Homicide Studies Archives - Page 4 of 9 - searchfortruth.info

Special Issue on Elderly Homicide

January 20, 2019August 28, 2017 by admin

The topic of elderly homicide is important for two major reasons. First, nearly every publication on elderly homicide indicates that we are closing in on a very large increase in the elderly population. Second, while the number of elderly homicides is small, they have a number of characteristics that differentiate them from other age groups o victims.

The “Senior Tsunami” While it is discussed in more detail in the articles in this issue, what is called the “senior tsunami” is a very large increase in the elderly population because those born between 1945 and 1965—the baby boomers—will have turned 65 in 2011 (Brookings Institute, 2010; Frey, 2007).

What contributes to the increase even more is that the World War II generation born between 1936 and 1945—is currently part of the 65 and older group. According to Frey (2007, p. 1) just as the World War II generation, “plowed its way through the nation’s school systems, labor market, housing market, and stock market, it continually...

Homicide Followed By Suicide: A Cross Sectional Study

January 12, 2019 by admin

Abstract

Background: Approximately 30 incidents of homicide followed by suicide occur in England and Wales each year. Previous studies have not examined mental health characteristics in any detail.

Aims: This study aims to identify the social, clinical, and criminological characteristics of a national sample of perpetrators, to identify any previous contact with mental health services and to establish risk of suicide after homicide.

Method: A national cross-sectional study of perpetrators in England and Wales 1996–2005.

Results: 203 incidents were recorded over 9 years. The median age of perpetrators was 41 years (range 18–88 years); most were male. Men more often killed a spouse/partner, whilst women more commonly killed their children. Eighty-four (42%) perpetrators died by suicide on the day of the homicide. The most common method of homicide was sharp instrument (44, 23%). Fifty-nine (29%) used hanging as a method of suicide. Twenty (10%) had previous contact with mental health services, 14 were seen within a year of the offence. The most common diagnoses were personality...

When The Killer Suffers: Post‐traumatic Stress Reactions Following Homicide

January 12, 2019 by admin

Abstract

Objectives. The present study aimed to consider the extent to which post‐traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) occurs after homicide and to examine characteristics of the offence and the offender which contribute to the development of these symptoms. It was proposed that type of violence (reactive versus instrumental) would be related to PTSD symptoms. Using Blackburn's typology of violent offenders, it was also hypothesized that primary and secondary psychopath, controlled and inhibited types would demonstrate differing forms of violence, prevalences and patterns of post‐traumatic stress symptoms following the homicide.

Method. Eighty homicide perpetrators were allocated equally to the four offender types based on their profiles on the Special Hospitals Assessment of Personality and Socialisation (SHAPS). Each offender completed the Post‐Traumatic Stress Disorder Interview and the violence displayed during the index offence was classified as either reactive or instrumental.

Results. Of the total sample, 52% met criteria for current PTSD. Reactive violence and reporting that the offence was traumatic were related to a current diagnosis of PTSD. Differing prevalences...

Observations on Stranger Homicide

January 9, 2019November 6, 2016 by admin

Abstract

Through the use of qualitative, case study data for all homicides (N = 121) reported to the Office of the Coroner in Victoria, Australia for 1985 and 1986, observations were made on the role of “stranger killings” in the study of homicide. It was found that when the dynamics of the relationship between the offender and the victim were classified in terms of the nature of the on-going social interaction, there was no need to retain a category of “stranger homicide.” Most of what are classified elsewhere as stranger killings are either events that result from masculine confrontations (which start as fights) or consequences of other crimes (such as armed robbery). It is suggested that what have been considered stranger homicides can be shown to include several different forms of homicide and that, further, some forms of homicide, such as confrontational killings, must be classified as including two types (stranger and nonstranger) if it is necessary to preserve the term “stranger homicide.” Finally, it is suggested...

Travel-To-Crime: Homing In On The Victim

January 9, 2019July 3, 2017 by admin

Abstract

Environmental criminology focuses on the intersection in time and place of the offender and victim. Patterns of crime are generally explained in terms of the routine activities of the offender. His or her travel to crime distances are short and crimes are committed within the offender's ‘awareness space’. It has generally been theorised that victims also have short journeys to crime, associated with their routine behaviour. This review, however, suggests that occupancy of ‘unawareness space’, where people are away from familiar surroundings, may confer heightened risk. This is supported in research in the special case of crime and tourism, though other travelling victim patterns have been largely ignored. This paper postulates that crime risk increases at the intersection of offender awareness and victim unawareness spaces. The 2002–3 British Crime Survey provides some suggestive evidence on this. Its analysis reveals that 26.9% of self-reported victimisation occurs more than 15 minutes...

