Analyzing Homicide Exam 3
The initial officer at a homicide scene has a variety of duties, including all EXCEPT which of the following? -Arrest the offender if present -Respond to media inquiries about the homicide -See if anyone needs medical help -Establish boundaries of the crime scene
Respond to media inquiries about the homicide
A mass murderer, like Timothy McVeigh, who uses bombs or poisoning to kill his victims to allow for his own escape would be categorized as which type of mass murderer?
Set-and-run killers
These killers are like serial killers in that they kill in more than one location, except that between killings they do not return to their regular daily life.
Spree killers
Defining Juvenile Homicide
-"Juvenile" often used to refer to children under 18 years old ---May also see the terms "youths" or "children" -Distinction between juveniles <13 and 13+ ---"Preteens" or "preadolescents" used to describe children under 13 years old ---"Teens," "teenagers," and "adolescents" used to refer to those between 13-17 years old ---Rates and trends, reasons for killing, and CJ response differ
The Role of "Leakage"
-"Leakage" occurs when a student intentionally or unintentionally reveals clues to feelings, thoughts, fantasies, attitudes, or intentions that may signal an impending violent act -75% planned attack in advance and 43% made threats prior to the attack ---Code of silence and snitching ---Role of students in averting school shootings and mass killings -Often warning signs become much clearer after the fact
"Epidemic" of Juvenile Homicide
-"Superpredators" -Many reasons offered for mid-1980s increase -Most compelling = emergence of crack cocaine markets -Goldstein (1985) - 3 probable relationships between drugs and violence ---1. Pharmacological effects ---2. Commit crimes to afford to buy illicit drugs ---3. Systemic model of violence** -Associated "arms race" in broader community (Blumstein, 1995) ---From 1985-1993, number of teens killing with a gun quadrupled, and no increase in juvenile homicides committed with other weapons
Homicide Clearance Trends
-1961: 93% solved -2016: 59.4% solved -Reasons for decline: ---Changing nature of homicide ---Decline in police resources ---Declining trust in police
The Role of Firearms in Mass Murder
-82.5% of mass murderers kill their victims with a firearm or multiple firearms -Especially important for those that carefully select their victims -Correct perceived power imbalance -Selective targeting -More lethal and larger body count -Psychologically distances attacker from victims -Role of "gun-free zones" and arming civilians -Most don't consider buying weapons through illegal means
Community Characteristics
-Also not regularly included in studies of homicide clearance -Cooperation of community residents and presence of eyewitnesses critical for success -Willingness to cooperate can be influenced by number of factors, including community characteristics
The Organized vs Disorganized Killer
-Attempts to classify since 1980s -Most common classification based on crime scene evidence and developed by 2 FBI agents -Organized - carefully planned and executed murder; clears away evidence; hide or transport body; exercise power over victim (restraints; rape or torture while victim is alive) ---Killer is intelligent; socially and sexually competent; skilled worker; live with partner; mobile; follow crimes in media -Disorganized - killing appears more spontaneous and chaotic; little attempts to conceal evidence; more likely to perform sexual acts on the victim after death and leave evidence of weapons at the scene ---Killer is unintelligent; socially and sexually inadequate; unskilled worker; lives alone; non-mobile; minimal interest in news coverage of their crimes
Theories of Homicide Clearance
-Behavior of Law/Victim Devaluing Perspective -Legal Factors Approach -Social Disorganization and Community Factors Approach
Who Do Children Kill?
-Both male and female juvenile homicide offenders most often kill acquaintances ---54% of males kill acquaintances ---46% of females kill acquaintances -Boys more likely than girls to kill strangers ---34% compared to 15% -Girls more likely to kill family members than boys ---39% compared to 9% ---Likely due to fact young girls are more likely to kill their own infants (18% compared to 1%) -White and Native American youth kill family members more frequently than African-American and Asian youth ---16-17% compared to 7%
Defining Mass and Spree Murder
-Both types of multicide -Both relatively uncommon -Important distinctions between mass and spree murder ---Timing ---Location -Mass murder: the killing of 3+ (sometimes 4+) victims in one location in one incident ---Disagreement over definition, especially number of victims ---Consideration of living victims ("mass shootings") -Spree murder: the killing of victims at 2+ locations with no emotional cooling-off period in between ---Most set victim count minimum at 3 or 4
Who are Workplace Mass Murderers?
