SOC212H1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Culpable Homicide, Aggravated Sexual Assault, Intimate Partner Violence
Lecture 5: Interpersonal Violence
Murder
• What is murder? Criminal code describes murder as intentionally killing someone
• Culpable murder – death of human being with the purpose of causing harm to that person
• Non culpable murder – man slaughter, euthanasia, self defence, capital punishment, terrorism (some countries
like Canada), suicide
- Slaves, killing your enemies, sacrifice were not considered murder
Four flavors
• First degree murders are pre-meditated, planned (some not pre-planned like killing cops while working and
explosives use)
- Murder happening during hijacking or sexual assault or kidnapping
- Automatic life sentence
• Second degree murders – all murders not 1st but intentional
- Murders that happen at the heat of the moment
- Parole eligibility for 10-25 years
• Manslaughter – not intentional murder
- Car accident, self defence
- No minimum sentence to prison
• Infanticide – killing children
Homicide in Canada
• Culpable homicide, first degree, second degree, manslaughter, infanticide
• Although fluctuations, general trend is going down (homicide rates)
• In Canada, 2016 homicide rate was 1.68, number was 611
• Peaked in 1973 but much lower now – general trend in western societies that homicide rates are going down
(year to year fluctuations)
• Very rare in Canada (less than .2% of violent crime)
• Occurrence can negatively effect how people feel in their communities
• 611 homicides in Canada in 2016 (2 more than previous year but population went up)
- Homicide rates are measured in terms of population (x per 100 thousand people)
• 2016 was 1.68 (per 100 thousand people) general downward trend
• Rate is low but fear of it is high
• Criminal association has gone up a bit with homicde, gang related homicide rates also, firing, etc
- Firing of aboriginal people have gone down in homicide rates
- But rapes were 5 times higher than non-indigenous
• Most frequent on media
Global homicide report
• Most prevalent in Southern Africa, northern South America
• Jamaica and costa Rica – robbery and gang related crime most prevalent
• India, Netherlands, Sweden and Finland – intimate partner related crimes most prevalent
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
• 36% in America, Africa 28% Asia, 5% Europe, 3% Oceania
• Global homicide rate is 108.6 in El Salvador
• Homicide rate is high in latin and certain African countries – politics and poverty
- Low in European countries
- Also comes down to masculinity – gender issues that call for violences
Group variations in homicide
• Homicide rates vary by Country, regions and local differences (race, social class, age and gender also factors that
depend on)
- Poor neighborhoods vs wealthy neighbors
• Homicide highest in males aged 18-24
• Murders within similar age, sex, class and social standing
• Low recidivism rates
Offender and victim interaction (Relationship)
• Most murders and aggravated assaults represents violent responses to cial interactions
• More than half the murders know the victims
• Higher rates during the weekend, in summer
• Violent crimes are low proportion of crime rates
• Gangs and guns – 9% vs. 80% being partner, acquaintance murders
Understanding violence
• Assault and murder – differential power, subculture and income inequiligy
• Why does this happen?
• Social structures
• Differences in power
- When one party tries to have power over another position – business partners, siblings marriage, etc
- Mostly related to assault and violence
• Subcultures
- Groups that have their systems that condone violence (part of the job) – gangs
• High income inequality
- Hostility and violence expressing their inequality
Instrumental vs expressive
• Instrumental homicide – material goal
• Expressive homicide – within an emotionally charged interaction
- Acquaintance, partner murders (females were killed more than male partners)
• Usually in a casual setting – in bar, at home, etc
Social capital and homicide
• Poor racialized neighborhoods
- Negative social capital
- School, law enforcement, welface agencies
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Slaves, killing your enemies, sacrifice were not considered murder. Four flavors: first degree murders are pre-meditated, planned (some not pre-planned like killing cops while working and explosives use) Murder happening during hijacking or sexual assault or kidnapping. Automatic life sentence: second degree murders all murders not 1st but intentional. Murders that happen at the heat of the moment. Parole eligibility for 10-25 years: manslaughter not intentional murder. Homicide in canada: culpable homicide, first degree, second degree, manslaughter, infanticide, although fluctuations, general trend is going down (homicide rates) Firing of aboriginal people have gone down in homicide rates. But rapes were 5 times higher than non-indigenous: most frequent on media. Global homicide report: most prevalent in southern africa, northern south america. Jamaica and costa rica robbery and gang related crime most prevalent. Also comes down to masculinity gender issues that call for violences.