Section 7 Homicide Circumstance Elements

January 9, 2019July 3, 2017 by admin

Uses

These data elements characterize the precipitants of violent deaths and help to identify trends in subtypes of violence over time. They will aid in planning and evaluating prevention programs targeted at specific subtypes of violence.

Discussion

Hate – A crime of aggravated assault, arson, burglary, criminal homicide, motor vehicle theft, robbery, sexual assault, or crime involving bodily injury in which the victim was intentionally selected because of their actual or perceived race, gender, religion, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or disability. Specify the type of hate crime in the Incident Narrative.

Brawl – Persons were involved in a mutual, physical fight. The brawl may or may not escalate to involve weapons. Do not code Brawl if the attack was one-sided (e.g., a group beats a single victim to death).

Terror – The victim was injured in a terrorist attack, whether with conventional, chemical, biological, or other weapons. This would include those who died while assisting in rescue operations from the attack. The NVDRS uses the FBI definition of terrorism:

Study of Assassination

January 5, 2019July 12, 2017 by admin

PLANNING

When the decision to assassinate has been reached, the tactics of the operation must be planned, based upon an estimate of the situation similar to that used in military operations. The preliminary estimate will reveal gaps in information and possibly indicate a need for special equipment which must be procured or constructed. When all necessary data has been collected, an effective tactical plan can be prepared. All planning must be mental; no papers should ever contain evidence of the operation. In resistance situations, assassination may be used as a counter-reprisal. Since this requires advertising to be effective, the resistance organization must be in a position to warn high officials publicly that their lives will be the price of reprisal action against innocent people. Such a threat is of no value unless it can be carried out, so it may be necessary to plan the assassination of various responsible officers of the oppressive regime and hold such plans in readiness to be used only if provoked...

Homicide Studies: Ten Years After Its Inception

January 4, 2019July 17, 2017 by admin

The Homicide Research Working Group (HRWG) is an international and interdisciplinaryorganization of volunteers dedicated to cooperation among researchers and practitioners who are trying to understand and limit lethal violence. The HRWG has the following goals:

to forge links between research, epidemiology and practical programs to reduce levels of
mortality from violence;
to promote improved data quality and the linking of diverse homicide data sources;
to foster collaborative, interdisciplinary research on lethal and non-lethal violence;
to encourage more efficient sharing of techniques for measuring and analyzing homicide;
to create and maintain a communication network among those collecting, maintaining and analyzing homicide data sets; and to generate a stronger working relationship among homicide researchers.

Homicide Research Working Group publications, which include the Proceedings of each annual Intensive Workshop (beginning in 1992), the HRWG Newsletter, and the contents of issues of the journal Homicide Studies (beginning in 1997), may be downloaded from the HRWG web site, which is maintained by the Inter-University Consortium of Political and Social Research, at the foll

Center For Homicide Research

January 4, 2019July 26, 2017 by admin

Police Support Overview Statement – Purpose, Limitations, Access The mission of the Center for Homicide Research is to develop research that will assist in increasing the solvability of all homicide cases. To that end, the Center is developing wideranging expertise on the topic of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender homicide. The Center’s expertise may aid in active homicide investigations. Access to case files may be limited due to ethical concerns depending on specificity of a request. Likewise, unpublished resources may not be immediately available. If you feel that the Center can provide insight or information that would assist in a case, please contact Dallas Drake by e-mail at dallas.drake@mindspring.com. The Center makes every effort to work with law enforcement personnel, prosecutorial agencies, or criminology researchers. Here are a few of the resources the Center for Homicide Research has to offer: Research Reports The Center for Homicide Research has developed several technical research reports on topics related to gay homicide. The Center may research topics by request...

Homicide Victim/Offender Relationship in Florida Medical Examiner District 8

January 3, 2019July 26, 2017 by admin

ABSTRACT:

This study examined the correlations between victim/offender relationship and three variables: motive, weapon choice, and number of injuries inflicted. Empirical relationship and motive categories were used. The sample consisted of 57 intentional homicide cases from Florida Medical Examiner District 8 between the years 1992 and 1996. Relationships were divided into primary and secondary categories. Primary relationships included intimates, relatives, and friends; secondary relationships included acquaintances and strangers. Motives were classified as romantic dispute, argument/conflict, revenge, or felony type; weapons as firearm or contact; and number of injuries inflicted as single or multiple. A significant correlation was found between victim/offender relationship and homicide motive; however, the revenge and felony type motive categories did not differ. Unexpectedly, no correlation was found between victim/offender relationship and either weapon choice or number of injuries inflicted. Further In 1958, Wolfgang published his seminal work, Patterns in Criminal Homicide, in which he analyzed police records for 588 cases of criminal homicide in Philadelphia between 1948 and 1952 (1)...

