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: – 1 st degree – 2 nd degree – Manslaughter – Infanticide Rates vary little – 1.25 ’66 vs ’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 , & – Rate stable (3-4/100,000) – Contravening custody orders Divorce and social problems Hate crime: Ss 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

Bye for now….