This document provides background information on John Dillinger and Leslie Van Houten. It summarizes Dillinger's childhood, early crimes, time in prison including infractions, release and subsequent famous bank robberies. It describes how social learning theory and labeling theory explain his criminal behavior. For Van Houten, it summarizes her stable childhood, rebelious teenage years using LSD weekly, and how she met Charles Manson and joined his cult living at the Spahn ranch.

2. SOCIAL PROCESS THEORY
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THE SOCIAL PROCESS THEORY VIEWS CRIMINALITY AS A FUNCTION OF PEOPLE'S
INTERACTIONS WITH VARIOUS ORGANIZATIONS, INSTITUTIONS, AND PROCESSES IN
SOCIETY; PEOPLE IN ALL WALKS OF LIFE HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BECOME
CRIMINALS IF THEY MAINTAIN DESTRUCTIVE SOCIAL RELATIONSHIPS.
• THREE MAIN PARTS
1. SOCIAL LEARNING THEORY-PEOPLE LEARN TO BECOME CRIMINALS
2. SOCIAL CONTROL THEORY-SOCIETY FAILS TO CONTROL CRIMINAL TENDENCIES
3. LABELING THEORY-NEGATIVE LABELS PRODUCE CRIMINAL CAREERS
(NCJRS.GOV)

3. JOHN DILLINGER-CHILDHOOD
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BORN JUNE 22, 1903 TO JOHN W. DILLINGER AND MARY ELLEN LANCASTER.
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HIS FATHER REMARRIED WHEN JOHN WAS NINE.
HIS MOTHER DIED WHEN HE WAS THREE.
HIS SISTER GOT MARRIED AND MOVED INTO THE HOUSE AND BASICALLY BECAME A SURROGATE MOTHER TO
HIM.
HE GOT ALONG WITH OTHER CHILDREN AND HIS FATHER CALLED HIM A NATURAL LEADER.
HE WAS AN INDIFFERENT STUDENT, BUT HIS TEACHERS THOUGHT HE WAS “NEAT, CLEAN, AND INDUSTRIOUS”.
HE LOVED TO READ, HATED MATH, AND WAS GOOD WITH MECHANICAL THINGS.
DIDN‟T GET INTO MUCH TROUBLE, JUST A FEW FIGHTS, STEALING FRUIT FROM GARDENS, OR OCCASIONALLY
DITCHING SCHOOL.
(WILD RIDE)

4. EARLY ADULTHOOD
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JOHN DILLINGER DROPPED OUT OF SCHOOL AFTER EIGHTH GRADE TO WORK.
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HE GOT JOBS IN A WOOD FACTORY, AS A MESSENGER FOR THE BOARD OF TRADE, AN
UPHOLSTERER, AND AS A MACHINIST.
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HE‟D BEGAN TO HAVE A SPOTTY WORK RECORD, SHOWING UP FOR A FEW MONTHS, DISAPPEAR
FOR LONGER, COME BACK FOR A FEW MONTHS, AND ON AND ON.
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IN 1920 FATHER MOVED FAMILY FROM INDIANAPOLIS TO MOORESVILLE, INDIANA. JOHN MOVED
WITH HIM.
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JOHN DIDN‟T LIKE FARM LIFE AND WENT BACK AND FORTH IN BETWEEN THE TWO CITIES.
(WILD RIDE)

5. EARLY CRIMES-BEFORE FAME
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IN JULY OF 1923 JOHN STOLE A CAR AND DROVE TO INDIANAPOLIS
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THREE MONTHS LATER IN OCTOBER JOHN WAS DECLARED AWOL AND
SENTENCED TO TEN DAYS OF SOLITARY CONFINEMENT AND FINED $18
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A MONTH LATER HE LEFT AGAIN AND GOT ANOTHER FIVE DAYS
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(WILD RIDE)
THE POLICE CAUGHT HIM, BUT HE ESCAPED AND HID OUT FOR THE NIGHT. HE
JOINED THE NAVY THE NEXT MORNING.
TWO WEEKS LATER THE NAVY DECLARED HIM AN OFFICIAL DESERTER AND
GAVE HIM A DISHONORABLE DISCHARGE, NOT WANTING TO DEAL WITH HIM
ANYMORE.

