Homicide Test 2

What is the criteria for school shootings?

on campus grounds

use of a firearm

during the school hours

Mass Murder

3 or more victims killed in one place at one time or over a relatively short period of time

School Shooting

an incident in which a firearm is discharged on school property regardless of whether anyone is injured or killed

Dietz’s typology of mass murderers

Family annihilator

pseudocommando

set-and-run killer

Holmes Typology of Mass Murder

the disciple

the disgruntled employee

the disgruntled citizen

the psychotic killer

Gun Free Schools Act

public schools must expel a student for a minimum of 1 year if they have a firearm on campus

Gun Free School Zones Act

crime to possess or discharge a firearm in a school zone

Why is there not a single profile for a school shooter?

• diverse motivations

• age and race differences

• psychological differences

• planning styles or lack of planing

What are the common motivations for school killings?

revenge for being bullied

desire for attention or recognition

resentment

anger

being abused

social learning theory

How can school design increase school safety?

• population density

• exits

• security feature

• building size and layout

Why might a school use shelter in place vs leaving a school when there is an active shooter?

Shelter

• the shooter is in the building

• shooters exact location is unknown

• law enforcement is on the way

• the shooter is actively moving

Leave

• shooters location is known

• shooter is far enough away from certain exits

• the shooter is contained

How does law enforcement prepare for incidents of school violence?

• law enforcement agencies often work together to plan responses

• number of officers on duty at one time

• have a clear chain of command

• training and planning should be continuous

What types of violence and homicide are there in the school setting?

Direct threats

indirect threats

veiled threat

conditional threats

How do the role of theories and school violence research affect policy formulation?

Public school systems have policies that help them to identify troubled students and intervene to prevent attacks. Physical reconstruction of the school. Psychological support.

What are the different types of mass murder?

school shootings

public shootings

workplace

What are the types of violence and homicides in the work setting?

Verbal arguments

Offensive behavior

rape/sexual assault

robbery

aggravated or simple assaults

threatening behavior

What are some motivations for workplace murderers?

revenge

fired

demoted

disappointment at work

argument at work

disgruntled employee and customer

financial instability

What is the role of workplace violence research in policy formulation?

• trained responses

• pre-employment screenings

• Employee Assistant Programs

• background checks

• probationary period

• education

• pre-incident strategy, pre-incident/management strategy, post-incident strategy

• threat assessments

• security

What does it mean for a mass murder to be bifurcated?

• when a killer begins in a public place, stops, and then continues in another public or private place

• when a killer begins in a private place, and after a pause in his attack, continues in another private or public

What is a rampage in the context of mass murder?

killing a bunch of people with firearms, bombs, planes, and fire

What is the typical relationship between a mass murderer and their victims?

strangers, but they usually represent a group that the shooter dislikes

Familicide: known
Workplace: usually known
School: mixed
Terrorist: symbolic group targets

Rampage: strangers

What are the different forms of workplace violence that take place?

Criminal Intent

Customer/Client

Worker-on-Worker

Personal Relationship

Who accounts for most fatal workplace violence?

Males

about 85%

Who accounts for most non-fatal workplace violence?

Females

about 72%

Which industries have the highest rates of workplace violence and why?

Healthcare and social assistance

educational services

What are the differences between a workplace killing committed by an employee and a nonemployee?

employee killers are usually middle-aged white men seeking revenge for getting fired, demoted, or argument

nonemployee killers are usually doing it during a robbery incident

What is a threat assessment?

an analysis of the specific individuals who made a threat

forecasts whether and when the person is dangerous

Why are threat assessments important for workplaces?

knowing who made the threat helps to gauge the likelihood of a threat being carried out. Businesses and health/law officials should respond to the manage the individual or situation.

Gangs

association of 3 or more individuals who adopt a group identity to create an atmosphere of fear or intimidation, with their defining feature being the use of violence

What are some examples of gangs?

street gangs

prison gangs

motorcycle gangs

What is the connection between gangs and homicide?

membership in a gang is a risk factor for homicide

they make up nearly 10% of homicides in the US

homicide occurs in the context of recruitment, membership, or leaving a gang

What are the motivations of gang members?

intimidate

eliminate competition

send a message to other gangs or their own members

making money

What gang activities might lead to killings?

drug dealings

assaults

robberies

confrontational encounters

Why do people join criminal gangs?

seeking identity or belonging

needing protection

seeking excitement, power, respect, or money

What are some instances of gang murder?

