Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 0 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan Lesson 9 - Violent Crime: Homicide, Assault, and Robbery

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 1 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan Violent Crime: Homicide, Assault, and Robbery Lesson Overview Homicide and Assault –Defining homicide and assault –Trends in U.S. homicide rates –Aggravated assault –Explaining homicide and aggravated assault Robbery –Defining robbery –Extent and patterning of robbery –Types of robbers –Explaining robbery Special Topics in violent crime –Mass murder and serial killing –Workplace violence –Hate crime –Mass media and violence

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 2 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan Homicide and Assault Introduction –Interpersonal violence: Threat, attempt, or actual use of physical force by one or more persons that results in physical or nonphysical harm –Nonphysical harm: Fear, anxiety, and other emotional states –Corporate violence: Pollution, unsafe products –Political violence: Terrorism, genocide

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 3 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan Defining Homicide and Assault –Manslaughter –Four subcategories of murder and non-negligent manslaughter (which one it’s classified as depends on the offender’s intent and the nature and amount of physical force that results in death)  First-degree murder: committed with malice aforethought (aka premeditated murder), also includes felony murder  Second-degree murder: intent was to do serious bodily harm but not death but the victim dies anyway  Voluntary manslaughter: killings committed out of intense emotions such as anger or fear  Involuntary manslaughter: killings committed because offenders have acted recklessly (mostly traffic accidents). –Assault  Aggravated assault – “an unlawful attack by one person upon another for the purpose of inflicting severe or aggravated bodily injury”  Simple assault – “where no weapon is used and which do not result in serious or aggravated injury to the victim” Homicide and Assault

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 4 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan The Patterning and Social Dynamics of Homicide –Race and Gender of Offenders and Victims  Homicide is intraracial (same race)  Men more likely to commit murder and be murdered  When women kill men, usually husband/boyfriend  33% female murder victims killed by intimates  Decline in males being killed by female intimates has declined due to  Shelters and other services for domestic violence victims  Women’s increasing economic resources  Falling marriage rates for young adults in 20s Homicide and Assault

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 5 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan Geographic Patterns –Higher in urban than rural –Homicide rates highest in the south –Southern subculture of violence –Higher level of economic deprivation in south Homicide and Assault

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 6 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan UCR reports relationship between victim and offender is unknown for a large percentage of homicide victims Police initially record as unknown, until later when new information arises Murder involves people that know each other more than it involves strangers Type of Weapon –In 2/3rds of homicides, a handgun is used The Victim-Offender Relationship

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 7 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan Circumstances Leading to Homicides –Generally spontaneous arising from an argument –According to Wolfgang, victim precipitates 25% of homicides –“Outcome of dynamic interchange” –Often offender and/or victim have been drinking Homicide and Assault

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 8 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan Trends in U.S. Homicide Rates Has declined since early 1990s The post-1985 homicide rise stemmed from increase in homicides by those under 24 Almost all the increase accounted for by African American males

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 9 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan Rise in rates by and against young black males stemmed from several factors –Despair resulting from declining economic opportunities –Increased drug trafficking in inner cities –Increased possession and use of powerful handguns in urban areas, partly because of drug trafficking battles Decrease in early 1990s attributed to social and economic factors Improved medical emergency technology Trends in U.S. Homicide Rates

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 10 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan Aggravated Assault Declined since 1990s, along with homicides Men, people of color, by young people, in the South and major urban centers Involve people that know each other Only 1/4th of aggravated assaults involve firearms

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 11 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan Explaining Homicide and Assault –Why does U.S. have higher homicide rate than other industrial nations?  Because of greater economic inequality  Handgun ownership  Historical Homicide and Assault

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 12 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan –Why are U.S. homicides and aggravated assaults more common in urban areas than elsewhere?  Population density  Household overcrowding  Dilapidated living conditions  Weak social institutions  Concentrated disadvantage Homicide and Assault

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 13 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan –Why do men commit almost all homicides and aggravated assaults?  Confrontational homicides – “contests of honor”  Violent nature of masculinity  Poverty, Masculinity, and Violence  Poverty interacts with masculinity to explain why poor men have higher rates of homicide and aggravated assault Homicide and Assault

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 14 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan –Why do African-Americans and other people of color have high rates?  Racist research claims inborn disposition  Non-racist explanations  Anger and frustration arising from discrimination and economic deprivation  The stress, social disorganization, and other poor conditions of urban life  Lack of economic resources  Negative family and school experiences  Violent nature of masculinity Homicide and Assault

