NCJ Number
214356
Journal
Homicide Studies Volume: 10 Issue: 2 Dated: May 2006 Pages: 118-139
Date Published
May 2006
Length
22 pages
Annotation
This study examined the demographic and behavioral components of homicide events in Canada, with a focus on whether homicides committed and investigated within different national contexts could be compared as a first step toward developing a standardized system for the classification of different styles of homicide.
Abstract
Overall, the results from this analysis of crime scene behaviors for Canadian homicides indicated that crime scene behaviors could be used to distinguish between offenses and offenders in terms of their expressive and instrumental components. More specifically, homicides can be seen as exhibiting either an expressive or an instrumental theme that transcends national borders. As such, the findings suggest the validity of using a standardized homicide classification system for understanding homicide events. Particular results relating to the 75 Canadian homicide events under investigation revealed that the majority of victims were males between 21 and 50 years of age, were White, and spoke French. Offenders were males between 18 and 39 years of age, were White, French-speaking, single, and unemployed. Offenders were most likely acquainted with the victim. The main homicide motive was a dispute that escalated into extreme violence. Data on the 75 solved Canadian homicides were drawn from the Montreal Police files. Data analysis involved the calculations of descriptive statistics and the use of smallest space analysis to compare the results of this study to previous studies. Future studies should probe how similarities and differences in the behavioral components of homicide may be associated with national or cultural factors. Tables, figure, note, references