-Characteristics of workplace murderers, 1976-2016: ---Overall profile = middle-aged white male, who feels his employment problems signal the end of the world as he knows it -Usually takes 1 of 3 forms: ---1. Offender worked or used to work there ---2. Offender was a customer ---3. Offender had no relationship to the company -Death at hands of co-worker not as common as by stranger or customer
Mass Murder Risk Factors and Motivations
-Dangerousness of checklists and "profiles" ---Little empirical research to support ---Implementation concerns -Often warning signs, especially for school shooters: ---Social rejection ---Peers hear of plans ahead of time ---Fascination with death ---Interest in guns and explosives ---Psychological problems
Typologies of Mass Murder
-Dietz (1986) ---Family annihilators: kill entire family and often themselves in one incident in the home -----Example: Ft Bend County, TX (2005) ---Pseudo-commandos: obsessed with weapons and often bring ample supply to complete their massacre; extensive planning -----Example: Columbine, CO (1999) -----Most school shooters fall in this category ---Set-and-run-killers: use methods such as bombing or poisoning to kill their victims to allow for their own escape -----Example: Oklahoma City Bombing (1995) -Dietz typology extended by Holmes and Holmes (2001) ---Disciples: kill because they are trying to gain acceptance from a charismatic leader ---Disgruntled employees: current or former employees who are unhappy about some aspect of their work or are fired and come back to retaliate ---Disgruntled citizens: tends to be angry at the world, instead of particular individuals -----Kill strangers in attempt to bring attention to wrongs they believe should be made public ---Psychotic mass murderers: break with reality and likely to hear voices
Youth Gang Murders
-Difficult to define "gang" and estimate prevalence ---Best guess is approx. 13% of homicides are gang-related -Much of late 1980s/early 1990s juvenile homicide increase believed to be related to gang activity -1990s anti-gang initiativesdecline in gang activity -Comparing gang and non-gang homicide: ---More likely to occur in the streets, involve automobiles, guns, unidentified perpetrators, and injuries to bystanders ---More likely to be male, from a minority group, and younger ---Turf battles ---Group dynamics
Behavior of Law
-Donald Black (1976) -Used to explain why demographic characteristics impact the likelihood of clearance by arrest -Main hypothesis is that victims from lower social strata receive less law (less clearances) ---AKA victim devaluing perspective -Has received the least empirical support of the 3 main explanations
Steps in Homicide Investigation
-Early stages critical for future success ---Likelihood of clearance decreases overtime ---Importance of mistakes by responding officer or investigators early on can hinder evidence and prosecution ---Attention to detail and proper procedure are crucial -General steps in process: ---Arrival of responding officer/initial response ---Collection of evidence ---Cooperation with district attorney to prosecute case
Employee vs Non-Employee Killers
-Employee killers ---Most frequently middle-aged white male killer ---Often follows a firing, demotion, disappointment, or argument at work ---Main motivation is revenge (2nd is arguments) ---Typically uses a firearm ---Most die at the scene -Non-employee killers ---Robbery is largest category of workplace homicide and not the disgruntled employee -----Approximately 38% compared to 11% committed by coworkers or former coworkers and 10% committed by customers or clients
Search and Seizure
-Evidence may not be admissible in court if rules are not followed -Katz vs United States (1967)- Supreme Court ruled citizens have a reasonable expectation to privacy and police cannot search where a reasonable person would expect to have privacy -Obtain search warrant from judge or magistrate ---Must show probable cause -Sometimes warrantless searches are allowed ---Searches incidental to arrest ---Consensual searches ---Hot pursuit -Mincey vs Arizona (1977)- homicide crime scene did not itself constitute an emergency situation that would allow officers to search without a search warrant
Family Annihilators
-Family annihilator murders his whole family (or all available at the time of the murder) -Most common context in which mass murder occurs -2 major motivations: ---1) Murder by proxy - killer seeks revenge for spouse leaving him -----Betrayal and rage ---2) Suicide by proxy - Saving family members from a future of disappointment and destitution following setback or series of setbacks -----View this as "protecting the family" -Often involves suicide of the offender -Financial motives often identified -Majority male
Organizational and Departmental Factors
-Fewer studies have considered these factors ---Data challenges -Most consider manpower (# detectives) and case volume -Overall, mixed evidence for role of departmental factors
Initial Response by Responding Officer
-First officer to arrive to primary crime scene ---Protects the crime scene ---Secures the area ---Takes photos and videos of crime scene ASAP -Responding officer has 3 main responsibilities: ---Determine if victim is dead or alive ---Arrest offender if one is present or notify chain of command to apprehend offender if immediate arrest is not made ---Take necessary steps to preserve the crime scene and detain any witnesses or possible suspects
Typologies of Mass Murder Cont.
