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Violent Crimes. “ To all of us crime seems like violence” K. Menninger, ’68:157. Introduction. Media a barometer of public interest Violent crime a type of conventional crime Offences know to the police Traditional forms vs. ‘new forms’ of violence
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Violent Crimes “To all of us crime seems like violence” K. Menninger, ’68:157.
Introduction • Media a barometer of public interest • Violent crime a type of conventional crime • Offences know to the police • Traditional forms vs. ‘new forms’ of violence • Involves emotional and/or physical harm of another person
Violent crime (VC) increase or decreasing? (Table 9-1) • Internationally VC rates generally… • Lower, but WHY? • Demographics, economics, homogeneity, legislation (guns), and social structures
Homicide • S. 222 and four sub-categories: • 1st degree • 2nd degree • Manslaughter • Infanticide • Rates vary little – 1.25 ’66 vs. 3.02 ’75 • Etiology: escalating manslaughter rate vs. increasing number of males?
Why do people kill? • Social interaction and conflict vs., • Social disorganization and inequality, vs. • Psychiatric disorders on the increase, vs. • Biological factors…. • Need to recognize complexity of human behaviour
Patterns, Trends, and Characteristics • Nearly 80% solution rate • Nearly 90% by someone known to the victim • Nearly 50% of homicides involved… • Consumption of alcohol • Domestic violence… • Males commit 2/3 of all homicides, but • Women and infanticide (Ch. 13)
Homicide and Method • Your answer is… • Stabbing and beating • ? Role of gun control legislation (Marc Lepine) • Role of capital punishment…. What do you think?
Other facts… • Homicides by youth fluctuating • Represent approx. 11% of all homicides • Explanations unclear… • Regional variations – • British Columbia vs. Newfoundland • Why? • Role of economic deprivation and inequality?
Sexual Assault • S. 266 and three levels • Common assault • Degree of force or threatened force • Aggravated assault • Level 1 up while levels 2 and 3 down… why? • Social, economic, & political status; reporting patterns; Lobby groups, etc.
Role of alcohol • Women under 18 yrs of age • Date rape and date drugs (Box 9.9) • “casual acquaintance” • Influence of social attitudes and social policies • Data still requires refinement
Does violence breed violence… • Parents and their off-spring? • Role of social learning model • Biological predisposition • Varied explanations… • Social policy!? • New forms: elderly abuse; date rape; adolescent sex offenders, etc.
Robbery • “one of the most feared crimes common to large urban centres” • S. 343… violence or property? • Declining in recent years • Popular target: • Commercial establishments • Private residence • Role of a weapon
Etiology… • ‘High’ unemployment • 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
‘New’ Forms of Violence • Abduction: • Kidnapping and hostage taking (ss. 280-283, & 179.1. • Rate stable (3-4/100,000) • Contravening custody orders • Divorce and social problems • Hate crime: • Ss. 318-320 • Thrill-seeking vs. reactive hate vs. mission hate crimes
“culture conflict” • Stalking: • S. 423(1) as of 1993 • Types of stalkers: • Celebrity to scorned and political • ? Cyberstalkers • 1997 proposed new legislation
Terrorism: • NO specific section in the Criminal Code • Relative and evolutive concept • “convictional criminal” • Typologies: • Dichotomous vs. three-tiered model • Control!? (FLQ, IRA, PLO, etc.)
Summary • Wide and varied in their methods and means • Common denominator – element of violence • Descriptive information must be met with theoretical understanding • Single disciplinary perspectives and legalistic approaches - limited