causing me to judge myself within certain experiences after which I create polarity points between which I bounce from  desire to disgust.

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing myself to not trust myself, after what happened, because I believed that I was to blame for what nearly happened because I was flirting – therefore:

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing myself after that event to experience desire for flirtation with men but at the same time fearing getting hurt and then not trusting myself because of the fear and inevitably placing myself in compromising positions, fueling the pattern of fear until it because a pattern of self-abuse.

I commit myself to honor myself in all decisions I make, based on self-honesty and practical common sense.

I commit myself to remove and delete all memories, based on ‘remembering what I did right or wrong – through which I keep feeding the patterns of the past.

I commit myself to developing full trust in myself, by clearing the past, clearing my mind and developing self-honesty so that I can trust every word and action.

I commit myself in removing fear from sexual exploration and to trust myself in developing an effective sexual expression, which supports me in my physical and my partner.

I commit myself to honor life, through removing any self-abuse patterns, based on guilting myself or my partner.

I commit myself to develop effective means of communication with my partner so that neither one is ever in a situation of experience discomfort or anxiety within sex.

I commit myself to stop fear and anxiety during sex, within myself by stopping any reactions, memories, thoughts, beliefs and moving myself in self-trust into an effective form of self expression.

Day 5: South African Crime Research - Radical changes made to rape laws

The University of South Africa’s Criminology and Security Sciences Study guide (2012) – refers to a new legislation that will change how rape cases are prosecuted in South Africa. Through changes to the rape laws, the following factors will help prevent secondary victimization within rape cases:

1.       The rape victim’s sexual history may no longer be taken into account, which will prevent the victim from being seen in a prejudiced light.

2.       The fact that the victim had a promiscuous sexual history does not mean that the perpetrator is entitles to rape her.

3.       An apparent lack of physical injury may no longer be used as an excuse for the offender or as a sign that the victim was not in fact injured (not fighting might have saved her life). 

4.       The fact that there was a relationship between the rapist and the victim does not excuse the rape or imply that she consented to the act.

5.       The bill also counteracts duplication and delays, since victims will not have to repeat their testimony (secondary victimization).

6.       The bill seeks to expediate the finalization of serious criminal cases, especially those of a violent nature, to punish the perpetrator of serious offenses appropriately and to prevent the secondary victimization of complainants.

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing rape to exist in this world.

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing rape to exist in this world due to the value that has been given to sex and pictures.

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing myself to give value to sex and masturbation to such an extent that I will sometimes be overwhelmed by the energy until it directs me into action, just like the energy of a rapist that is moved and possessed by energy.

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing the justification of ‘but sex and masturbation is nothing like raping someone’ to exist within my mind, through which I will secretly continue fantasizing over pictures and other beings, hoping to have sexual relations with them and with the people in porn movies until the entity I create possesses me and directs me.

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing the existence of porn movies, due to my inability to effectively express myself here in my physical body with another physical body, without requiring stimulus and the hidden meanings within my secret mind.

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing myself to turn sex into something disgusting based on dominance and the energy of fear, repulsion, erotica, arousal, through which I have tacitly agreed to the existence of the energy of the rapist within my mind and within society.

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing myself to fear sexually as the expression of myself, to such an extent that I have to turn sex into a perversion, through which I have agreed to all the countless forms of sexual abuse that is happening in the world.

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing the idea that if a woman was dressed provocatively, she deserved to be raped.

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing any pictures and ideas in my mind linked to rape, which causes and has caused me to get sexually aroused.

I forgive myself for accepting and allowing myself to wait for governments to ‘do something about rape’ instead of me taking direct self-responsibility for rape in this world as parts of it exists within me as my mind, as pictures linked to desires.

I commit myself to stopping any and all forms of sexual abuse within myself towards myself and towards another

I commit myself to stopping the apparent need for governments to stop abuse in my world, by observing myself within who I have become to see how I am living out the designs of abuse within myself.

I commit myself to stopping sexual fantasies and secret mind desires – and to learn to effectively direct myself here in my physical body

I commit myself to self-honest self-expression within sex and to stop any form of sexual abuse within my relationship/agreement.

I commit myself to develop effective communication within myself about what I am experiencing and to direct my experiences in the breath, through self-honesty and common sense, to stop the energy entity build ups, which lead to eventual abuse in my life and this world, as what others will also come to accept as ‘sex’.

I commit myself to stop any and all forms of sexual abuse through the media and the acceptance of sexuality as it currently exists today.

I commit myself in stopping patterns of sexuality in which I exist that are not what is best for all.