-Fox and Levin (1998) developed typologies based on offender's motivation ---Revenge - kill to get even or retaliate ---Power - strike out to show they are powerful ---Loyalty - see themselves as saving their loved ones from a harsh and miserable life ---Profit - kill for profit (e.g., in course of robbery) ---Terror - instituted to bring terror to the government and citizens -Much overlap with Dietz' and Holmes and Holmes' typologies
Perceptions of Fear
-Gallup Poll began to incorporate questions about school violence and safety as part of regular questions in late 1990s ---Asked parents if they feared for the safety of their oldest child when he or she was at school -Major jump post-Columbine (37%-> 55%) ---Dropped to 26% by late 2000s -Fears often disproportionate to risk, but impacts how we respond and invest resources
Preliminary Scene Assessment by Homicide Investigator
-Gather information from responding officer -Assess and change pathways and scene boundaries if needed and notify personnel of any changes -Set up and secure staging areas for consultation, equipment, and temporary evidence storage -Oversee evidence collection -Determine additional needs, such as specialized equipment, units, and additional investigative resources -May be multiple investigators, all with specific assignments ---E.g., respond to primary crime scene; go to hospital to interview other victims or personnel; canvass neighborhood with patrol officers; begin interviews; background research; attend autopsy
Who are Serial Killers?
-Generally lower-class white males in late 20s or 30s who span range of human qualities including appearance and intelligence ---Approx 20-25% are African-American --->90% male ---44% start in 20s; 24% start in 30s; extremely rare for serial killer to be under 20 -Most are fairly average - "extraordinarily ordinary" -Many kill on part-time opportunistic basis -Approximately 20% kill in teams
Legal Responses and Preparations
-Gun control debates -Obama White House initiative following Sandy Hook
Prevalence of Mass Murder
-Hard to measure with official data ---Difficulties distinguishing mass from spree -Extremely rare ---Using definition of 3+ victims, still don't reach 1% of all homicides for a given year -More common in the United States than in other countries -From 2006-2016 (using 4+ victim definition) ---355 mass murderers ---317 incidents ---Average: 29 incidents/year --->1600 victims
Typologies of Serial Killers
-Holmes and DeBurger (1988) provided one of first classifications of serial killers -Their typologies rely on factors other than crime scene evidence -Visionary: severe break with reality; least common; graphic and chaotic crime scene ---Example: David Berkowitz (Son of Sam) -Mission: kill to do away with certain types of people ---Example: Jack the Ripper -Power and control: murders for a sense of domination and total control ---Example: Ted Bundy -Hedonistic: kill for pleasure and satisfaction derives from the process of killing ---1. Lust: kill for sexual pleasure ---2. Thrill: murder for excitement and may also torture or mutilate their victims; receive sexual pleasure from torturing, terrorizing, and humiliating their victims ---3. Comfort - kill for benefits, such as financial gain -Vision and mission serial killers tend to be act focused, whereas power-control and hedonistic serial killers tend to be process focused -Issues with categories not being mutually exclusive
Homicide Clearance
-Homicide is considered "cleared" when it is solved -2 types of clearance: ---Cleared by arrest ---Cleared by exceptional means (must meet 4 criteria) -----1. Law enforcement has established identity of offender -----2. There is enough evidence to support an arrest, charge, and turning over to the court for prosecution -----3. The exact location of the offender is known -----4. There is some reason outside of law enforcements control that precludes arresting, charging, and prosecuting the offender *most important* -Homicide is the most cleared crime type
Legal Factors Approach
-Homicide is the most serious crime -Given the seriousness of homicide and increased public attention, investigators put forth full effort to solve every case -Clearance outcome is contingent on legal factors relating to the case and amount of evidence available to investigators -Overall, strong support for this perspective
