1. Crime Victims: An Introduction to Victimology Sixth Edition
By Andrew Karmen
Chapter Four:
Violent Crimes: Murders and Robberies

2. Using UCR to Analyze Murders
Data comes from Supplemental Homicide Report (SHR)—age, sex, race of victim and age, sex, race, motive, weapon and relationship of accused
Homicide—Killing of one human being by another—Accidents, carelessness, suicides are NOT homicides
Justifiable Homicide—use of deadly force in self defense

3. Using UCR to Analyze Murders
Capital Offenses (Death Penalty)—Premeditation, intent, killing certain people—state based law
Heat of Passion—results in second degree murder, manslaughter—voluntary or involuntary

4. Using UCR to Analyze Murders
Profile or Statistical Portrait (2004)
Most Murders—Male on Male
90% of Female Murders by Males
Most Murders Not Interracial—intraracial
49% Victims were white
48% Victims were black
Majority killed by use of firearms

5. Using UCR to Analyze Murders
Relationships in Homicides ( )
Family—12-14%
Friend or Acquaintance—29-38%
Strangers—13-15%
Unknown or unsolved—35-45%
Victims killed by complete strangers most likely charged with most serious of charges—Capital Homicide
Those killed during an argument or by an acquaintance—less harsh charges

6. Searching for Crime Waves
Trends refer to changes that occur over long period of time—not just one year
Homicide Rate Trends— : See Figure 4.1, Page 64
Aggravated Assault Rate Trends important to review as involve attacks or threats with deadly weapon—Figure 4.2, Page 65

7. Searching for Crime Waves
Trends in Robbery Rates—Figure 4.3, Page 67
Conclusion of Violent Crime Rates
Dramatically decreased from early 90s
Interpersonal violence NOT out of control
Future is unsure
Victims of interpersonal violence not growing as rapidly as 60s-80s

8. Robberies Turn Into Homicides?
Your Money or Your Life
Table 4.1, Page 68 reflects murders where robbery was motive—decreased 4% from 1980 to 2004
1/5 of 1% of those accosted are murdered
When armed offender declares, “Your money or your life”—statistics say, give him the money

9. Differential Risks
How frequently murders, rapes, robberies, and assaults are committed against “average Americans,” and how often “typical households” suffer burglaries and motor vehicle thefts

10. Differential Risks
Differential Risks of being Murdered in U.S. in 2004 was 5.5 per 100,000
Murder rates vary by geographical location
Highest in South and lowest in Northeast
Murder Rates by U.S. Cities: Figure 4.4, Page 70

11. Murder Rate Data—2004 More than ¾ are males
Ten years of age, least likely
25 years of age, most likely
African Americans most likely
Asian Americans least likely
Profile (Greatest Risk)—southerners, urban males, age and African American

12. International Comparisons
Two Main Sources of Data
1. United Nations
World Health Organization (WHO)—Tracks Homicides and Sets Standards for Reporting
2. International Police Organization (INTERPOL)
Provides Data—See Table 4.2, Page 72

13. Assessing Comparative Risks
Criminal Event vs. Accident/Illness—See Table 4.4, Page 74
Conclusions:
1. Leading causes of death—heart disease, cancer, and stroke
2. More died from accidents than homicides
3. More people took their own life than lost life through lethal violence

14. Robberies
Robbery combines stealing with extortion or outright violence
Completed Robberies—face-to-face confrontations in which perpetrators take something of value directly from victims against their will by either force or by threats of violence

15. Robberies Five stages of typical robbery 1. Planning
2. Establishing co-presence
3. Developing co-orientation
4. Transferring valuables
5. Leaving

16. Using NCVS to Analyze Robberies
More information available about victims and the events using NCVS
Primary motive is theft—38% of attempts unsuccessful
62% complete strangers
50% assailants unarmed
38% likely to be wounded—1 of 8 seriously
88% of victims attempted to resist
Forceful resistance reduced monetary loss but increased likelihood of more severe injury
Differential risks noted in Table 4.5, Page 79

17. Projecting Cumulative Risks
Annual crime rates represent the “rare events” of crime to Americans
Cumulative risks represent the likelihood of occurrence over a lifetime or 60 years
At least one theft but more likely 3 or more
8% of females raped—Black females 11%
30% robbed
See Table 4.6, Page 82

18. Determinants of Differential Risks
Attractiveness
Proximity
Vulnerability
Routine Activities—interactions of three variables described above
Lifestyle—how and where people spend their time and money at work and leisure
Deviant place factor—exact locations where predators prowl for victims—Hot Spots

19. Reducing Risks: How Safe is Safe Enough?
Balance between safety and risk is a personal decision—a value judgment
Cost-Benefit vs. Risk-Benefit Analysis
Ambivalence about risk-taking in U.S.

20. From Crime Prevention to Victimization Prevention
Risk Reduction Activities
Avoidance strategies—actions taken to limit exposure to dangerous persons and frightening situations—don’t walk alone, carry a weapon
Target Hardening—using locks, fences, surveillance systems, using lights, trimming down bushes
Crime Conscious—personal responsibility to keep out of trouble

21. From Crime Prevention to Victimization Prevention
Valve Theory of Crime Shifts—predicts that target hardening strategies will not reduce criminal events, only displace them to other locations
May decrease victimization rates for some while increasing victimization rates for others

22. Criminals as Victims Equivalent Group Explanations
Theory postulates that offenders select their victims from their own circles of adversaries, acquaintances, and even former friends
Victims who engage in certain high-risk deviant lifestyles viewed in a less-than-sympathetic light
Drug scene deaths
Drive-by shootings
Binge drinking situations

23. Deterrence Theory Applied to Victims
Classical School of Free Will or Rational Choice Theory notes would-be offenders deterred by prospects of apprehension, conviction, and punishment
Does this same theory apply to victims?
Do 1st time victims learn their lesson?
More Research is needed to answer

24. Terms Differential Rates, Risks Cumulative Risks Comparative Rates
International Compare
SHR, Homicide, Robbery, Strong Arm, Muggings, Yokings
Co-Presence,
Co-orientation
Exit, Carjacking
Likelihood or probability
Attractiveness, Proximity, Vulnerability
Routine Activities, lifestyle, deviant place, hot spots, exposure
Cost-benefit analysis
Risk-benefit analysis
Risk Reduction activities
Avoidance strategies
Risk Management
Crime prevention, Crime Control
Victimization prevention
Valve theory of crime shifts
Equivalent group explanation
Character contest
Classical school of free will
Rational choice theory