MS-13 is the most brutal gang

What purpose do gang murders intend to serve for a gang or a gang member?

• provides members the opportunity to prove themselves

• used as part of an initiation rite for a new member

• resolving an argument

• preemptive attacks to intimidate rival gangs to not try the same thing

• eliminate competition in illegal businesses

• settle turf fights

• retaliation against rivals for a previous attack

• shooting fish in a barrel mentality provides them with an adrenaline rush and provides them with the courage to strike against rivals

• surprise attacks ~ drive by shootings

Cults

a small religious group that is not part of a larger and more accepted religion that has beliefs regarded by many people as extreme or dangerous

a situation in which people admire and care about something or someone very much or too much

a small group of very devoted supporters or fans

a religious group which promotes worship of a human leader and devotion of one’s life for a specific purpose

some have members practice certain rituals or follow a set of principle rules. the group usually believes its way is the only correct way to live life, and all non-members are doomed to some horrible fate if they cannot be persuaded to join

New Religious Movements

new term for cults

broader and more value-neutral concept

the odd group or individual who utilizes dominance over followers

What are some examples of cults and new religious movements?

Heaven’s Gate

People’s Temple

Shoko Asahara

What role does violence play in the new religious movements that use it?

revolutionary suicide

to harm, abuse or coerce others to join in condemnation of those not like themselves

as a reaction to a cult group

What are some policy options for dealing with the potential violence of new religious movements?

Threat assessments and risk factors

Anticult Movements

To what extent are gangs responsible for murders in the US?

About 14%

Who is most likely to be recruited into a gang and why?

disenfranchised or disillusioned people who are looking for someone or something to align with

people living in big cities, especially in socially disorganized areas

poor backgrounds

lack of attachments

common racial and ethnicities

Why are there different definitions of cults?

because of the negative connotation of cults

depends on from what aspect (sociological/psychological/legal) perspective you are looking at

Why is the term new religious movement used instead of cults?

it is broader and more value-neutral

Millenarianism

belief that a major and transformative change in society is approaching

What are some common recruitment strategies for new religious movements?

excessive praise, attention, affection, and sense of belonging

target the vulnerable or transitional people

disguise the main purpose ~ fronts

charismatic leader

isolation

use of guilt and fear

promises

offering answers

Who are targeted members for new religious movements?

young adults

recently divorced or grieving people

addicts

emotionally unstable people and low self-esteem

lonely, rejected, marginalized people

lack of strong attachments

people who are passionate about social change and saving the world

people weary of religion

Why is having charisma important for a cult leader?

charismatic leadership is not in itself unusual, suspicious, or dangerous

increases confidence

gives people the impression that they are special or more than human

inspires loyalty and obedience

covers up the use of manipulation and exploitation

Why can unconditional devotion of followers be problematic in the context of violence?

groupthink

detachment from their own moral compass

us vs them mindset

harder for people to say no

Serial Killing

two or more, three or more, or four or more people killed over at least one month with a cooling off period between each murder

What are the different typologies within serial murder?

Visionary Killer

Mission Killer

Hedonistic Killer

Power/Control Killer

What are the motivations for different types of serial killers?

Visionary: psychotic delusions or hallucinations

Mission-oriented: moral mission to rid the world of a certain group

Hedonistic: pleasure, thrill, or gratification, sexual pleasure, power/control, sadistic

Power/Control Oriented: domination and control

Comfort-Oriented: material gain

Thrill: adrenaline rush or emotional release

What role does research and data play in identifying and catching serial killers?

behavioral profiling

crime pattern analysis

DNA technology

fingerprint analysis

psychological tactics for interrogation

training for crime scene preservation

How frequently are there serial murders?

1% of the time

What is the importance of the cooling off period between serial killer murders?

it allows them time to reflect on their killing, change their approach, and plan their next murder

Organized Serial Killers

planned crime

evidence is disposed of to avoid discovery

Disorganized serial killers

spontaneous crime

evidence may not be concealed

What are the similiarities between gangs, organized crime, and individual serial killers?

Gangs and organized crime members do commit serial murder, but infrequently. Contract killing is rarely thought of as serial murder.