Risk Factors for Youth Who Kill
-Important differences between juveniles who commit homicide and those that don't -Risk factors include: ---Violent home ---Drug or alcohol abuse ---Learning disabilities and academic problems ---Gang involvement ---Physical, sexual, emotional abuse ---Poverty ---Poor prenatal care and medical care in early childhood ---Inadequate supervision and ineffective parenting ---Isolation from peers ---Exposure to violent media
Explanations for Serial Killers
-In either legal or medical sense, most are not insane or psychotic ---Know right from wrong; know what they are doing; can control desire to kill but choose not to -"More cruel than crazy" ---Instead, many possess personality disorder known as sociopathy ---Lack of conscience; remorseless; care exclusively for own needs and desires; uninhibited by societal rules -Although many appear to be sociopaths, not all are -Some have a conscience but are able to neutralize feelings of remorse by rationalizing behavior (e.g., dehumanization) -Preoccupation with pornography is a reflection (not the cause) of their own sexual desires -MacDonald triad (1963) ---Bedwetting; fire starting; cruelty to animals ---Later refuted in controlled studies -Many raised in single parent households or by adoptive parents -Many exposed to severe or repeat head trauma -So much emphasis on early childhood developmental factors, transition to adulthood and middle age often overlooked
Incident Characteristics
-Includes examination of factors associated with the homicide incident, such as weapon, time of day, location, circumstances and VOR surrounding the homicide -Weapon: ---Greater likelihood of clearance for contact weapons and lower likelihood for firearms -Location and time of day: ---Greater likelihood of clearance in the home ---Little examination of time of day -Circumstances and VOR: ---Felony-related and drug and gang-related homicides less likely to be solved ---Argument homicides more likely to be solved ---Homicides committed by strangers less likely to be solved -Overall, support for incident characteristics
Victim Characteristics
-Includes examination of victim characteristics, such as victim age, gender, and race -Consistent findings regarding victim age ---Homicides involving child victims are more likely to be cleared ---Homicides involving elderly victims are less likely to be cleared -Inconsistent findings regarding victim gender -Inconsistent findings regarding victim race -Overall, little support for role of victim characteristics
The Role of Copycats
-Increase in school shootings in 1990s ---Long history of teenage alienation and school bullying so why increase? ---Main difference = today's culture and easy access to weapons -Some evidence that school shootings are "contagious" for several weeks (short-lived)
Prevalence of Serial Murderers
-Interest has grown, but prevalence has not -Serial murder is rare -Difficulties in measuring -Serial killer panic of 1983-1985 fueled by outrageous numbers from DOJ ---Estimated 5,000 victims annually -Estimates from NCAVC of approx. 357 serial killers in U.S. from 1960-1991 who killed about 3169 victims over 31 year period ---Average 102 victims/year -Anywhere from 35 to 500 serial killers actively killing multiple victims each year ---Kill a range of 2 or 3 to 44 victims each with an average of 7-12 victims each
Interviews and Interrogations
-Interviewing witnesses ---Importance of separation ---Probe for details the witness may not consider to be important ---Methods for identifying a suspect or creating a sketch ---Attain and record witness identification ---Lead investigator should assign officers to canvass the area -Interrogating suspects ---Must be made aware of their rights (i.e., read Miranda Warnings) -----Right to remain silent -----Right to have an attorney present during questioning -----Any statements can be used against them in court of law -----An attorney will be provided if suspect cannot afford one ---If not informed of rights, statements not admissible ---Role and controversy of polygraphs and voice stress analyzers
Evidence Collection
