I believe sexual offenses are considered by the criminal justice system and the media to
be high-profile cases and therefore at the top of the wedding cake model. The wedding cake
model of criminal justice is a four-tiered hierarchy in which a few well-known instances are at
the top, while lower levels grow in size as the severity of cases decreases (Burke et. al. 2019).
Sexual offenses can be classified as non-consensual crimes such as rape or sexual assault, crimes
against children such as child sexual abuse or grooming, and crimes that exploit people for a
sexual motive, whether in person or online (2019).
In media reportage, there has been a surge in feminist voices and perspectives, as well as
a greater attention on the duties and shortcomings of criminal justice systems. Several instances
of media publicity or "rediscovery" of previously disregarded claims against celebrities have
occurred in recent years. Sexual offences have become a contentious and divisive topic, and
media coverage reflects this, at times promoting progressive social and cultural change and at
other times serving as a platform for "backlash" views (Burke et. al. 2021). In recent years, social
media has been a driving force behind changes in the media environment around sexual violence,
providing a new venue for survivors to share their tales while also being marked by online
harassment and abuse.
According to Ransom (2019), a recent sexual assault is that of Cammy Duong which
happened in a Manhattan Hotel in June 2017. The police investigation took months to complete.
However, findings explain that when the matter reached the Manhattan district attorney's office,
prosecutors promptly declined to press charges. Ms. Duong would have to wait another seven
months for a response. The Me-Too campaign brought attention of the incidence of sexual
assault, resulting in an increase in police complaints and renewed hope that those accused would
be held accountable more often.
3
According to Castillo (2013), Donald Henry Gaskins may have been born a psychopath,
but his life events may have influenced his development into a sociopath. The most prolific serial
murderer in the history of South Carolina is The Meanest Man in America. Gaskins claimed to
have slain more than 100 individuals, with some sources putting the number as high as 181. The
Social Structure Theory explains why people commit crimes like serial killings due to financial
insecurity. This theory, however, does not match the relationship between serial killers. The
General Strain Theory as one of Social Structure theories. According to this idea, people who are
exposed to many strains at once, such as stimulation or socially desirable objectives, are more
prone to commit crimes. This was the case with Gaskins’ story. Because serial killers have been
discovered to be dealing with many difficulties at the same time, this hypothesis works best in
connection to Donald Henry Gaskins.
4
References
Burke, A. S., Carter, D., Fedorek, B., Morey, T., Rutz-Burri, L., & Sanchez, S. (2019). 1: Crime,
Criminal Justice, and Criminology. SOU-CCJ230 Introduction to the American Criminal
Justice System.
Castillo, J. (2013). 25 Of The Most Evil Serial Killers You Have Ever Known. List25
Consistently Conciliating Curiosity. https://list25.com/25-most-evil-serial-killers-of-the-
20th-century/
Ransom, J. (July 18, 2021). ‘Nobody Believed Me’: How Rape Cases Get Dropped. The New
York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/18/nyregion/manhattan-da-rape-cases-