Honour Killing? Or Just Plain Homicide?

January 3, 2019July 27, 2017 by admin

In all known human societies, the deliberate killing of another human being most especially when the victim is a close relative of the perpetrator is invariably viewed as an exceedingly serious offence. It is easy to see why. Over and above the fact that human life is universally regarded as being sacred in its own right, no family and beyond that no community can hope to survive in good order unless all its members’ respect each others’ right to exist. Hence incidents of homicide and hence the ultimate betrayal of such expectation of mutual respect invariably attract calls for severe sanctions to be implemented, up to and including the elimination of the perpetrator him or herself. This also serves as a reminder that there are circumstances in which acts of homicide are regarded as legitimate. Warfare is one example; execution by properly constituted authorities of those found guilty of a criminal offence is another; and in acephalous...

Sexual Homicide of Elderly Females Linking Offender Characteristics to Victim and Crime Scene Attributes

January 3, 2019July 27, 2017 by admin

The FBI consults regularly on the investigation of extraordinarily violent and unusual homicide cases. Although overall awareness of elderly victimization throughout the United States has greatly increased over the past decade, little attention has been focused on elderly female victims of sexual homicides and the offenders who commit these crimes. Law enforcement agencies are often faced with rarely seen and excessively violent crime scenes as they attempt to solve these homicides. This in-depth study examines the characteristics of 128 elderly women who were murdered by 110 offenders as well as the characteristics of the attendant crime scenes. An empirical analysis of crime scene attributes, victim characteristics (including severity of victim injuries), and offender demographics produces significant predictive information about offender characteristics that may assist law enforcement investigations of such cases.

Case 1
A 77-year-old widow was sexually assaulted and murdered in her bedroom. The medical examiner identified three separate causes of death. The offender strangled the victim into unconsciousness, severely fractured her skull using...

Exploring the Difference Between Male and Female Intimate Partner

December 29, 2018July 31, 2017 by admin

This research examines the role of situational factors in differentiating between maleand female-perpetrated intimate partner homicide. Applying concepts from Luckenbill’s theory of homicide as a situated transaction, an intimate partner homicide is seen as an amorphous event where the role of offender and victim emerge during the transaction. When adopting this framework, it is possible to treat the sex of the offender as a dependent variable and examine situational factors that may differentiate between male and female intimate partner homicide offenders. The data used in this analysis come from the lethal sample of the Chicago Women’s Health Risk Study, 1995 to 1998. These data consist of records for 85 heterosexual intimate homicide incidents that occurred in Chicago in 1995 and 1996. Logistic regression analyses indicate that the presence of a prehomicide injury and whether the offender used a knife differentiate between male and female offenders. Implications for future research are discussed.

The differences between male and female criminal involvement are well documented...

Assessing Risk Factors for Intimate Partner Homicide

December 28, 2018August 5, 2017 by admin

Why does domestic violence turn to murder? Can we measure the risk of death for a battered woman? Which women in abusive relationships are most likely to be killed?

One helpful tool for finding answers to these questions is called the Danger Assessment. The series of 15 questions on the Danger Assessment is designed to measure a woman’s risk in an abusive relationship. (See figure 1.)

Figure 1: The Danger Assessment Tool

The Danger Assessment Tool was developed in 1985 and revised in 1988 after reliability and validity studies were done. Completing the Danger Assessment can help a woman evaluate the degree of danger she faces and consider what she should do next. Practitioners are reminded that the Danger Assessment is meant to be used with a calendar to enhance the accuracy of the battered woman’s recall of events.

The Danger Assessment can be printed from: The Danger Assessment Tool which also gives directions regarding permission for use.

Political Restraint or the Market Levels of Criminal Homicide: A Cross-National Application of Institutional-Anomie Theory

December 28, 2018August 6, 2017 by admin

Abstract

This article examines the effects on national homicide rates of political efforts to insulate personal well-being from market forces. Drawing upon recent work by Esping-Andersen and the institutional-anomie theory of crime, we hypothesize that levels of homicide will vary inversely with the "decommodification of labor." We develop a measure of decommodification based on levels and patterns of welfare expenditures and include this measure in a multivariate, cross-national analysis of homicide rates. The results support our hypothesis and lend credibility to the institutional-anomie perspective. The degree of decommodification is negatively related to homicide rates, net of controls for other characteristics of nations.