-It is the lead investigators job to oversee evidence collection and ensure proper chain of custody is followed and documented -Anything and everything could be evidence -Types of evidence include, but are not limited to: ---The body ---Blood spatter ---Fingerprints ---DNA ---Ballistics ---Trace evidence (e.g., fibers; hairs) ---Tires or shoe prints
History of Juvenile Justice System
-Juvenile courts first introduced in Illinois in 1899 ---Juveniles who committed crimes were viewed and treated different than adults -Judicial waivers to adult court on case-by-case basis -Juvenile Offender Act of 1978 (aka "Willie Bosket Law") ---Mandated juveniles as young as 13 charged with murder be processed and sentenced in adult court -Rise in juvenile violent crime/"Superpredators" rhetoric and tough on crime legislation ---By 1999, juveniles could be tried as adults in all 50 states -Harmfulness of these policies-> number of Supreme Court decisions
Prevalence of Juvenile Homicide
-Juveniles make up a relatively small percent of those who kill (<10%) ---Approximately 56 in 1 million juveniles commits homicide ---Becomes more common as juveniles get older ---Overrepresented in certain large cities (e.g., Chicago, Philadelphia, Baltimore) -Rates for those under 14 are very close to 0 -Major fluctuation for those 14-17 ---Homicide rate for young teens (14 to 17 year olds) increased almost 150% from 1985 to 1993 ---Even during surge, teens committed only about 15% of homicides
Female Serial Killers
-Kelleher and Kelleher (1998) argue female serial killers are so different from male serial killers that standard serial killer typologies fail to adequately categorize female serial killers -Developed 9 typologies of female serial killers ---Black widows ---Angels of death ---Sexual predators ---Revenge serial killer ---Profit for crime ---Team killers ---Question of sanity ---Unexplained ---Unsolved category
Defining Serial Murder
-Kills 2+ or 3+ people with emotional "cooling off" period in between -Disagreement on definition, specifically related to: ---# of victims ---Time (overall and amount of time between kills) ---Additional information included in definition (motive; VOR) -Term is new but concept is not ---Serial killers around since at least 1400s ---Term coined in early 1980s -Distinctions between serial, mass, and spree murder
Identifying Best Practices
-Large variation across police departments -Can help us identify best practices -Need to focus on agencies that have relatively high clearance rates ---Number of examples of this
Juvenile Weapon Use and Co-Offenders
-Males more likely than females to kill with a firearm ---Approx 75% for males compared to 41% for females ---Firearms are weapon of choice for all racial groups -The number of juvenile offenders with a co-offender increases with the offender's age ---Approx 50% of juveniles aged 14-17 killed with a co-offender ---Older juveniles more likely than younger juveniles to kill with adults ---When younger children had co-offenders, they were more likely to kill with other young children ---Girls more likely than boys to kill with accomplices
Workplace Violence Motivations and Risk Factors
-Many are stressed -May project blame for disappointments and losses onto supervisors and fellow employees -Often perceive a pattern of wrongs and create violent fantasies of retaliation ---Perceive themselves as the victim and others (especially boss) have treated them unfairly ---Violence perceived as a chance to strike back or call attention to injustices they have endured -Typically externalize blame -Middle-aged employee views termination or threat of termination as end of the world ---Role of social isolation
Why Do Children Kill?
-Many have been exposed to violent and abusive environments ---Surveys suggest approx. 79% of incarcerated juvenile homicide offenders reported witnessing violence in their homes growing up (6x the rate in the general public) ---Almost 50% reported being abused at home ---More than half exposed to violence in their neighborhood regularly -Often the juvenile has displayed aggression in the past and may even have a criminal record ---Many parents also have criminal records -----Approx 1⁄4 had parent in prison and almost 60% had close relative incarcerated -Three specific types of juvenile homicide offending: ---1. Parricide ---2. Gang homicides ---3. School shooters [later section] -----All have attracted significant media attention
Who are School Mass Murderers?
