Criminal Justice reflection assignment

Aljunaibi

AlvarezPPTCh04.ppt

Home >Law homework help >Criminal homework help >Criminal Justice reflection assignment

Chapter 4:

Assault and Murder:

A Continuum of violence

Defining Assault and Homicide

Assault covers a wide range of actions ranging from a simple threat of harm to a near-fatal attack.
Aggravated assault
“An attack or attempted attack with a weapon, regardless of whether or not an injury occurred and attack without a weapon when serious injury results.”
Simple assault
“Attack without a weapon resulting either in no injury, minor injury (for example, bruises, black eyes, cuts, scratches, or swelling), or an undetermined injury requiring less than 2 days of hospitalization.
Also include cases of attempted assault without a weapon

Homicide

Homicide is a general term for the killing of another individual.
Murder refers to the specific legal category of criminal homicide.
As with all crimes, the legal definitions of murder vary from state to state, but there are typically three types:
Justifiable–in defense of life or property
Excusable–accidental (but not due to recklessness)
Criminal–murder and manslaughter

Murder

First-degree murders
Committed with premeditation and deliberation
Premeditation refers to the knowledge and intention to kill.
Deliberation means that the killing was planned and thought about rather than committed on impulse.
Second-degree murders
Do not involve premeditation and deliberation
Instead, they are more spontaneous in nature.
Felony murder
Occurs during the commission of another felony such as a robbery.

Manslaughter

Manslaughters are criminal homicides in which the degree of responsibility is considered much less than murder
No premeditation or deliberation
No malice
Voluntary Manslaughter
Someone killed while overwhelmed by emotion or passion
Involuntary Manslaughter
Someone killed because of another individual’s reckless behavior

Victim/Offender Relationship, 2014

Source: Adapted from NCVS Data

Chart1

Intimates	Intimates	Intimates	Intimates
Other Relative	Other Relative	Other Relative	Other Relative
Acquaintance	Acquaintance	Acquaintance	Acquaintance
Stranger	Stranger	Stranger	Stranger
Unknown	Unknown	Unknown	Unknown

Simple Assault Male

Aggravated Assault Male

Simple Assault Female

Aggravated Assault Female

1.9

2.5

9.2

8.9

4.3

3.5

4.4

13.4

14.5

20.9

8.2

35.1

11.2

15.1

1.9

4.3

1.6

Sheet1

	Simple Assault Male	Aggravated Assault Male	Simple Assault Female	Aggravated Assault Female
Intimates	1.9	2.5	9.2	8.9
Other Relative	4.3	3.5	6	4.4
Acquaintance	13.4	14.5	20.9	8.2
Stranger	26	35.1	11.2	15.1
Unknown	1.9	4.3	1.6	2

When Assaults Become Lethal–Homicide

In 2014, there were 14,249 people murdered in the United States, which translates into a rate of 4.5 per 100,000 U.S. inhabitants.

Beginning around 1993, murder rates began a decline that has continued for 20 years.

The largest proportion of victims falls into the age bracket of 25 to 49, followed by 18 to 24. Importantly, this pattern also holds for perpetration.

Homicide Victimization by Age, 1980-2013

Source: Puzzanchera, C., Chamberlin, G., and Kang, W. (2015). "Easy Access to the FBI's Supplementary Homicide Reports: 1980-2013."

Online. Available: http://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/ezashr/

