Copycat crimes are criminal acts that are modeled on previous crimes that have been reported in the media.

Copycat effect

The copycat effect refers to the tendency of sensational publicity about violent murders or suicides to result in more of the same through imitation. It is also the name of a book on the subject by Loren Coleman.

Research on causation of copycat crimes

It has been shown that most of the persons who do mimic crimes seen in the media (especially news and crime movies) have in most cases prior criminal records, prior severe mental health problems or histories of violence suggesting that the effect of the media is indirect (more affecting criminal behaviour) rather than direct (directly affecting the number of criminals)Surette, R. (2002). Self-Reported Copycat Crime Among a Population of Serious and Violent Juvenile Offenders. Crime & Delinquency, 48(1), 46-69.
.

Statistics

• United States cities by crime rate

See also

• Crime mapping

• Fear of crime

• Gun violence

• Hate crime

• Insanity defense

• Sex crime

• Social policy

• Victimology