ETAN PATZ

ETAN PATZ

1. PUBLIC/MEDIA RESPONSE

   • caused a nationwide movement in the 1980s to focus more attention onto crimes against children (https://www.biography.com/people/etan-patz-20851519)
     • norms of parenting changed as overparenting and over protection became expected so whole generations grew up differently (https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/10/nyregion/etan- patzs-disappearance-has-a-lasting-impact-on-parenting.html)
       • AGAIN SOCIAL HARM AS PEOPLE FELT LIKE THEY WERE CONSTANTLY AT RISK OF HAVING THEIR CHILDREN TAKEN TOO
     • during investigations to find patz there were often helicopters above SoHo, people shouting him and posters up everywhere setting tension https://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/10/nyregion/etan-patzs- disappearance-has-a-lasting-impact-on-parenting.html
   • First missing child to be printed onto a milk carton and in '84 his birthday was declared national missing childrens day; 25th may (https://www.biography.com/people/etan-patz-20851519)
     • SOCIAL HARM
       • there was a mass of emotional and psychological harm done to the wider public
   • was a key part in the forming and passing of the missing children legislation https://heinonline.org/HOL/LandingPage? handle=hein.journals/udlr11&div=30&id=&page=
     • LINK AGAIN TO SOCIAL HARM
   • KEY CONCEPT TO APPLY HERE WOULD BE MEDIA AND MORAL PANIC
     • The media portrayal caused a greater panic across parents since there'd only been few cases before Etan in america but they made it seem that it was a constant threat
     • media thrived of the fact he was mentally unstable
     • Was a massive part in the moral panic of child abduction as it became a threat to the 'societal values and interests'. The severity is portrayed by the media heavily and the strong responses from the authoraty such as a new legislation only heightened the public concern. A lot of the reprecussions have been long lasting as generations have been brought up polar differently to their parents. (Cohen, 1972:9) ALSO REFER TO STAGES OF MORAL PANIC
       • Kids still go missing, even after the group response and new legislations being put in place with more awareness. No actual positive outcome of reaction other than everyone's more conscious of it being a possibility

2. CONVICTION/TRIAL

   • Pedro Hernadez was charged with kidnapping and murder - believed to have mental health issues (https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-4226076/Mystery- Etan-Patzs-disappearance-ends-conviction.html)
     • charged 14th feb 2017 on second trail original trial began in 2015, became a suspect in 2012. Sentenced 25 years to life (https://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/ap/article-4226076/Mystery- Etan-Patzs-disappearance-ends-conviction.html) (https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/18/nyregion /pedro-hernandez-etan-patz-sentencing.html)
       • CJS AND PUNISHMENT
         • question if its worth life/25 imprisonment since he's been walking free for 33 years so have missed the time where society would've been most needing protection according to Reiman, 1988
           • we can only be so certain he didn't reoffend; made no confession to others
         • there was no solid evidence only his confession to the authorities and to the prayer group and brother in law so what if this is a schizo episode??
     • at time of crime (38 years ago) Hernandez was an 18 year old store clerk, apparently lured him into his basement and strangled him (https://www.biography.com/people/etan-patz-20851519)
       • own family commented on his mental health problems, diagnosed schizophrenic and had been on suicide watch in hospital (https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/ worldnews/northamerica/usa/9291650/Etan-Patz-killing- Pedro-Hernandez-had-a-long-history-of-hallucinations.html)
         • CAN LINK TO BIOLOGY KEY CONCEPT
           • Could be considered as an insane crminal by Cesare Lombroso
           • initial trial wasn't convicted due to the single juror who disagreed on that basis. Was young at the time of crime being commited so jury more likely to see the idea of insanity as truthful before wanting to take into account physical evidence
         • CAN ALSO LINK TO CONTROL THEORIES SINCE HIS PERSONALITY DISORDER RESULTED IN A LACK OF ABILITY TO HAVE CONTROL
           • only control he would've consciously experienced at 18 would be from work/law and perhaps family (too little known to commnent) wasn't in school at 18 anymore which could've made a key difference since thats where most of control comes from
           • Nye, I (1958) and Reckless, W (1967) discussed the idea of self control, so personality disorder would've interferred with the control he had over his own thoughts and actions since post crime he was tormented internally knowing it was wrong and also discussed in court/interviews he wasn't sure why he did it

3. VICTIMS

   • Direct vicim in Etan
     • 9/05/79 aged 6 years old was abducted from bus stop in manhatten NY 2 blocks from his home - KEY first time walking on his own. (https://www.biography.com/people/etan-patz-20851519)
       • CAN APPLY KEY CONCEPT OF RURAL IDYLL CRIME SINCE THIS HAPPENED IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT(????)
         • macro - america, ny meso - urban environment micro- street/ convenience store
         • urban environments have a larger density of people and also a bigger range so would've had effect on likelihood of crime
     • declared legally dead 22 years after going missing (https://allthatsinteresting.com/etan-patz)
   • Secondary victims were his parents
     • questioned labelled bad parents by the media (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqQM2_z-zCg)
       • SOCIAL HARM CONCEPT DUE TO BREAKDOWN OF MARRIAGE AS THEY STRUGGLED TO COPE
         • psychological and emotional harm done since they had uncertainty for 33 years

4. GENERAL LINKS CAN BE MADE ACROSS THE CASE TO CRIME AND DEVIANCE