326 "Prostitute Homicides: A Descriptive Study”

C. Gabrielle Salfati, Alison R. James, and Lynn Ferguson

main point

homicides of women involved in street prostitution have distinct characteristics that differentiate them from other types of homicide, particularly in the relationship between the victim and offender, the offender's criminal history, and the behaviours observed at the crime scene.

key concepts

1. instrumental aggression: Violence committed to achieve a goal other than simply hurting the victim

2. expressive aggression: Violence driven by anger, emotional reactions, or a desire to harm the victim.

3. offender profiling: Using observable crime scene behaviours and other evidence to develop an understanding of an offender's characteristics and potentially narrow down suspects.

4. victim vulnerability: Circumstances that may increase a person's exposure to harm or reduce their ability to protect themselves or obtain assistance.

5. victim availability: The ease with which an offender can access a potential victim.

6. stranger homicide: A homicide in which the offender and victim did not know each other before the crime.

research question 1

Do women murdered while involved in street prostitution have different background characteristics from the general population of street prostitutes?

The researchers examined factors such as:

• Age.

• Substance use.

• Relationship status.

• Whether the victim had children.

• Whether the victim had a fixed address.

• Whether the victim worked with a pimp.

hypothesis 1

Prostitute homicide victims would have higher rates of characteristics that might increase their vulnerability to violence, such as substance abuse, homelessness, or limited experience in the area where they worked.

research question 2

How do prostitute homicide offenders differ from other homicide offenders?

ex.

• age

• employment status

• marital status

• previous nonviolent convictions

hypothesis 2

Offenders who murdered prostitutes would show greater evidence of previous criminal activity than the general population of prostitution clients.

research question 3

How do prostitute homicides differ from sexual and nonsexual homicides?

• Where victims' bodies were found.

• Whether bodies were moved or concealed.

• Whether property was stolen.

• Whether victims were found naked or partially undressed.

• The nature and extent of the injuries.

• Other actions performed by offenders at the crime scene.

hypothesis 3

Prostitute homicides would differ from both sexual and nonsexual homicides and would show characteristics associated with instrumental violence, such as robbery, sexual motives, and treating victims as a means to an end.

research methods

exploratory study using existing homicide case records and descriptive statistical analysis.

122 homicide cases including

• prostitute homicides (46)

• nonsexual homicides (59)

• sexual homicides (17)

focused on street prostitution

Coding and measurement

used 41 variables divided in three categories to systematically record information about the victims, offenders, and crime scenes.

1. crime scene variables

2. victim characteristics

3. offender charactersitics

key finding 1 -Prostitute homicide victims had high rates of substance use

31 victims (93.9%) were reported to have engaged in some form of substance use, including drugs, alcohol, or solvents.

key finding 2 - Many victims had children and were in relationships

• 66.7% of victims were mothers or were pregnant.

• 66.7% were in a relationship.

• 74.3% had a fixed address.

key Finding 3 - Prostitute homicide offenders had substantial criminal histories

Offender characteristic	Prostitute homicide offenders	Nonsexual homicide offenders	Sexual homicide offenders
Previous violent convictions	73.7%	32.2%	17.6%
Previous nonviolent convictions	50.0%	81.4%	41.2%
Previous sexual convictions	25.0%	74.6%	58.8%
Had previously spent time in prison	68.8%	27.1%	29.4%

most notable result

prostitute homicide offenders were significantly more likely to have previous violent convictions than offenders in either comparison group.

key finding 4 - Prostitute homicide offenders were most likely to be strangers to their victims

Homicide type	Most common offender–victim relationship
Prostitute homicide	Stranger
Sexual homicide	Acquaintance
Nonsexual homicide	Current or former intimate partner

54.2% of offenders were strangers to their victims.

By comparison:

• Only 6.8% of nonsexual homicide offenders were strangers to their victims.

• 23.5% of sexual homicide offenders were strangers to their victims.

key finding 5 - Offenders frequently moved or concealed victims' bodies

Crime scene behaviour	Prostitute homicides	Nonsexual homicides
Victim found outside	82.6%	34.5%
Victim transported from the original crime scene	64.4%	10.2%
Victim found at the same scene where the homicide occurred	35.6%	74.6%
Victim found in water	15.2%	1.7%

finding 6 - Property theft was more common in prostitute homicides

Property was reported stolen in 51.9% of the prostitute homicide cases with relevant information.

The corresponding figures were:

• 10.2% for nonsexual homicides.

• 35.3% for sexual homicides.

Connection to instrumental aggression: Theft is consistent with instrumental behaviour because it involves pursuing a goal such as obtaining money or possessions.

key finding 7 - Many victims were found naked or partially undressed

among the cases with available information:

• 42.4% of prostitute homicide victims were found naked.

• 37.5% were found partially undressed.

The researchers also found that 82.4% of sexual homicide victims were found partially undressed.

key finding 8 - Prostitute homicides involved both instrumental and expressive behaviours

The researchers found that prostitute homicides differed more substantially from nonsexual homicides than from sexual homicides in their crime scene behaviours.