Homicidal offenders

Question 1

What is 1st degree, 2nd degree murder and manslaughter?

Answer 1

1st degree: planned murder
- life in prison with no parole for 25 years
2nd: deliberately killing someone that is unplanned
Manslaughter
- unintentional murder that occurs during the “heat of passion”

Question 2

What is filicide and name some subtypes ?

Answer 2

The murder of a child committed by the parents

- includes neonaticide, infanticide

Question 3

What are the 3 types of maternal filicide and risk characteristics for each?

Answer 3

1. Neonaticides
   - mothers have usually concealed their pregnancies, no prior history of mental illness
2. Battering mothers
   - impulsive decision when suffering from financial, social or family stress
3. Mental disorders
   - likelyhood of postpartum blues, depression or psychosis

Question 4

Describe briefly the difference between postpartum blues, depression and psychosis

Answer 4

Blues: 85% of women have it, symptoms of anxiety in the first 12 days after birth
Depression: 7-19% prevalence, lasts weeks to months
Psychosis: 0.1% prevalence, includes hallucinations or delusions in the first 3 months after birth

Question 5

What is familicide ? what is the despondent non-hostile killer and the accusatory killer ?

Answer 5

when a spouse and child are killed

1. Despondent: killer is depressed and troubled
2. Accusatory: killer expressed rage against wife, acts out of vindictiveness

Question 6

What are the 3 typologies of juvenile homicide offenders ?

Answer 6

1. Psychotic
   - experiencing mental illness at the time of murder
2. Conflict
   - had conflict with the victim
3. Crime
   - killing during committing another crime

Question 7

What are the 3 types of multiple murderers?

Answer 7

1. Serial murder
   - 3+ murders in 3+ locations with a rest period in between
2. Mass murder
   - 4+ victims in one location
3. Spree murder
   - 2+ victims in one continuous event

Question 8

What are the 4 types of serial murderers?

Answer 8

1. Visionary
   - hears voices telling him to kill
2. Mission-oriented
   - goal to kill a specific group
3. Hedonistic
   - kills for self-gratification (like sex, arousal or financial gain)
4. Power/control
   - wants to dominate the victim

Question 9

What are the 3 general theories of homicidal aggression ?

Answer 9

1. Social learning theory
   - aggressive behavior is learned and reinforced
2. Evolutionary
   - Killing for survival
3. General aggression model (GAM)
   - influence of several factors including biological, environmental, social, psychological, where the outcome of the response to kill influences the next social encounter

Question 10

Which province has the highest and the lowest rate of homicide?

Answer 10

Highest: Manitoba
Lowest: Nova Scotia