Sociologist Examines Murder Myths

UW Sociology Professor Joseph Weis presents "Just the Facts, Ma'am": Investigating Murder Myths on Friday, April 24:

Professor Joe Weis discusses the myths surrounding murder. Many people believe that the Pacific Northwest is the serial murder capital of the world; thousands of children are abducted every year by strangers and killed; the violent crime rate, particularly for murder, continues to spiral upward; this is the most dangerous time to live in the history of the U.S.; gangs are responsible for a significant percent of murders; a significant percent of murderers are mentally disordered; murder is predominantly a crime of poor, minority groups; etc. This list of apparent “facts” is surely incomplete, and they may or may not be true. How do we know they are not simply myths? Empirical research allows us to investigate the accuracy of common beliefs about murder. Drawing primarily on research on murder in Washington State and from a national study of child abduction murders, the accuracy or illusion of many apparent “facts” about murder will be examined.

UW Club Lecture Room
Friday, April 24
7:00 p.m.

Registration for this free public lecture is requested at www.soc.washington.edu/RSVP with the registration code "murder".