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 15 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan Violence by Women Research focuses on prostitution, drug use Women’s violence has same roots as male violence: extreme poverty, negative family/school experiences, disadvantaged neighborhoods Violent crime rate for black females higher than for white females

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 16 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan Anderson’s study of young black women revealed they sought respect as much as their male counterparts and in the same manner Subculture of hopelessness Women tend to internalize stress, anxiety while men externalize; this may lead to “eruption in extreme violence” Violence by Women

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 17 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan Social Process Explanations of Violence Social process factors help us understand how structural conditions may lead to violence –Learning, socialization, and differential association –Parental neglect and abuse Anderson’s research –“Decent” majority: parents that are working poor, church goers, concerned about education –“Street” parents: let children hang out in street and fight

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 18 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan Robbery Defining robbery –The taking of or attempting to take anything of value from care, custody, or control of a person or persons by force or threat of force or violence and/or by putting victim in fear –Involves both theft and interpersonal violence

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 19 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan The Extent, Patterning, and Costs of Robbery The UCR and the NCVS differ on the number of robberies, with the NCVS reporting a higher number Social patterning for robbery similar to homicide and assault in some ways

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 20 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan Disproportionately committed by men and African-Americans Robbery is more interracial for white victims; intraracial for black victims Black males more likely to be robbed than other races Mostly committed by strangers NCVS reports that a large percentage of robberies involve a gun The Extent, Patterning, and Costs of Robbery

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 21 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan Types of Robbers Professional Opportunist Addict Alcoholic

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 22 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan Explaining Robbery Committed for economic gain Example of Merton’s innovation Stems from criminogenic features of urban neighborhoods Committed for desire to look cool; gain respect

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 23 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan Special Topics in Violent Crime Mass Murder and Serial Killing –Mass murder and serial killing are examples of multiple murder or multicide Mass Murder –Most mass murderers feel aggrieved by others –Firearms are weapon of choice Serial Killing –Hedonistic lust, thrill, comfort, power/control, mission, and visionary killers A serial killer is a person who kills 3 or more persons in 3 or more separate events

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 24 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan Workplace Violence –Extent of Workplace Violence Workplace violence is quite common –Men are more likely to be victims –Somewhat more than half of all workplace violence is committed by a stranger to the victim Special Topics in Violent Crime

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 25 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan Hate Crime Committed against person or group because of race, ethnicity, religion, disability, sexual orientation, etc. Historically whites have committed hate crimes Usually committed by organized groups or by individuals, not mobs

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 26 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan KKK Neo-Nazis and Skinheads Christian Identity Aryan Nation Difficult to study these groups, little known about social backgrounds or motivations beyond hate Hate crime is vastly underreported Organized Hate Crime Groups

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 27 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan Violence Against Children Child abuse Extent of physical and sexual abuse –U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Surveys and survey questions –Survey estimates

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 28 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan Mass Media and Violence Mass media violence symptom of violent culture or cause of our violence? Bandura’s research revealed strong statistical connection between mass media violence and violent attitudes Research study by Centerwall found homicide rates in U.S., Canada, South Africa rose dramatically years after TV became widespread

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 29 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan Guns and Gun Control The Extent and Distribution of Guns –200 million firearms; 1/3 are handguns Handgun control –Primary motive for ownership is self-protection –South has highest ownership rate; men more than women; whites and blacks equally likely to own

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 30 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan The Use of Handguns in Violent Crime –Defensive gun use Do Handguns Deter or Promote Violent Crime –“More guns, less crime” thesis –“Guns don’t kill people; people kill people” –Guns used not for the reason they were brought into the house, but in fights with family members Guns and Gun Control

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 31 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan The Effectiveness of Gun Control –Some scholars believe gun control would do little to reduce gun crimes or gun availability –Inconsistent research –Too many guns in circulation to effectively ban The Effectiveness of Tougher Penalties for Handgun Crimes –Inconsistent research Guns and Gun Control

Copyright © 2012, 2009, 2006, 2001, 1997 by Pearson Education, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey All rights reserved 32 Criminology: A Sociological Understanding, 5/e Steven E. Barkan Reducing Violent Crime Instituting programs to address causes such as reducing poverty and unemployment, improve quality of parenting, etc. Reduce discrimination Address concept of masculinity History tells us violence can go down