Homicide Overview and Legal Definitions

Flashcards covering key vocabulary terms and concepts related to homicide, its definitions, legal classifications, and the sociological perspectives on its prevalence.

Homicide

The unlawful killing of one person by another.

First degree murder

A murder that involves premeditation or deliberate intent to kill.

Second degree murder

An intentional unlawful killing without premeditation; often described as acting in a sudden rage.

Actus reus

The term for the 'guilty act' in the context of a crime.

Mens rea

The mental state or intent behind a criminal act.

Premeditation

Planning or deliberation prior to committing a crime.

Murder inequality

Variability in homicide rates across different neighborhoods or cities.

Urbanism

The study of life and culture in urban environments, often related to crime rates.

Social control perspective

The theory that social ties in small communities inhibit deviant behavior.

Composition perspective

The idea that demographic characteristics of a population influence crime rates.

Subcultural perspective

The notion that large urban areas allow for the development of deviant subcultures that engage in criminal behavior.

Homicide rate

The number of homicides per 100,000 individuals in a given population.

National homicide rate

The average homicide rate across all states in a country, standardized by population.

FBI Uniform Crime Reports

Annual data collections by the FBI that report on crimes reported to police, including homicides.

Violent Crime Index

A measure developed by the FBI that includes murder, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault.