NCJ Number
170163
Journal
Homicide Studies Volume: 1 Issue: 2 Dated: (May 1997) Pages: 110-128
Date Published
1997
Length
19 pages
Annotation
Using a quasi-experimental before-and-after analysis, this study examined the impact of the 1992 execution of Donald Eugene Harding on Arizona homicides.
Abstract
Following and extending the disaggregation strategy suggested by Cochran et al. (1994), this study examined the impact of the Harding execution on various types of homicides, based on the logical links between these types of homicides and the basic assumptions of deterrence and brutalization theories. Researchers examined all of the homicide categories analyzed by Cochran et al., thus providing a replication of their study, but added three additional categories (age, race/ethnicity, and weapon) thought to be possibly related to these theories. As in the Oklahoma study, hypotheses based on deterrence theory were not supported by the Arizona data. Although deterrence theory would predict decreases in specific types of homicides following an execution (e.g., homicides that involve felonies and robberies), the study found an increase in these types, although the increases were smaller than the increases in most other categories examined. Also, consistent with the Oklahoma study, several hypotheses based on brutalization theory were supported by the Arizona data. Brutalization theory would predict increases in spur-of-the-moment homicides, especially homicides that involve strangers and/or arguments, following an execution. There were large increases in each of these categories. Brutalization theory would also predict an increase in gun-related homicides following an execution; there was a large increase in gun-related homicides and a small decrease in homicides that involved other weapons. 3 tables, an appended description of variables, 4 notes, and 14 references