6. FIRST ARREST
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SEPTEMBER 6, 1934 JOHN AND THE LOCAL LOAN SHARK, EDWARD SINGLETON DECIDED A STICK UP WOULD MAKE THEM
QUICK, EASY MONEY.
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SINGLETON GOT JOHN DRUNK OFF OF ILLEGAL MOONSHINE AND GAVE HIM A GUN.
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DILLINGER GOT CAUGHT WHEN HE BEGAN TO ASK ABOUT MORGAN‟S CONDITION AROUND TOWN BEFORE ANYONE EVEN
KNEW SOMETHING HAD HAPPENED.
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ON THE ADVICE OF HIS FATHER, WHO EXPECTED LENIENCY, JOHN CONFESSED.
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SINGLETON PLEADED NOT GUILTY AND SERVED ONLY ONE YEAR.
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SINGLETON GOT A MINOR PUNISHMENT.
JOHN HID BEHIND A CORNER THEN HIT AN ELDERLY SHOP KEEPER, FRANK MORGAN, IN THE HEAD WITH AN IRON BAR.
WHEN THE MAN GOT UP, HE POINTED HIS GUN AT HIM. MORGAN KNOCKED THE GUN OUT OF HIS HAND AND IT
DISCHARGED, SCARING JOHN AND HE RAN AWAY.
OTHER THAN JOHN‟S CONFESSION THE POLICE HAD NO EVIDENCE AND WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO ARREST HIM IF
HE HADN‟T SAID ANYTHING.
CONSTANT ATTEMPTS TO ESCAPE FROM THE POLICE AND THE FACT THAT JOHN WAS SUSPECTED OF COMMITTING
OTHER UNSOLVED CRIMES IN THE AREA, LED THE JUDGE TO SENTENCE HIM TO 10-20 YEARS IN JAIL FOR THE ASSAULT.
(WILD RIDE)

7. INDIANA STATE REFORMATORY
• ENTERED THE SYSTEM ON SEPTEMBER 16, 1924 AS INMATE #14359
• DESCRIBED AS:
1. 21 YEARS OLD
6. MEMBER OF A CHRISTIAN CHURCH
2. 5‟7‟
7. COULD READ AND WRITE “STEADILY”
3. GREY EYES
8. COULD SOLVE ARITHMETIC PROBLEMS,
4. MEDIUM-SIZED NOSE
INCLUDING PERCENTAGES
5. SMOKED, BUT DIDN‟T DRINK 9. COULD WRITE WELL
JOHN BROKE THE RULES MANY TIMES DURING HIS SENTENCE.
(WILD RIDE)

8. INFRACTIONS
• HE AND TWO OTHER INMATES TRIED TO ESCAPE BY SAWING THEIR WAY
OUT OF THEIR CELLS
• CUT UP HIS MATTRESS TO HIDE A PEN AND INK
• HAD A BAD ATTITUDE AND DISRESPECTED GUARDS
• GAMBLING
• FIGHTING
• WEARING NON REGULATED CLOTHING
• DESTROYING PRISON PROPERTY
• WAS CAUGHT IN BED WITH ANOTHER INMATE
• REPEATED INFRACTIONS RESULTED IN A TRANSFER TO THE INDIANA STATE
PRISON IN MICHIGAN CITY. (WILD RIDE)

9. INDIANA STATE PRISON IN MICHIGAN CITY
• INMATES HERE WERE CLASSIFIED AS BEING “HARD CASES”
• DILLINGER CONTINUED TO GET INFRACTIONS AT HIS NEW PRISON
• THESE INCLUDED GAMBLING, USING SHOP EQUIPMENT INAPPROPRIATELY IN
THE SHIRT FACTORY, STEALING PRODUCE FROM PRISON STORES, HIDING A
RAZOR BLADE IN HIS CELL, SMUGGLING CIGARETTES AND A LIGHTER, AND
ANOTHER ALLEGED ATTEMPT AT SAWING HIS WAY OUT OF A CELL. (WILD
RIDE)

10. THE ROAD TO RELEASE
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DILLINGER REMAINED CLOSE WITH HIS FAMILY WHILE HE WAS IN PRISON, SENDING MANY
LETTERS AND GETTING MANY VISITS.
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HIS FATHER AND SISTER SENT MANY LETTERS TO JUDGES, FORMER EMPLOYERS, AND OTHER
INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE IN AN ATTEMPT TO GET JOHN‟S PAROLE APPROVED
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FINALLY, THEY SUCCEEDED AND THE JUDGE THAT SENTENCED HIM, PENDLETON, FINALLY AGREED
TO WRITE TO THE PAROLE BOARD ON DILLINGER‟S BEHALF
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EVENTUALLY, INDIANA‟S GOVERNOR MCNUTT SIGNED EXECUTIVE ORDER #7723 GRANTING
DILLINGER‟S PAROLE.
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JUST BEFORE THE PAROLE PAPERS CAME THROUGH, JOHN‟S STEPMOTHER SUFFERED A SEVERE
STROKE
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OFFICIALS KEPT THIS NEWS FROM HIM
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HE ARRIVED HOME TWENTY MINUTES AFTER HIS STEPMOTHER PASSED AWAY
OFFICIALS SPENT AS MUCH TIME AS POSSIBLE FILING PAPERWORK TO KEEP JOHN LOCKED UP A
FEW DAYS LONGER THAN HE SHOULD HAVE BEEN
(WILD RIDE)