Similarities: most killing organized by one person and the killing takes place over time

MacDonald Triad

animal cruelty

fire-setting

bedwetting

Black Widows

female serial killers that kill spouses or family members

Angels of Death

female serial killers that kill those in a healthcare setting

Team Killers

female serial killers who kill with a partner

What is the typical relationship between a male serial killer and his victim?

strangers

What is the typical relationship between a female serial killer and her victim?

family member or spouse

What are the duties of the first officer on the scene of a suspected homicide?

arrive safely

ensure safety at the scene

medical assistance

apprehend suspects

secure the scene

call for assistance

What are the functions of the homicide investigator?

assess the scene

manage the scene

document the scene

canvass the area

scene processing

What is the process of documenting a homicide case?

preliminary assessment ~ reports, body cam, logs

crime scene processing ~ physical evidence, crime scene sketch, videos/photos

witness interviews ~ transcripts, notes, statements

autopsy and medical examiner report ~ autopsy and toxicology reports, photos

follow up investigation ~ search warrents, reports, timelines, notes, DNA evidence, footage

suspect identification and arrest ~ arrest report

What are the methods of collecting evidence in a murder case?

assess condition, location, and position of the body and other evidence in the crime scene

use of technology

photos/videos

sketches

notes

swabs

bags

chain of custody

testing for fingerprints

What are the contributions and involvement of the medical examiner in a homicide case?

examines bodies postmortem

determines cause and manner of death

What are the various homicide case personnel?

Crime scene technician: collects and analyzes evidence

Death Scene Investigator: responds to the scene of death to perform an investigation into the death and collection of evidence

Criminalists: works in the crime laboratory, identifies evidence from the crime scene

What are some challenges of working with the media on homicide cases?

• media may report inaccurate or prematurely released information

• can tip off the suspect

• puts pressure on police to solve the case quickly

• can disturb the crime scne

Benefits

• alert public to suspects

• public assistance identifying victims

• public assistance in investigation ~ tips

Primary Scene

where the killing actually occured

Cold Case

an investigation that remains unsolved, usually because of lack of evidence and has been inactive for a long period of time

Biometrics

identify people on measurable biological criteria

Crime Scene Technician

collects and analyzes evidence

Medical Examiner

examines bodies post-mortem

determines cause and manner of death

Death Scene Investigator

responds to scene of death to perform an investigation into the death and collection of evidence

Criminalist

works in the crime laboratory

identifies evidence from the crime scene

What is the single most important piece of evidence at the crime scene?

DNA

What is the importance of conducting a neighborhood canvass for a homicide investigation?

it helps to locate and identify possible witnesses

it helps to solve most homicide cases

How can documentation affect a case?

not having proper documentation can lead to missed evidence, forgotten evidence, etc

Why might DNA samples not always be a reliable source of information?

not an exact science

measured in probabilities

can be compromised by human error

ethical concerns about sampling

When was the first crime scene laboratory established by the FBI?

1932

CSI effect

the belief by the average citizen and some in the legal system that they understand technology and its application in criminal investigation more than they do

How can/does the CSI effect impact the jury’s decision-making process?

jurors determine case outcomes based on unrealistic standards

The public is generally informed about crime and specifically about single and multiple homicide incidents through various news media. this makes it seem that certain rare crimes are…

more prevalent than what they are

School shootings have been committed predominately by…

teenage males

Rampage-style killings at work are the ___ homicides in that setting

significant

The most frequently documented mass workplace killer is …

middle-aged white men

The most common motive of women who commit serial homicide is for…

personal gain

Many people believe that to join a movement or cult the recruited person must be the subject of

mind control

As investigators, officers, and technicians move through a homicide scene and investigation, a critical function for each of them is

documentation

T/F: The typical school mass killing or attacks shows the shooter snaps one day and goes on an impulsive shooting spree.

False

T/F: There is a wide consensus on how to prevent gun violence

False

T/F: Agencies must educate employees about the various types or forms of workplace violence

True

T/F: Few individuals react to the stress of the workplace by acting out violently

true

T/F: Detecting a medical serial killer is quite difficult, even in comparison with other serial kilers

True

T/F: Psychopathy is a condition characterized by personality traits that include the inability to feel guilt, deceitfulness, and poor impulse control

True

T/F: When the practices and beliefs of a group are different from that of a majority group, the majority group members are rarely uncomfortable, suspicious, or hostile

False