CRJU 420 Study Guide - Quiz Guide: Routine Activity Theory, Differential Association, Homicide
5 Jul 2018
Department
Course
Professor
Assignment 1
Chapter 2-Chapter 4
1. Locate web sources that provide statistics on violent death in the United States. As a
researcher, think about how you would use the information you find to support a public
policy to address homicide prevention (14 points).
http://www.nydailynews.com/life-style/health/u-s-highest-rate-violent-deaths-article-
1.1237340
https://www.statista.com/statistics/195325/murder-victims-in-the-us-by-weapon-used/
Both of these articles bring up the idea that the United States has the highest
percentage of violent death of all the wealthy countries. We like to think that our country
is better than any others in the world, but when it comes to well developed nations we are
ranking last when it comes to life expectancy and highest in violent deaths. A lot of this is
based on our high numbers of homicide and gun violence. In 2016 around 17,000 people
in the United States and over 7000 of those were committed by handguns, and another
3000 by other firearms. The availability of firearms makes violent crimes and homicides
easier. Less than 4000 of the murders committed were done by objects that require close
personal contact to harm the victim. By establishing stricter gun laws which require
background checks and limit the number of firearms per home it is likely to believe that
we would see a great decline in murders. Killing someone with a firearm isn’t personal
and only requires the pulling of a trigger, so more people do it. Without this easier killing
resource we will see a decrease in homicide numbers because harming someone now
requires a lot more work. Reducing the number of guns distributed across the country
will also seriously decrease non-fatal violent crimes as well.
2. Why have homicide clearance rates gone down over the last several decades? (14 points)
Over the last several decades homicide clearance rates have gone from 91% to
62.5%. Many people attribute this to an increase in stranger crimes making it harder to
find a connection between the offender and the victim, but this is not the only factor. The
two categories that are most notoriously noted for affecting homicide case clearances are
police practices and procedures as well as characteristics of the case.
Police practices and procedures have changed significantly over the years.
Certain issues have become more or less of a problem. Since overall homicide and
violent crimes have decreased police have shifted their focus to other areas. Although a
department can control the number of officers and detectives assigned to a case they try
and maximize their resources by putting a minimal staff together. A lot of what
determines a case’s outcome is the actions taken by the first officers on the scene. If the
officers fail to gain as much information as possible in this first interaction there is little
room to discover other information.
Every case is incredibly different. From case to case nothing is consistent such as
the relationship between offender and the victim, weapon used, location, and motive.
With so many different variable options it is a lot of responsibility for officers to find
answers for. In cases where it is a stranger crime it makes finding motive and offender
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
Chapter 2-chapter 4: locate web sources that provide statistics on violent death in the united states. As a researcher, think about how you would use the information you find to support a public policy to address homicide prevention (14 points). http://www. nydailynews. com/life-style/health/u-s-highest-rate-violent-deaths-article- Both of these articles bring up the idea that the united states has the highest percentage of violent death of all the wealthy countries. We like to think that our country is better than any others in the world, but when it comes to well developed nations we are ranking last when it comes to life expectancy and highest in violent deaths. A lot of this is based on our high numbers of homicide and gun violence. In 2016 around 17,000 people in the united states and over 7000 of those were committed by handguns, and another. The availability of firearms makes violent crimes and homicides easier.