11. FREEDOM
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AT THIRTY YEARS OLD, JOHN HAD SPENT ALMOST ALL OF HIS ADULT LIFE IN PRISON.
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CRIME WAS ALSO AT AN ALL TIME HIGH WHEN DILLINGER GOT OUT OF PRISON. BONNIE AND CLYDE, MACHINE GUN
KELLY, MA BARKER, AND PRETTY BOY FLOYD WERE ALL MAKING HEADLINES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.
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DILLINGER LEFT MICHIGAN CITY WITH MANY UNDERWORLD CONTACTS FROM PRISON, AND THE IDEA OF FAME AND
FORTUNE FROM CRIME.
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DILLINGER DID SPEND HIS FIRST MONTH OUT OF PRISON TRYING TO LIVE AN HONEST LIFE WORKING ON HIS
FATHER‟S FARM.
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THE FARM WAS TOO SMALL FOR BOTH MEN TO WORK IT, AND JOHN‟S CRIMINAL RECORD, SPOTTY WORK RECORD,
AND DISHONORABLE DISCHARGE MADE IT HARD FOR HIM TO FIND HONEST WORK IN THE TOUGH ECONOMY.
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ON AUGUST 5, 1933 DILLINGER AND TWO OTHERS ROBBED THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK IN MONTPELIER, INDIANA.
HAVING GONE INTO PRISON WHEN AMERICA WAS AT THE HEIGHT OF CONSUMERISM AND GLAMOUR, STEPPING
OUT INTO THE GREAT DEPRESSION CAME AS A SHOCK.
EVENTUALLY, DILLINGER AND HIS CREW WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR ELEVEN BANK ROBBERIES, FOUR POLICE STATION
ROBBERIES, THREE JAIL BREAKS, TEN MURDERS, AND INJURING NINE PEOPLE. (FBI.GOV)

12. MODUS OPERANDI
• DILLINGER PERSONALLY NEVER INTENTIONALLY HURT AN INNOCENT
BYSTANDER. HIS TARGETS WERE THE BANK HE WAS ROBBING AND THE
POLICE THAT WERE TRYING TO CATCH HIM.
• IN EACH BANK JOB, ONE PERSON WOULD STAY IN THE CAR, ONE OR MORE
WOULD HOLD THE TELLER AT GUNPOINT, DILLINGER WOULD HOP THE BAR
INTO THE TELLERS CAGE AND ASK FOR THE MONEY, THEN AS THEY MADE
THEIR ESCAPE, THEY‟D BRING HOSTAGES FROM THE BANK AND USE THEM AS
HUMAN SHIELDS, EVENTUALLY DROPPING THEM OFF SOMEWHERE.
• DILLINGER ALWAYS COMMITTED HIS CRIMES WITH A GROUP, AND WAS
OFTEN NOT THE MASTERMIND. (WILD RIDE)
Baby Face Nelson
Harry Pierpoint
Pretty Boy Floyd
James Jenkins

13. WHY JOHN DILLINGER COMMITTED
CRIME
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THE BEST EXPLANATIONS FOR JOHN DILLINGER‟S 13 MONTH CRIME SPREE ARE THE SOCIAL LEARNING
AND LABELING THEORIES THAT STEM FROM THE SOCIAL PROCESS THEORY.
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EVEN HIS FIRST CRIME HAPPENED BECAUSE SOMEONE ELSE CAME UP WITH THE IDEA AND CONVINCED
HIM TO DO IT.
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HAD DILLINGER NOT GONE TO JAIL FOR SUCH A LONG TIME, OR AT ALL, HE MAY HAVE STUCK TO SMALL
CRIMES THAT RAN UNDER THE RADAR, OR EVEN MAY HAVE FOUND STEADY WORK THAT HE ENJOYED
AND DISCONTINUED CRIME ALL TOGETHER.
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BY BEING IN PRISON FOR THE AMOUNT OF TIME HE WAS, AND THEN BEING TRANSFERRED TO A PRISON
THAT WAS KNOWN FOR HAVING THE WORST OF THE WORST, DILLINGER WAS ABLE TO MEET MANY
CRIMINALS WITH MANY CONNECTIONS AND LEARN HOW TO COMMIT BANK ROBBERIES.
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SINCE HE HAD RECEIVED AN UNFAIR SENTENCE, HE BECAME ANGRY AT AUTHORITY FOR BEING LABELED
AS MUCH WORSE THAN HE REALLY WAS, AND REBELLED AGAINST AUTHORITY EVEN BEFORE HIS
RELEASE.
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DILLINGER ALWAYS COMMITTED HIS CRIMES IN A GROUP OF THREE OR MORE.
TRIED TO AVOID VIOLENCE, UNLESS THE POLICE WERE INVOLVED.
STOLE FROM THE SYSTEM, NOT INDIVIDUAL PEOPLE (WITH THE EXCEPTION OF CARS FOR GETTING
AWAY).

