Legal Categories Of Homicide Essay
1. What are two of the different legal categories of homicide? Discuss each type and provide an example of a homicide that would fall under the category.
There are many different legal categories of homicide. Two of these categories are; first degree murder and second degree murder. If the person acted with ‘malice aforethought’ or, planned to kill another individual and proceeded to carry out the act, then it is considered first degree murder. Shooting or stabbing someone in the heart, would be considered first degree murder, as the offender deliberately acted with malice aforethought, and therefore intended to kill the victim. Second degree murder is a homicide in which, the person did not intend to kill the victim, but still wanted to hurt …show more content…
them. Domestic violence, which results in an individual’s death, would fall under second degree murder.
2. What is larceny? Provide an example of an act that would fall into this category of crime.
The illegal taking of an individual’s property from their possession, is larceny. Larceny doesn’t involve unlawful entry or the use of force in order for the property to be taken. An example of larceny would be, if a person snatched someone’s wallet from their back pocket, while the victim wasn’t looking.
3. What are serial murders and mass murders? How do these two categories of crime differ?
Homicides that involve the murder of several people in at least three separate events are categorized as serial murders.
Homicides that involve killing more than three people at a time are categorized as mass murders. Mass murders; involve killing several people in the same event. Whereas serial murders, involve killing several individuals in separate events usually over the course of a long period of time such as weeks, or even months.
4. What are the two different types of assaults? What is the difference between an assault and a homicide?
One type of assault is aggravated assault. Aggravated assault is when a person illegally attacks another individual, with the intent of severe injury. Another type of assault is simple assault. Simple assault is an illegal attack, not involving a weapon in which the victim is not seriously injured. The difference between a homicide and an assault is; a homicide results in the death of the victim as opposed to an assault - which does not.
5. What is arson? Why is it difficult to obtain good statistics on arson?
The willful burning of, personal property of someone, a motor vehicle, commercial property, or a residential building, are all considered arson. Because only fires classified as arson are reported to agencies like the FBI, statistics on arson are limited. Fires that are suspicious, or the cause could not be determined, are not included in the official arson
statistics.
Critical Thinking Questions
1. Statistics show that about two-thirds of individuals shoplift at some point in their lives. Why do you think so many people shoplift?
I think that youths make up a large percentage of those two-thirds. The reason is simple; it’s because they want to see what it’s like. A lot of kids grow up hearing about stories about shoplifting on the news or some such, and they get curious. Although, I think another part of it might be the environment the kids are growing up in. For example, if a child grows up in an extremely authoritarian household, they are going to be more likely to commit deviance. However, for the most part I think it is a curiosity in youths that parents need to teach has consequences.
2. Although homicides represent a very small number of overall crimes, they are often focused on by the media. Why do you think this is the case? What consequences do you think that this has?
Homicides are focused on by the media for shock value. News stations and the like, know that people are more likely to read a story about a homicide, than an assault, so they tend to report on homicides more. Sadly, I do think that this has a very negative effect on people. The reason being - when people see news stations reporting on what are, often very isolated incidents, it increases paranoia. In conclusion, media reports more on homicides, for the shock value, and it results in increased paranoia.
There are many different legal categories of homicide. Two of these categories are; first degree murder and second degree murder. If the person acted with ‘malice aforethought’ or, planned to kill another individual and proceeded to carry out the act, then it is considered first degree murder. Shooting or stabbing someone in the heart, would be considered first degree murder, as the offender deliberately acted with malice aforethought, and therefore intended to kill the victim. Second degree murder is a homicide in which, the person did not intend to kill the victim, but still wanted to hurt …show more content…
them. Domestic violence, which results in an individual’s death, would fall under second degree murder.
2. What is larceny? Provide an example of an act that would fall into this category of crime.
The illegal taking of an individual’s property from their possession, is larceny. Larceny doesn’t involve unlawful entry or the use of force in order for the property to be taken. An example of larceny would be, if a person snatched someone’s wallet from their back pocket, while the victim wasn’t looking.
3. What are serial murders and mass murders? How do these two categories of crime differ?
Homicides that involve the murder of several people in at least three separate events are categorized as serial murders.
Homicides that involve killing more than three people at a time are categorized as mass murders. Mass murders; involve killing several people in the same event. Whereas serial murders, involve killing several individuals in separate events usually over the course of a long period of time such as weeks, or even months.
4. What are the two different types of assaults? What is the difference between an assault and a homicide?
One type of assault is aggravated assault. Aggravated assault is when a person illegally attacks another individual, with the intent of severe injury. Another type of assault is simple assault. Simple assault is an illegal attack, not involving a weapon in which the victim is not seriously injured. The difference between a homicide and an assault is; a homicide results in the death of the victim as opposed to an assault - which does not.
5. What is arson? Why is it difficult to obtain good statistics on arson?
The willful burning of, personal property of someone, a motor vehicle, commercial property, or a residential building, are all considered arson. Because only fires classified as arson are reported to agencies like the FBI, statistics on arson are limited. Fires that are suspicious, or the cause could not be determined, are not included in the official arson
statistics.
Critical Thinking Questions
1. Statistics show that about two-thirds of individuals shoplift at some point in their lives. Why do you think so many people shoplift?
I think that youths make up a large percentage of those two-thirds. The reason is simple; it’s because they want to see what it’s like. A lot of kids grow up hearing about stories about shoplifting on the news or some such, and they get curious. Although, I think another part of it might be the environment the kids are growing up in. For example, if a child grows up in an extremely authoritarian household, they are going to be more likely to commit deviance. However, for the most part I think it is a curiosity in youths that parents need to teach has consequences.
2. Although homicides represent a very small number of overall crimes, they are often focused on by the media. Why do you think this is the case? What consequences do you think that this has?
Homicides are focused on by the media for shock value. News stations and the like, know that people are more likely to read a story about a homicide, than an assault, so they tend to report on homicides more. Sadly, I do think that this has a very negative effect on people. The reason being - when people see news stations reporting on what are, often very isolated incidents, it increases paranoia. In conclusion, media reports more on homicides, for the shock value, and it results in increased paranoia.