Leopold and Loeb

861 Words2 Pages

On May 23, 1924, public newspapers reported the kidnapping and murder of a fourteen-year-old, Bobby Franks. This case not only enthralled the Chicago public, but also remains one that is constantly reinterpreted in modern society today. Both Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb were considered wealthy and academically gifted young boys. The media produced reports that presented the public with enticing information and helped unfold the mystery of the case. However, journalists magnified details and are ultimately responsible for shaping the outcome of the case. The reinterpretation of the Leopold and Loeb case illustrates that it significantly altered America’s perception of childhood experience, mental health, and the media’s role in criminal cases.
At the time, society struggled to comprehend how two young teenagers were put on trial as murderers – children were given sympathy for being targeted as victims. However, today journalists and reporters blame the way children are raised for committing crimes. The environment they grow up in and the values that are instilled within them are what influence their every action. While Nathan and Richard were raised in upper-class families, both endured difficult childhoods. Reporters claim that Leopold’s childhood was “scarred by feelings of physical inferiority, the sexual abuse of a governess, and the loss of his mother when he was fourteen” and may be a reasonable explanation for his detrimental actions (Fass 934). This perspective shifted the blame from the teenagers to the parents, who were considered at fault for raising their children irresponsibly.
Two years back, a shooting took place at a movie theater in Colorado. The suspect, James E. Holmes, had a wealthy upbringing like Leopold a...

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...plications, the public is able to share and obtain information before the morning newspaper is delivered. In addition, the media today continues to dramatize public events. Cases such as the Zimmerman Trial or foreign incidents in Ukraine remain headlines on news articles for months. Each source presents bias and influences its audience differently.
Ninety years later, the Leopold and Loeb case still remains significant in American modern society. Clarence Darrow’s techniques have influenced today’s law system and stimulated psychological explorations of childhood development. Today we hear and see teenagers committing crimes all over the nation. However, the media continues to publicize global current events. Due to the Leopold and Loeb case, America’s perspective regarding childhood, psychiatry, and the media has and continues to evolve over the years.

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