14. LESLIE VAN HOUTON-CHILDHOOD
• EVEN THOUGH HER PARENTS BECAME DIVORCED AND THERE ARE CONFLICTING
REPORTS FROM LESLIE HERSELF REGARDING WHETHER OR NOT HER FATHER WAS
AN ALCOHOLIC, SHE GREW UP IN A FAIRLY NORMAL AND STABLE FAMILY.
• SHE WAS POPULAR, HAVING BEEN ELECTED HOMECOMING QUEEN BY HER HIGH
SCHOOL CLASSMATES TWO YEARS IN A ROW.
• SHE DID HAVE SOME ISSUES GROWING UP, BUT HER MOTHER DID TAKE HER FOR
PSYCHIATRIC HELP WHEN SHE WAS A TEEN SO SHE DID GET LOVE AND SUPPORT
FROM HER FAMILY.
(TATEFAMILYLEGACY.COM)

15. INFLUENCES
• LESLIE‟S HIGH SCHOOL BOYFRIEND BEGAN TO SHOW HER HOW TO REBEL IN
EVEN MORE EXCITING WAYS.
• IT WAS WITH HIM THAT SHE FIRST DID LSD AND SHE TESTIFIED IN COURT
THAT THEY TOOK THE DRUG EVERY WEEKEND FOR ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF.
• THEY ALSO RAN AWAY TOGETHER FOR A WHILE, BUT WHEN SHE RETURNED
HOME, LESLIE DID FINISH SCHOOL.
(TATEFAMILYLEGACY.COM)

16. MEETING THE FAMILY
• “IN JUNE OF 1968 LESLIE WAS LIVING WITH FRIENDS AT THE KALEN RANCH
NEAR VICTORVILLE AND APPLE VALLEY. IT WAS HERE THAT VAN HOUTEN MET
BOBBY BEAUSOLEIL, CATHERINE "GYPSY" SHARE AND THE OTHER FEMALES
THAT COMPRISED THEIR GROUP. LESLIE WAS APPARENTLY ENTICED AND
JOINED BEAUSOLEIL'S GROUP, TRAVELING AROUND WITH THEM. DURING
THEIR TRAVELS CATHERINE SHARE BEGAN TO TELL LESLIE ABOUT A MAN
NAMED CHARLES MANSON. SHE TOLD VAN HOUTEN THAT HE WAS „LIKE JESUS‟
AND THAT HE HAD „THE ANSWERS‟“- (TATEFAMILYLEGACY.COM)
Members of
the Manson
Family

17. LIFE WITHMOVED TO SPAHN RANCH TO LIVE WITH MANSON'S CULT.
CHARLIE MANSON
• EVENTUALLY, LESLIE
• AT FIRST, SHE SAID LIFE THERE WAS EASY AND SLOW-PACED AND PEACEFUL.
• THEN, MANSON BEGAN TO TALK ABOUT HELTER SKELTER, THE RACE WAR BETWEEN
THE BLACKS AND THE WHITES AND BEGAN TO TALK ABOUT THE GROUP FINDING A
HOLE IN THE DESERT TO LIVE IN AND THAT THEY WOULD MULTIPLY THEIR NUMBERS
AND COME BACK INTO SOCIETY TO TAKE IT OVER AFTER THE WAR HAD ENDED.
• HELTER SKELTER WAS THE NAME OF A SONG OF THE BEETLES‟ WHITE ALBUM. AFTER
SPENDING SO MUCH TIME REPEATEDLY LISTENING TO THAT ALBUM, READING
REVELATIONS FROM THE BIBLE, AND MANY MORE LSD TRIPS, HELTER SKELTER
BEGAN TO FEEL REAL TO MANY OF MANSON‟S FOLLOWERS.
(TATEFAMILYLEGACY.COM)

