Violent Crimes

Question 1

Murder

Answer 1

Willful killing of a human being, excludes justifiable homicides and suicides

Question 2

Justifiable homicide

Answer 2

Killing of armed or dangerous felons by police or private citizens

Question 3

Degrees of Murder

Answer 3

First degree:
Premeditation, Deliberation, Felony Murder

Second degree: No premeditation, resulting from an assault in which death is possible

Manslaughter:
Voluntary (heat of the moment, no prior intent to kill)
Involuntary (e.g. drunk driving)

Question 4

Nature and extent of murder in US

Answer 4

Tends to be an urban crime
Victims tend to be males
Highest murder rates in the South
Largely an intraracial crimes
Most offenders and victims under the age of 25

Question 5

Victim Offender Relationship

Answer 5

Typically, murder is a relatively spontaneous event; arguments escalate in lethal violence, usually involving handguns and alcohol

About 75% of victims know their killer (non-stranger homicides)
Spousal relationship  Women tend to kill their mates because of suffering violent attacks; for men, fear of losing control, infidelity
Personal relations  Revenge, jealousy, drug-related

Question 6

Other Types of Murder

Answer 6

Serial Killer: a person who kills three or more persons in three or more separate events

Mass Murder: the killing of four or more victims by one or a few assailants within a single event

Spree killers: rampage of violence taking place over a period of days or weeks

Question 7

Simple and Aggravated Assault

Answer 7

Aggravated- Weapon is used or displayed in a threatening manner, or victim suffers obvious or severe injury

Simple- No weapons, no serious injury

Typical offender mirrors homicide

Most assaults are simple

Question 8

Explanations of Homicide and Assault

Answer 8

Why is the United States more violent than other industrial nations?
Higher amount of social inequality;
Higher rate of handgun ownership;
A history of violence

Violent crime are related to deteriorated urban areas because of:
population density;
household crowding;
dilapidated living conditions, extreme poverty and high unemployment

Gender differences in homicide mostly stem from norms of masculinity and socialization

Question 9

Robbery

Answer 9

Taking or attempting to take anything of value by force or threat of force and/or putting the victim in fear

Disproportionately committed by men and African Americans

Mostly involves strangers

Most likely to involve a gun

Question 10

Types of Robbers

Answer 10

Professional Robbers
Opportunistic Robbers
Addict Robbers
Alcoholic Robbers

Question 11

Hate Crimes

Answer 11

Violent acts committed against a person or member of a group because of its race, ethnicity, gender, or religious affiliation