-Most commonly committed by current or former student ---Most often white teen males from middle-class backgrounds attending a rural or suburban school -Can also be committed by those outside the school ---Rarer than student ---Prior to 1990s, school shooters most likely to be adults ---Often no warning
Mass Murderers Planning and Target Selection
-Most do not just "snap" -Often planned days or months in advance -Tend to be selective in targeting locations and victims ---Often chosen because seen as responsible for killer's misfortunes and selected to avenge perceived injustices ---Example: Isla Vista, CA ---Many innocent people may still die -Some examples of "indiscriminate massacres" ---Approx 5/year ---Example: Aurora, CO
Eyewitnesses
-Much research shows eyewitnesses are fallible -Evaluation by the Innocence Project found that eyewitness misidentification played a role in 70% of convictions overturned by DNA evidence -Some strategies for enhancing reliability of eyewitnesses
School Mass Murder Prevalence and Trends
-National School Safety Center (and now CDC) - incident reports of school-associated violent deaths -Despite media attention, low risk of homicide in school (single or multiple) ---1 in 4 million chance -1990s - upswing in school violence, but did not reverse broader youth violence trend ---Different than urban gang violence and different public responses -Increase in school shootings in 1990s
Mass Murder Patterns and Trends
-Offender demographics ---Male (93%) ---White (41%) ---70% in 20s/30s, but almost 25%>40 -Incident characteristics ---Mostly firearms (83%) ---Almost 50% involve family members and occur in residences -*Based on data from 2006-2016 using 4+ victim definition
The Role of the Medical Examiner
-One of the first objectives of the medical examiner or coroner is to determine approximate time of death ---Helps assess which suspects could or could not have had contact with the victim during this time frame ---Rough estimates can be determined by body temperature -----Algor mortis: the rate at which body cools -----Rigor mortis: stiffness of muscle tissue -----Use of entomologists when several days have passed before body is discovered -Also determine cause of death and manner of death ---Cause of death: how the victim died (e.g., gunshot wound; stabbing; asphyxia) -----Can have 2 components: proximate cause (e.g., gunshot wound) and immediate cause (e.g., loss of blood) ---Manner of death: how the death came about (natural; suicide; accident; undetermined; homicide) -Other clues to consider: ---Presence of lividity (aka livor mortis reflected in dark purple discoloration) ---Extent of bruising around wounds ---Skeletal remains -> use of forensic anthropologist ---Toxicology tests ---Circumstantial Evidence
Law Enforcement Responses and Preparations
-Ongoing training -Crises guides -Work with other local agencies
Parricide
-Parricide: the killing of a parent ---Most often committed by an adult son or daughter, but small number committed by children under 18 -According to Heide, 3 types of children who kill their parents: ---1. Severely abused children who feel they are trapped ---2. Mentally ill children ---3. Dangerously antisocial children -Different than other types of adolescent homicide offenders ---Often white upper-middle or middle-class male without a juvenile record ---Adolescent parricide offenders more likely to kill their fathers ---Many good students with secret life of home abuse ---Excessively violent
School Responses and Preparations
-Policies to attempt to identify troubled students and intervene -Threat assessment teams -Situational awareness and training for students and employees -Building design, access control, and surveillance -Conflict resolution and peer mediation
Finding and Catching Serial Killers
-Predicting dangerousness nearly impossible -Many go to great lengths to avoid detection ---Victim selection ---Destroy crime scene evidence ---Disposal of body -Challenges to identifying and catching serial killers ---Self-selection in defining serial killing ---Many do not leave "signatures" despite popular opinion and media portrayal
Assessing Violence Potential
-Prediction often not reliable -Role of threat assessment -"Red flags" possibly indicating impending loss of control ---Disorganized physical appearance ---Tense facial expression or distressed body language ---Signs of intoxication; inappropriate use of sunglasses or breath mints ---Severe agitation ---Verbal argumentativeness or outright threats ---Presence or evidence of weapons -Individuals exhibiting behavior labeled as a "red flag" will rarely become a killer
Investigative Factors
-Process of the investigation itself has received the least attention in terms of clearance -Witnesses and third parties critical for successful outcomes -Relatively new area of research is the role of forensic evidence ---Appears to play a bigger role AFTER someone has been arrested (e.g., in strengthening the prosecution's case)
What Happens to Kids Who Kill?
