HOMICIDES

Homicides

Homicides

Introduction

Homicide and murder are the most egregious and feared violent crimes. This entry begins by defining the various types of homicide and murder. The prevalence, victim and offender characteristics, and risk factors also explored. Murders with multiple victims, such as serial, mass, and spree murder discussed, as well as some of the various criminological explanations for these crimes. The entry includes a section on indirect victims that examines the impact of homicide and murder on the family, friends, and community of the victims. It concludes with discussions of potential homicide and murder prevention strategies, as well as various punishment options (Alvarez & Bachman, 2002).

Discussion

According to official reports, US youth homicide can be distributed by age. For instance, US youth in the older age group (12 to 17 years old) are more often involved in homicides as offenders than are youth in other age groups, whereas US youth across all age groups are at great risk of homicide by their family, friends, acquaintances, or even strangers (Wolfgang & Ferracuti, 1967).

Homicide rates vary greatly by geographic location. The United States ranks among the nations with the highest rates in the world for all types of homicide. As with all crimes, cross-national comparisons are often difficult, as different countries use different data-gathering and reporting sources. Despite the difficulty in these comparisons, homicide is the crime most commonly used to compare violent crime rates across countries (Luckenbill, 1977).

The primary source of homicide data in the United States is the report of the Uniform Crime Reporting Program. This report includes data as collected by local law enforcement agencies and compiled by the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Criminal homicides categorized and counted as murder (first, second and third degree), non-negligent manslaughter, or manslaughter by negligence (Spungen, 1997).

First Degree Murder

It is the most severe allegation that a defendant may face by taking the life of another person. Usually, an accused accused of first-degree murder if the death planned.

Second Degree Murder

States differ most notably in its characterization of second-degree murder in the case of the definition of first degree murder. For few state laws, the action has to be deliberate in order that the defendant has charges of second-degree murder, and other states planning not required.

Third Degree Murder and Murder Grave

Third-degree murder not included in the criminal system of all states. Any murder that is not first or second degree for those states they might charge the defendant ...