Chart1

1980	1980	1980	1980	1980	1980	1980
1981	1981	1981	1981	1981	1981	1981
1982	1982	1982	1982	1982	1982	1982
1983	1983	1983	1983	1983	1983	1983
1984	1984	1984	1984	1984	1984	1984
1985	1985	1985	1985	1985	1985	1985
1986	1986	1986	1986	1986	1986	1986
1987	1987	1987	1987	1987	1987	1987
1988	1988	1988	1988	1988	1988	1988
1989	1989	1989	1989	1989	1989	1989
1990	1990	1990	1990	1990	1990	1990
1991	1991	1991	1991	1991	1991	1991
1992	1992	1992	1992	1992	1992	1992
1993	1993	1993	1993	1993	1993	1993
1994	1994	1994	1994	1994	1994	1994
1995	1995	1995	1995	1995	1995	1995
1996	1996	1996	1996	1996	1996	1996
1997	1997	1997	1997	1997	1997	1997
1998	1998	1998	1998	1998	1998	1998
1999	1999	1999	1999	1999	1999	1999
2000	2000	2000	2000	2000	2000	2000
2001	2001	2001	2001	2001	2001	2001
2002	2002	2002	2002	2002	2002	2002
2003	2003	2003	2003	2003	2003	2003
2004	2004	2004	2004	2004	2004	2004
2005	2005	2005	2005	2005	2005	2005
2006	2006	2006	2006	2006	2006	2006
2007	2007	2007	2007	2007	2007	2007
2008	2008	2008	2008	2008	2008	2008
2009	2009	2009	2009	2009	2009	2009
2010	2010	2010	2010	2010	2010	2010
2011	2011	2011	2011	2011	2011	2011
2012	2012	2012	2012	2012	2012	2012
2013	2013	2013	2013	2013	2013	2013

0 to 5

6 to 11

12 to 14

15 to 17

18 to 24

25 to 49

50 & older

Homicide Victims by Age

614

176

161

862

5146

11732

3957

595

199

181

715

4768

11635

4010

670

189

154

675

4439

10815

3740

629

145

151

612

4043

10117

3311

593

165

159

546

3842

9845

3112

597

175

182

619

3795

10108

3086

725

148

170

677

4335

10967

3105

643

160

175

735

4288

10663

3059

704

198

192

843

4437

11035

2933

711

203

220

1020

4834

11331

2889

716

162

247

1170

5650

12299

2829

810

169

271

1324

6305

12493

2902

731

160

310

1362

6055

12074

2741

815

205

341

1480

6363

12193

2798

802

156

290

1414

6098

11590

2570

760

133

297

1431

5454

10580

2585

813

144

211

1237

4884

9725

2350

689

166

175

1029

4720

8851

2231

704

165

192

866

4332

8329

2026

650

153

169

824

3901

7630

1936

624

126

156

675

3950

7779

1958

681

146

126

687

4172

7866

2027

620

151

127

674

4239

8034

2050

645

125

116

656

4415

8140

2129

609

114

138

704

4087

7953

2244

606

126

156

746

4326

8223

2259

625

131

177

851

4547

8292

2374

642

142

160

858

4391

8318

2313

677

117

136

799

3982

8056

2427

588

122

119

697

3769

7476

2410

610

102

648

3616

7139

2358

614

118

554

3653

7055

2428

512

122

106

538

3656

7239

2551

528

123

467

3389

6916

2531

Sheet1

Count	0 to 5	6 to 11	12 to 14	15 to 17	18 to 24	25 to 49	50 & older
1980	614	176	161	862	5146	11732	3957
1981	595	199	181	715	4768	11635	4010
1982	670	189	154	675	4439	10815	3740
1983	629	145	151	612	4043	10117	3311
1984	593	165	159	546	3842	9845	3112
1985	597	175	182	619	3795	10108	3086
1986	725	148	170	677	4335	10967	3105
1987	643	160	175	735	4288	10663	3059
1988	704	198	192	843	4437	11035	2933
1989	711	203	220	1020	4834	11331	2889
1990	716	162	247	1170	5650	12299	2829
1991	810	169	271	1324	6305	12493	2902
1992	731	160	310	1362	6055	12074	2741
1993	815	205	341	1480	6363	12193	2798
1994	802	156	290	1414	6098	11590	2570
1995	760	133	297	1431	5454	10580	2585
1996	813	144	211	1237	4884	9725	2350
1997	689	166	175	1029	4720	8851	2231
1998	704	165	192	866	4332	8329	2026
1999	650	153	169	824	3901	7630	1936
2000	624	126	156	675	3950	7779	1958
2001	681	146	126	687	4172	7866	2027
2002	620	151	127	674	4239	8034	2050
2003	645	125	116	656	4415	8140	2129
2004	609	114	138	704	4087	7953	2244
2005	606	126	156	746	4326	8223	2259
2006	625	131	177	851	4547	8292	2374
2007	642	142	160	858	4391	8318	2313
2008	677	117	136	799	3982	8056	2427
2009	588	122	119	697	3769	7476	2410
2010	610	85	102	648	3616	7139	2358
2011	614	118	94	554	3653	7055	2428
2012	512	122	106	538	3656	7239	2551
2013	528	123	92	467	3389	6916	2531

Handguns

The other factor that contributed to the high rates of murder in the 1990s was handguns.