-Roper v. Simmons (2005): Executing people under age 18 is unconstitutional ---Developmental differences between youths and adults -Graham v. Florida (2010): Life in prison without parole (LWOP) for juveniles convicted of non-homicide cases is unconstitutional -Miller v. Alabama (2012): Mandatory LWOP for juveniles convicted of homicide is unconstitutional ---Juvenile's background and personal circumstances need to be taken into account -Montgomery v. Louisiana (2016): Miller v. Alabama decision applies retroactively
Demographics and Juvenile Homicide
-Similar to overall homicide, approximately 93% of known juvenile homicide offenders are male ---Female juvenile homicide offending trend constant over time, fluctuation in male juvenile homicide offending trend ---Sex differences in prevalence, weapons, and VOR -Youth homicide also predominately intra-racial ---56% of known juvenile offenders are African-American ---Racial differences in prevalence, weapons, and VOR
Social Disorganization and Community Factors Approach
-The same neighborhood conditions that produce high crime rates may also hinder suspect identification, apprehension, and prosecution -Considers role of factors, such as: ---Informal social control ---Investment in community ---Residential instability and knowing the identify of suspect ---Commitment to the neighborhood and willingness to intervene ---Willingness to invest time and safety in cooperating with police ---Barriers to constructive relationships with external agencies, such as law enforcement ---Fear of retaliation
Explaining the 1990s Crime Decline
-Unanticipated -Possible explanations? ---Demographic shifts in age structure (teens and young adults aging out of crime) ---Increases in incarceration ---Innovative policing strategies (e.g., community policing and focused deterrence strategies) ---Waning crack cocaine market ---Increased investment in community (residents, churches, community centers, local businesses) -Additional explanations (largely debunked): ---Legalization of abortion (Roe v. Wade 1972) ---Reduction in lead exposure
School Mass Murder Motivations and Risk Factors
-Unlikely to be a single cause, but research has isolated some risk factors: ---Serious deprivations, such as lack of encouragement and self-esteem ---History of childhood instability and marginalization from caregivers and guardiansfeel neglected ---Often isolated and unpopular ---Lack cultural capital ---Feelings of rejection, failure, and loss of autonomy ---Often bullying in combination with poor coping skills -----73% had been victims of bullying -----71% felt rejected and isolated by peers -----64% had poor coping skills -----64% demonstrated exaggerated need for attention and respect -----Revenge -----Some have suggested a strong gender component -------Targeting girls vs. challenges to masculinity
Victims of Serial Murder
-Unresolved family conflict may be a source of frustration, but many are more opportunistic or have practical basis for selecting their victims ---Prey on vulnerable targets -Nature of victims distinguishes serial killings from other types of murder ---Most kill strangers -----Although female serial killers more likely to kill family members or acquaintances ---In comparison to single homicide offenders: -----Serial killers more likely to kill women -----More likely to use weapons other than guns
Factors that Impact Homicide Clearance
-Victim characteristics -Incident characteristics -Organizational/departmental factors -Investigative factors -Community characteristics
Main Types of Mass Murders
-We will discuss several of the main types and context of mass murder - some similarities but many differences ---1. Family Annihilator ---2. School Shootings ---3. Workplace Homicides ---4. Felony-Related Homicides ---5. Random Massacres ---6. Hate-Fueled Murders
Workplace Violence Prevalence and Trends
-Workplace homicides involve homicides against employed persons aged 16+ that occurred while at work or on duty -BLS - Census of Fatal Occupational Injuries -Approx 1 in 6 workplace deaths in 2013 were murder -Homicide = 4th leading cause of death in workplace -Rampage homicides are the rarest homicides in a workplace setting and are very different from interpersonal disputes and felony or robbery- related mass murder
Types of Workplace Violence
-Workplace violence usually occurs in 1 of 5 categories: ---1. Disgruntled employee or former employee kills or injures other employees ---2. Angry spouses or relatives stalk employees at work ---3. Violence committed during criminal act, such as robbery ---4. Violence committed against people in dangerous jobs, such as law enforcement ---5. Acts of terrorism or hate crimes committed against the workplace -----E.g., World Trade Center or OKC bombing
What are the 4 criterion the FBI uses in determining whether a crime is exceptionally cleared?
