The Son of Sam

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that David Berkowitz, who, during the 1970s in New York, murdered six innocent people and severely injured many other victims, experienced a troubled childhood and early adult life. The author points out that, at his recent parole hearing in 2002, he sent a letter to the Governor stating that he did not wish to have parole granted because he did not deserve to spend a single day free after the pain and suffering he had caused many families during what he says now was the work of the devil. The paper relates that the Son of Sam Law was enacted to prevent any future violent offenders from profiting after they commit such heinous crimes.

From the Paper:

"Even as a small child Berkowitz was not a social person. He preferred to stay to himself and, as he grew older, he was physically much larger than other children his age, which he later reported made him significantly uncomfortable. He became a bully and spent much of his childhood picking on other children and taking their money from them. He was called hyperactive, which was the term used for ADHD in those days, and he was prone to have violent outbursts with little or no warning."

Sample of Sources Used:

• The Letter http://www.crimelibrary.com/serial_killers/notorious/berkowitz/letter_1.html
• David Berkowitz http://www.freeinfosociety.com/site.php?postnum=58
• Omega Group http://www.spartechsoftware.com/dimensions/crime/SonOfSam.htm
• Son of Sam Laws http://www.answers.com/topic/son-of-sam-laws

More papers on The Son of Sam:

• Research Paper # 23132 : "The Son of Sam"
• Comparison Essay # 112383 : "Playwrights Sam Shepard and Amy Freed"
• Film Review # 25673 : "American Beauty" and the Oedipus Complex Theory"

APA Citation:

MLA Citation: