Crime and Punishment Weekly Polls

In an effort to reduce auto theft, many police departments utilize decoy cars, or bait cars, which are equipped with cameras and tracking equipment. The program is supposed to deter would-be car thieves because the programs are widely publicized.

Poll: Is the practice of using "bait cars" to catch car thieves a deterrent to crime or is it entrapment?

1) Deterrent
2) Entrapment
3) Undecided

Currently the FBI conducts polygraph tests of all new employees prior to them beginning their service. In addition, individuals with access to certain sensitive programs or cases are polygraphed and the polygraph is used during serious internal inquiries to resolve unexplained anomalies and ambiguities.

Many scientist believe that the polygraph equipment is unreliable and ineffective in detecting if someone is lying.

Poll: Do you believe polygraph exams should be used by police during crime investigations?

1) Yes, it will catch most dishonest people.
2) No, the equipment is unreliable.
3) Neither. It all depends on the training of the polygrapher.

The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that school officials conducted an illegal strip search of a 13-year-old girl.

When Savana Redding was strip searched at Safford Middle School in Arizona officials were looking for the equivalent of two Advils.

Redding, who has described the incident as humiliating, was asked by a school official to "pull her bra out and shake it, and to pull out the elastic on her underpants, thus exposing her breasts and pelvic area."

Poll: Do you agree with the U.S. Supreme Court ruling?

1) Yes
2) No
3) Undecided

Case Background

A 64-year-old ex-convict plead no contest and served one year in prison for the sexual assault of a 4-year-old girl. Prosecutors said they agreed to the plea bargain because of a lack of evidence in the case and the judge approved it.

Poll: Should plea bargains like this be permitted in cases involving the sexual assault of a child?

1) Yes. It's better than nothing.
2) No. It serves no purpose.
3) Undecided

Case Background

Many crime buffs are intrigued with what triggers serial killers to kill. While it is true that many come from abused childhoods, not all do. While it is true that many exhibit narcissistic personalities, not all do. While many abuse animals at a young age - not all do. Is it possible some people are just born as serial killers?

Crime Poll Question: Are serial killers born to kill or is it learned behavior?

1) They are born that way.
2) It is a learned behavior.
3) Both are possible.
4) Undecided.

See also: The Myths About Serial Killers

More teachers are using modern technology to communicate with their students. Text messaging, IM, Twitter and Facebook communications between teachers and students have grown in recent years.

Poll: Do you think this type of communication has contributed to the growth of inappropriate relationships between teachers and students?

1) Yes.
2) No.
3) Undecided.

See also: Photo Gallery - Teachers Arrested for Indecent Behavior With Kids

In many cases, hate may be seen or perceived to be the motivation for a crime, but criminals may not be charged with a hate crime for a variety of reasons — many of the same reasons that the debate on hate-crime laws continues in this country.

Other major questions in the debate includes the question for this week's poll:

Is it possible to determine without a doubt the motive behind a person's criminal acts?

1. Yes, based on what they say while planning or committing the crime.
   
2. No. It's impossible to know for sure what motivates a criminal act.
   
3. Undecided.

See Also: The Hate Crime Debate

Susan LeFevre escaped from prison 30 years ago after she was convicted of selling heroin. She was caught April 2008 and sent to prison, however the parole board determined that she had lived a productive, crime-free life after her escape and released her in May 2009. A tipster led police to LeFevre who was living with her husband and three children.

Poll: Do you agree with the parole board?

1. Yes.
   
2. No.
   
3. Undecided.

Background: Captured Fugitive Mom Released From Prison

Carolyn Wayt, a Lake County, Florida mother and substitute teacher was arrested on charges of contributing to the delinquency of a child and negligence after her 17-year-old daughter and 15-year-old friend disobeyed her and snuck out of her home.

The two girls met a 23-year-old boy who gave them drugs resulting in the younger girl falling into a coma.

Poll: Do you think the police should have arrested Carolyn Wayt?

1. Yes.
   
2. No.
   
3. Undecided.

Colorado has become the latest state to consider abolishing the death penalty and lawmakers have added a twist to the proposed law that might make it easier to pass. The state proposes to use the money it currently spends on death penalty appeals to finance cold case investigations.

Poll: If Colorado abolishes the death penalty, do you think the state's murder rate will increase?

1. Yes.
   
2. No.
   
3. Undecided.

Background: Colorado Considers Abolishing Death Penalty