Chapter 10: Violent Crimes - Notes Flashcards

20 practice flashcards covering key concepts from the notes on violent crimes.

What is the effect of media on crime as discussed in the introduction?

The media creates a moral panic and politicians push a get-tough approach to violent crime, especially when offenders are young.

How is Canada described in terms of homicide rates and what trend occurred by 2009?

Canada has a relatively low homicide rate; violent crime declined about 6% over the previous decade by 2009.

Outline the four stages of the Brutalization Process leading to violent offending.

Stage 1: abusive parents shape anger; Stage 2: confrontations at home/school/streets; Stage 3: virulency/violent identity; Stage 4: becomes an initiator, potentially passing the pattern to their own children.

What are Freud's two opposing instinctual drives and their relation to violence?

Eros (life instinct) and Thanatos (death instinct); they drive behavior toward fulfillment or self-destruction, including violence.

What do Wolfgang and Ferracuti mean by subcultures of violence?

Homicide is most prevalent in relatively homogeneous subcultural groups that accept violence as the norm; honor norms and carrying weapons contribute to violence.

Name two examples of subcultures of violence discussed in the notes.

Prison subcultures and teenage gangs; schoolgirl violence is also discussed as fitting these patterns.

What are Groth's three types of rape and which is most common?

Anger rape, Power rape, and Sadistic rape; about 55% are Power type (most common), 40% Anger type, and 5% Sadistic.

What are the two main relationship-based categories of rape and their approximate shares?

Stranger rapes (~37%) and acquaintance/date/marital rapes (~51%).

List three factors that may foster subcultures of violence among minorities (as summarized for African Americans).

Weak social control; discrimination and relative deprivation; violent activity may be a rational act given limited economic opportunities.

What are the catharsis and legitimation models of war's impact on homicide?

Catharsis: war reduces private violence; homicide would decrease during and after war. Legitimation: social approval of violence increases, leading to higher homicide postwar; combatant nations often show postwar increases.

What is the relationship between firearm availability and violence in Canada?

Only about 2% of violent victimizations involve a firearm; gun-related robberies accounted for about 15% in 2009; debates on the impact of gun laws and regulation.

What is ViCLAS and what does it do?

Violent Crime Linkage Analysis System; helps police profile cases and identify potential suspects by linking related offenses.

List the main degrees of murder and their characteristics under common law.

First-degree murder: premeditated; Second-degree: intentional but not premeditated; Voluntary manslaughter: heat of passion; Involuntary manslaughter: due to gross negligence or reckless conduct (e.g., drunk driving).

What youth homicide trend occurred around 2003 in Canada?

The 10-year rate declined until 2001, then rose in 2002–2003, largely due to more male youth; 9 of 41 homicides in 2003 were gang-related.

What is femicide, and what patterns are observed in Canada?

Femicide is the killing of women; intimate/family femicides are common; risks rise after separation; many victims are over 30, employed, and killed at home, often with no prior criminal record.

What is the typical offender profile for workplace violence?

A middle-aged Caucasian male; loss of job and authoritarian management styles are common triggers; healthcare workers report high violence rates.

What is the link between child abuse and later violence?

Abused children experience fear, PTSD, behavior problems, and are more likely to become abusers; prevention programs and mandated reporting aim to break the cycle.

Name two categories of serial killers described by Holmes and DeBurger.

Visionary killers and Hedonistic killers (others include Mission-oriented, Power/control, Sadistic child killer, Psychopathic, and Professional hit killers).

What is the reporting rate for sexual assaults in Canada and why is under-reporting common?

Only about 8% of sexual assault victims report to police; reasons include embarrassment, belief nothing can be done, and self-blame.

What are the main robbery typologies and common targets in Canada?

Professional robbers, Opportunistic robbers, Addict robbers; targets include convenience stores, gas stations, and pedestrians; Montreal has a distinctive armed robbery pattern; about 60% of armed robberies occur in Quebec.