The majority of homicides during this time were committed with firearms, which John Lofland termed “facilitating hardware” for lethal violence.

The dynamics of a conflict or dispute change dramatically once a firearm becomes involved.

Murder in the United States by Weapon, 1980-2013

Source: Puzzanchera, C., Chamberlin, G., and Kang, W. (2015). "Easy Access to the FBI's Supplementary Homicide Reports: 1980-2013."

Online. Available: http://www.ojjdp.gov/ojstatbb/ezashr/

Chart1

1980	1980	1980	1980	1980
1981	1981	1981	1981	1981
1982	1982	1982	1982	1982
1983	1983	1983	1983	1983
1984	1984	1984	1984	1984
1985	1985	1985	1985	1985
1986	1986	1986	1986	1986
1987	1987	1987	1987	1987
1988	1988	1988	1988	1988
1989	1989	1989	1989	1989
1990	1990	1990	1990	1990
1991	1991	1991	1991	1991
1992	1992	1992	1992	1992
1993	1993	1993	1993	1993
1994	1994	1994	1994	1994
1995	1995	1995	1995	1995
1996	1996	1996	1996	1996
1997	1997	1997	1997	1997
1998	1998	1998	1998	1998
1999	1999	1999	1999	1999
2000	2000	2000	2000	2000
2001	2001	2001	2001	2001
2002	2002	2002	2002	2002
2003	2003	2003	2003	2003
2004	2004	2004	2004	2004
2005	2005	2005	2005	2005
2006	2006	2006	2006	2006
2007	2007	2007	2007	2007
2008	2008	2008	2008	2008
2009	2009	2009	2009	2009
2010	2010	2010	2010	2010
2011	2011	2011	2011	2011
2012	2012	2012	2012	2012
2013	2013	2013	2013	2013

Firearm

Knife

Blunt Object

Personal

Other/Unk

Murder by Weapon, 1980-2013

14383

4439

1152

1330

1739

14058

4361

1165

1261

1671

12641

4379

1032

1392

1568

11265

4215

1098

1315

1415

11017

3954

1088

1223

1410

11135

3988

1051

1275

1527

12181

4232

1177

1393

1629

11868

4076

1172

1300

1680

12533

3977

1294

1261

1610

13415

3921

1279

1188

1698

15058

4075

1253

1288

1763

16378

3907

1249

1368

1802

16199

3447

1087

1176

1851

17069

3137

1078

1216

2026

16325

2959

962

1223

1857

14727

2726

979

1277

1897

13261

2690

916

1190

1589

12334

2364

831

1151

1528

11012

2254

896

1140

1672

10113

2041

900

1050

1418

10193

2097

730

1086

1480

10112

2088

773

1099

1965

10832

2016

774

1085

1522

11010

2086

742

1094

1597

10657

2119

758

1071

1542

11353

2144

678

1009

1555

11716

2101

709

960

1824

11624

2085

742

998

1679

10994

2196

706

1009

1560

10302

2055

697

912

1432

9918

1938

612

859

1394

9910

1965

578

860

1348

10253

1851

602

809

1341

9755

1719

497

813

1412

Sheet1

	Firearm	Knife	Blunt Object	Personal	Other/Unk
1980	14383	4439	1152	1330	1739
1981	14058	4361	1165	1261	1671
1982	12641	4379	1032	1392	1568
1983	11265	4215	1098	1315	1415
1984	11017	3954	1088	1223	1410
1985	11135	3988	1051	1275	1527
1986	12181	4232	1177	1393	1629
1987	11868	4076	1172	1300	1680
1988	12533	3977	1294	1261	1610
1989	13415	3921	1279	1188	1698
1990	15058	4075	1253	1288	1763
1991	16378	3907	1249	1368	1802
1992	16199	3447	1087	1176	1851
1993	17069	3137	1078	1216	2026
1994	16325	2959	962	1223	1857
1995	14727	2726	979	1277	1897
1996	13261	2690	916	1190	1589
1997	12334	2364	831	1151	1528
1998	11012	2254	896	1140	1672
1999	10113	2041	900	1050	1418
2000	10193	2097	730	1086	1480
2001	10112	2088	773	1099	1965
2002	10832	2016	774	1085	1522
2003	11010	2086	742	1094	1597
2004	10657	2119	758	1071	1542
2005	11353	2144	678	1009	1555
2006	11716	2101	709	960	1824
2007	11624	2085	742	998	1679
2008	10994	2196	706	1009	1560
2009	10302	2055	697	912	1432
2010	9918	1938	612	859	1394
2011	9910	1965	578	860	1348
2012	10253	1851	602	809	1341
2013	9755	1719	497	813	1412