1. Law enforcement has established the identity of the offender 2. There is enough evidence to support an arrest, charge, and turning over to the court for prosecution 3. The exact location of the offender is known 4. There is some reason outside of law enforcement's control that precludes arresting, charging, and prosecuting the offender
Which of the following best fits with Fox and Levin's category of a loyalty motivated mass murderer? -A man who kills his wife because she has cheated on him -A school shooter who kills his classmates because he believes they have not been loyal to him -A family annihilator who kills his children to save them from the evils of the world -A psychotic killer who kills because God tells him to
A family annihilator who kills his children to save them from the evils of the world
General motivations for mass killings discussed in the book and in class include all EXCEPT which of the following? -Power -Loyalty -Revenge -Acceptance
Acceptance
Mass murder is most likely to occur in the context of a felony crime or what?
Domestic situation
Which of the following was NOT discussed as one of the three types of children who kill their parents, according to Kathleen Heide? -Severely abused -Mentally ill -Dangerously antisocial -Drug crazed
Drug Crazed
African-American serial killers are extremely rare, making up less than 5% of all known serial killers.
False
All serial killers are sociopaths.
False
Homicide offending among adolescents has increased since the mid-1990s.
False
Kelleher and Kelleher call female serial killers who kill several spouses over time Sexual Predators.
False
Police interrogate witnesses and interview suspects.
False
The number of juvenile homicide offenders who killed with a co-offender decreases with offender's age.
False
The typical mass murderer "snaps" one day and goes on an impulsive killing spree.
False
With the advances in DNA technology, the percentage of homicides that are cleared has been increasing since the 1980s.
False
In comparing male and female serial killers, which statement is true? -Female serial killers are more likely to kill without a partner -Female serial killers are more likely to kill people they know -Female serial killers are more likely to kill with a firearm -Female serial killers are more likely to be African-American
Female serial killers are more likely to kill people they know
Which set of clearance predictors has received the strongest support in the literature? -Victim characteristics -Incident characteristics -Community characteristics -Investigative factors
Incident characteristics
How did the "superpredator" rhetoric and increased concern over youth crime in the 1980s and 1990s impact how we responded to youthful violent offenders?
It became more common for juveniles to be tried in adult courts
The Supreme Court ruled that citizens have a reasonable expectation to privacy in this landmark case.
Katz vs United States
Bedwetting, torturing animals, and fire setting are the three behaviors referred to as the:
MacDonald triad
If a medical examiner notes that a person did not die an accidental death, but that homicide ended their life, what is the medical examiner talking about?
Manner of death
Detecting a medical serial killer is quite difficult, even in comparison with other serial killers.
True
Robert "Willie" Pickton, who is suspected of killing dozens of prostitutes may be classified as a what killer if he killed the women who worked as prostitutes to rid the world of them.
Mission-oriented
In comparison of gang and non-gang homicides, gang homicides were more likely than non-gang homicides to:
Occur in the streets
Which of the following was NOT given as a probable relationship between drugs and crime? -Pharmacological effects of drugs may contribute to violent behavior drugs. -Drug users may commit crimes to buy expensive drugs -Victims of violence in low income areas may use drugs to deal with their pain -Violence is used by those in the illegal drug business to secure and maintain territory
Victims of violence in low income areas may use drugs to deal with their pain
