Download Chapter 9 Violent Crimes

Chapter 8
Violent Crimes
“To all of us crime
seems like violence”
K. Menninger, ’68:157
Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc.
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Learning Objectives
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Recognize and be familiar with the major forms of violent
crimes and the general trends of major violent crime types.
Understand that an “absolute” explanation of violent crime
causation is currently unavailable.
Appreciate the importance of using crime data to
understand violent crime trends and patterns, explain crime,
and recommend social policy.
Appreciate the importance of applying an integrated and
interdisciplinary approach when using crime data.
Appreciate the benefit of using comparative criminology to
lend further insight into the study and control of violent
crimes.
Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc.
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Introduction
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Media a barometer of public interest
Violent crime a type of conventional crime
Offences know to the police & public
Traditional forms vs. ‘new forms’ of violence
Involves emotional and/or physical harm of
another person
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Going Up?
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Increase or decreasing? (Table 8-1)
Internationally rates generally lower
(Box 8.3)
– Why?
Demographics, economics, homogeneity,
legislation (guns), and social structures
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Homicide
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Sec. 222 and four sub-categories:
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1st degree
2nd degree
Manslaughter
Infanticide
Rates steady over time with slight increase
from 2001-2002 (Table 8-3)
Etiology: escalating manslaughter rate vs.
increasing number of males?
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Why do people kill?
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Social interaction and conflict vs.,
Social disorganization and inequality, vs.
Psychiatric disorders on the increase, vs.
Biological factors….
Complexity of human behaviour
Others?
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Homicide Characteristics
(2002)
90% cleared by charge laid
 9% cleared accused committed suicide
 84% someone known to the victim
 Over 70% those charged had consumed
at time of offence, alcohol and/or drugs
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Homicide and Method
Stabbing and beating
 Table 8-5
 Role of gun control legislation? (Marc
Lepine)
 Role of capital punishment?
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Sexual Assault
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Sec. 266 and 3 levels
– Common assault
– Degree of force or threatened force
– Aggravated assault
Recent changes to our laws
Average sentences vs. potential range
Social, economic, & political status;
reporting patterns; Lobby groups, etc.
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Sexual Assault Characteristics
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Role of alcohol
Women under 18 yrs of age
Acquaintance rape and date drugs (Box 8.1)
Date rape drug = alcohol
Influence of social attitudes and social policies
Data still requires refinement
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8 - 10
Consider…
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Does violence breed violence…
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Parents and their off-spring?
Role of social learning model
Biological predisposition
New forms: elderly abuse; adolescent sex
offenders
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Robbery
“one of the most feared crimes common to large
urban centres”
 Sec. 343… violence or property?
 Declining in recent years
 Popular target:
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Commercial establishments
Private residence
Role of a weapon
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Etiology of Robbery
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“High” unemployment
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Reduced opportunities
Opportunistic vs. impulse robberies
Rational choice theory
Regular alcohol and/or drug use
Robbery ‘double edged’ sword – loss of
property and risk of injury
Robin Hood phenomena
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“New” Forms of Violence
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Abduction:
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Kidnapping and hostage taking (sec. 280-283, &
179.1.)
Rate fluctuating
Contravening custody orders
Divorce and social problems
Hate crime:
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Sec. 318-320
Typologies:
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Thrill-seeking; Reactive hate; Mission hate crimes
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“New” Forms of Violence
“culture conflict”
 Stalking:
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Sec. 423(1) as of 1993
Types of stalkers:
 Celebrity
to scorned and political
 Cyberstalkers
 1997 proposed new legislation
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“New” Forms of Violence
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Terrorism:
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“convictional criminal”
Typologies:
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NO specific section in the Criminal Code
Relative and evolutive concept
Dichotomous vs. three-tiered model
Control!? (FLQ, IRA, PLO, etc.)
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Summary
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Wide and varied in their methods and means
Common denominator – element of violence
Evolutive concept through societal change
Descriptive information must be met with
theoretical understanding
Single disciplinary perspectives and legalistic
approaches = limited
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