Page 173 |
Save page Remove page | Previous | 173 of 234 | Next |
|
small (250x250 max)
medium (500x500 max)
Large (1000x1000 max)
Extra Large
large ( > 500x500)
Full Resolution
All (PDF)
|
This page
All
|
167
Chapter 8 - Conclusion
Although criminal hoaxes have been considered previously in scholarship, in passing or in a single chapter, there exists no study which focuses entirely on this phenomenon. I undertook this project to establish the issue as significant to several fields of study and to create an original single reference for information about criminal hoaxes.482 I sought in this endeavor not only to introduce the subject matter in depth but also to create definitions for the broad topic as well as for four categories of hoaxes. I hope these results will prove useful in future studies.
I also attempted to determine whether hoaxes should be specifically defined as criminal via legislation or whether current law is sufficient to deal with this rising phenomenon.483 This research revealed a stark gap in current law’s ability to deal with vipers and the aftermaths of their offenses. This research showed that specific elements should be included in unfolding legislative efforts. These partially include full restitution of all resources squandered by the viper, a prohibition on any monetary benefit to the viper due to his scam, and appropriate incarceration based on the hoax itself and the underlying crime.
I did not seek to determine the range of charges and penalties being utilized by the justice system. However, this was a by-product of the research. Because there is no actual anti-hoax law, prosecutors and courts have been creative in
482 Fields of study include Political Science, specifically Law and Public Policy, as well as Psychology, Sociology and Criminal Justice.
483 Since there are no criminal anti-hoax laws, the question was whether charging the accused with the underlying crime is sufficient. This research confirms that it is not. In cases of attention getter hoaxes, the only underlying charge is the minor misdemeanor offense of filing a false report. Considering the waste of resources on a fictitious crime, misdemeanor punishments hardly address the offense.
Object Description
| Title | An argument for the criminal hoax |
| Author | Pellegrini, Laura A. |
| Author email | user1963@yahoo.com; teachpolsci@yahoo.com |
| Degree | Doctor of Philosophy |
| Document type | Dissertation |
| Degree program | Political Science |
| School | College of Letters, Arts and Sciences |
| Date defended/completed | 2008-08-20 |
| Date submitted | 2008 |
| Restricted until | Unrestricted |
| Date published | 2008-10-13 |
| Advisor (committee chair) | Renteln, Alison Dundes |
| Advisor (committee member) |
Wong, Janelle S. Newland, Chester A. |
| Abstract | Hoaxes are part of the fabric of history. While many provide humor and lighthearted joy, the criminal hoax does not. To date, researchers have included aspects of the criminal hoax in larger academic works. This is an original typology that sets forth the criminal hoax as a distinct part of the larger field of law and public policy. This work provides newly created definitions including four distinct categories of hoaxes: the monetary hoax, the attention getter hoax, the hate crime hoax and the racial hoax. It further illustrates these types with actual detailed accounts of hoaxes and provides insights to each one. It makes policy recommendations concerning the four categories of needs: 1. legislative action, 2. a nationwide statistical database of hoax events, 3. media involvement, and 4. law enforcement training and action to deal with criminal hoaxes. Finally, it recommends further research to identify the causes and motivations of vipers. The ultimate goal of this project is to find ways to eliminate criminal hoaxes. |
| Keyword | criminal hoax; hoax categories |
| Language | English |
| Part of collection | University of Southern California dissertations and theses |
| Publisher (of the original version) | University of Southern California |
| Place of publication (of the original version) | Los Angeles, California |
| Publisher (of the digital version) | University of Southern California. Libraries |
| Provenance | Electronically uploaded by the author |
| Type | texts |
| Legacy record ID | usctheses-m1659 |
| Contributing entity | University of Southern California |
| Rights | Pellegrini, Laura A. |
| Repository name | Libraries, University of Southern California |
| Repository address | Los Angeles, California |
| Repository email | cisadmin@lib.usc.edu |
| Filename | etd-Pellegrini-2397 |
| Archival file | uscthesesreloadpub_Volume26/etd-Pellegrini-2397.pdf |
Description
| Title | Page 173 |
| Contributing entity | University of Southern California |
| Repository email | cisadmin@lib.usc.edu |
| Full text | 167 Chapter 8 - Conclusion Although criminal hoaxes have been considered previously in scholarship, in passing or in a single chapter, there exists no study which focuses entirely on this phenomenon. I undertook this project to establish the issue as significant to several fields of study and to create an original single reference for information about criminal hoaxes.482 I sought in this endeavor not only to introduce the subject matter in depth but also to create definitions for the broad topic as well as for four categories of hoaxes. I hope these results will prove useful in future studies. I also attempted to determine whether hoaxes should be specifically defined as criminal via legislation or whether current law is sufficient to deal with this rising phenomenon.483 This research revealed a stark gap in current law’s ability to deal with vipers and the aftermaths of their offenses. This research showed that specific elements should be included in unfolding legislative efforts. These partially include full restitution of all resources squandered by the viper, a prohibition on any monetary benefit to the viper due to his scam, and appropriate incarceration based on the hoax itself and the underlying crime. I did not seek to determine the range of charges and penalties being utilized by the justice system. However, this was a by-product of the research. Because there is no actual anti-hoax law, prosecutors and courts have been creative in 482 Fields of study include Political Science, specifically Law and Public Policy, as well as Psychology, Sociology and Criminal Justice. 483 Since there are no criminal anti-hoax laws, the question was whether charging the accused with the underlying crime is sufficient. This research confirms that it is not. In cases of attention getter hoaxes, the only underlying charge is the minor misdemeanor offense of filing a false report. Considering the waste of resources on a fictitious crime, misdemeanor punishments hardly address the offense. |