18. PREPARATION
• “UPON MANSON'S INSTRUCTIONS, CHARLES "TEX" WATSON BEGAN TO HOLD
IMPROMPTU CLASSES IN HOW TO CUT SOMEONE'S THROAT. IN ADDITION THE
FAMILY WOULD PLAY GAMES WHERE THEY WOULD SNEAK UP ON OTHER
UNSUSPECTING FAMILY MEMBERS, PRACTICING CATCHING PEOPLE OFF
GUARD.”- TATEFAMILYLEGACY.COM
• MANSON BEGAN TELLING HIS FOLLOWERS THAT THEY NEEDED TO “SHOW THE
BLACKS HOW IT WAS DONE” AND FRAME THEM FOR A CRIME TO START THE
RACE WAR.
“Tex”
Watson

19. LABIANCA MURDERS
• AUGUST 9TH 1969, LESLIE VAN HOUTEN, CHARLES MANSON, “TEX”
WATSON, AND PATRICIA KRENWINKEL WENT OUT IN SEARCH OF SOMEONE TO
MURDER. THEY LANDED ON THE LABIANCA‟S HOME.
• LESLIE AND PATRICIA TOOK MRS. LABIANCA INTO A BEDROOM AND “TEX” AND
MANSON MURDERED MR. LABIANCA.
• LESLIE ATTEMPTED TO STRANGLE MRS. LABIANCA WITH A LAMP PLUG WHILE
PATRICIA STABBED HER, BUT SHE BEGAN TO FIGHT THEM WHEN SHE HEARD
HER HUSBAND BEING MURDERED. LESLIE CALLED “TEX” IN FOR HELP, AND HE
STABBED MRS. LABIANCA TO DEATH, THEN HANDED LESLIE THE KNIFE AND
TOLD HER TO “DO SOMETHING”.
(TATEFAMILYLEGACY.COM)
The
Victims

20. WHY LESLIE VAN HOUTEN
COMMITTED CRIME
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AT A YOUNG AGE, LESLIE‟S PARENTS DIVORCED WHICH MADE HER FEEL ABANDONED BY HER FATHER AND OSTRACIZED FROM THE
COMMUNITY.
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SINCE THEN, SHE SPENT HER TIME LOOKING FOR A MALE FIGURE TO REPLACE HER FATHER‟S ROLE.
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AFTER GRADUATING HIGH SCHOOL , LESLIE DECIDED TO LIVE WITH HER FATHER, AND FELT LIKE HER STEPMOTHER WAS JEALOUS
OF THEIR RELATIONSHIP. SHE THEN MET AND BEGAN TO DATE BOBBY BEAUSOLEIL WHO EVENTUALLY INTRODUCED HER TO
CHARLES MANSON.
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SHE CONSIDERED CHARLES MANSON TO BE LIKE JESUS AND KNEW HE WASN‟T INTERESTED IN HER AT ALL. SHE THEREFORE
SPENT HER TIME DOING EVERYTHING SHE COULD TO GAIN ADMIRATION FROM HIM
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IT WAS FROM HIM AND THE GROUP THAT SHE LOST HERSELF AND LEARNED TO HATE AND HOW TO KILL.
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LESLIE LEARNED TO COMMIT THE TERRIBLE CRIME SHE COMMITTED FROM MANSON, AND IT WAS THE LABEL SHE RECEIVED
FROM HER MOTHER, BEING REBELLIOUS, THAT CAUSED HER TO CONTINUE TO WANT TO BE REBELLIOUS.
HER FIRST BOYFRIEND WASN‟T THE BEST ONE EVER HAVING INTRODUCED HER TO LSD AND THEN GETTING HER PREGNANT. THE
PREGNANCY RESULTED IN A FORCED ABORTION THAT RUINED LESLIE‟S RELATIONSHIP WITH HER MOTHER.
WERE IT NOT FOR MEETING THE MEN SHE HAD IN HER LIFE, LESLIE MAY HAVE EVENTUALLY FOUND HER WAY BACK HOME, JUST
LIKE SHE DID IN HIGH SCHOOL.

21. REFERENCES
• GORN, ELLIOT J. (2009). DILLINGER‟S WILD RIDE: THE YEAR THAT MADE
AMERICA‟S PUBLIC ENEMY NUMBER ONE. OUP USA.
• JOHN DILLINGER. FAMOUS CASES AND CRIMINALS. RETRIEVED FROM
HTTP://WWW.FBI.GOV/ABOUT-US/HISTORY/FAMOUS-CASES/JOHNDILLINGER
• SEIGEL, LARRY J. (2000). SOCIAL PROCESS THEORIES. [ABSTRACT]. (FROM
CRIMINOLOGY, SEVENTH EDITION, P 220-253-- SEE NCJ-185178).