Physical ViolenceWeek 5: Chapter 4

Amber Tague

Types of Physical Violence

Assault Aggravated assault Simple assault

Homicide Warm-blooded killing Killing for trivial reasons Adjunct to suicide Mass and serial murder

Characteristics of Homicide

The Killer Profile

Class and Race strong link between poverty and

murder. Blacks generally have a much higher

rate of homicide than whites. Most killings are intraracial.

Gender and Age Men are more likely to kill than women. Males kill at a younger age than

females. Males are more likely to kill members

of the same sex, where women are more likely to kill members of the opposite sex.

Juvenile Violence juvenile=age 17 or younger. Increase in juvenile crime in the past

decade.

Youth Gangs are present in nearly all U.S. cities.

Gang related killing is relatively small. Juveniles are more likely to:

› Use firearms› Commit homicide in a public or outdoor

location› Engage in lethal violence (Brewer et al, p.

2)

Patterns of Homicides

Time of Killing Most murders are committed in the

heat of passion. Homicide has a relatively weak

connection linked to certain seasons, day of the week, and hours of the day.

Place of Killing Men are more likely to kill in public

places Women are more likely to kill in their

own homes

Method of Killing In the words of Shakespeare, “How oft

the sight of means to do ill deeds, makes ill deeds done.”

Guns give power to the powerless.

References Adkinson, C., Brewer, V., Damphousse, K.

(1998). Homicide Studies. The Role of Juveniles in Urban Homicides: The Case of Houston. BVU Library: Sage Publications.

Palemo, G. (2002). Juvenile Crime: A Renewed Suggestion for Prevention: International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology. BVU Library: Sage Publications.

Thio, A. (2010). Deviant Behavior, 10th Edition: Chapter 4. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.