Violent Interactions

Symbolic interactionism
Human behavior—including assaults and homicides—occurs in social situations.
The meaning people attach to their behavior is an important element in understanding what takes place in a given circumstance.

This means that the outcome of the encounter depends on the perceptions and behaviors of the actors involved.
Because of this, violent events tend to be evolutionary and sequential in nature, with a beginning and an end.
In other words, violence is often patterned behavior.

Classifying Homicide

Researchers have classified homicide situations into what are termed instrumental and expressive events.
Instrumental murders are those conducted for explicit, future goals such as acquiring money or property.
Robbery murders are usually classified as instrumental.
Expressive murders are often unplanned acts of anger, rage, or frustration.
They are typically precipitated by a conflict situation such as an argument or fight.

Luckenbill’s 6 Homicide Transactions

1. The eventual victim says or does something that is offensive to the eventual murderer.

2. The murderer interprets the previous interaction as offensive.

3. A variety of response options are available to the eventual murderer, including walking away from the event; however, if retaliation is chosen, violence becomes almost inevitable.

4. Interaction between the parties escalates, and both perceive the situation as a confrontation to which the only appropriate response involves aggression and violence.

5. Violence is used to resolve the conflict. The offender may procure a weapon that is at hand or briefly leave the scene to get one.

6. The final stage involves the murderer either fleeing, remaining, or being held by bystanders; the choice is determined by the social context, including the relationship between the victim and offender

Multicide

Murders involving multiple victims
Pretty uncommon and account for only 5% of all murders
Glean lots of media attention
3 broad types
Mass murder
Spree murder
Serial murder

Mass Murder

Four or more victims at one general point in time
Often followed by perpetrator suicide
Mass murder in the workplace
Perpetrator: White, middle-aged, frustrated, retaliation agenda
Mass murder in school
Perpetrator: angry, hostile, retaliation agenda

Serial Murder

Multiple victims
Murders take place on at least three separate occasions, with an emotional cooling-off period between incidents
Egger’s 5 characteristics of serial murder
No prior relationship between victim and attacker
Subsequent murders have no apparent connection to initial murder
Subsequent murders committed in different locations
Motive is power/dominance over victim
Victims may possess symbolic value and are usually defenseless

Characteristics of Serial Murderers

Majority are White, middle-aged, male
Tend to target vulnerable strangers
Most act alone
Tend to have prior criminal records
Homicidal triad
Holmes and Holmes’s 6 serial killer typologies
Hedonistic lust
Thrill
Comfort
Power/control
Mission
Visionary

Spree Murder

Least common of the three multicide types
Short-lived, where killings take place over a shorter period of time
No direction or planning
Victims are unlucky strangers
Rampage ends once killer(s) captured or killed

Capital Punishment

Gregg v. Georgia (1976) reaffirmed the use of the death penalty
Does capital punishment prevent violence?
General deterrence
Does fear of death deter homicidal behavior?
Data indicates otherwise
Incapacitation
Keep murderers from killing again
Retribution
“Eye for an eye” moral justification
Death penalty moratorium movement

Conclusions

Violent interactions fall on a continuum.
Higher violent crime rates of the 1990s are attributed to killings by young men armed with handguns.
Young racial/ethnic minority group men in particular
Multicide is more often committed by White men.
The United States has the highest homicide rates of all industrialized nations.
Unlike other industrialized nations, the United States relies on the death penalty.

Open-Access Student Resources

· SAGE journal articles

· Multimedia resources

and more at study.sagepub.com/alvarez3e

Alvarez/Bachman, Violence: The Enduring Problem, 3rd Edition