NCJ Number
170945
Journal
Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency Volume: 33 Issue: 4 Dated: (November 1996) Pages: 427-449
Date Published
1998
Length
23 pages
Annotation
Data from 729 homicides that took place in St. Louis during 1985-89 formed the basis of an analysis of the motives and victim-offender relationships involved in cases that deviated from the general understanding of homicide, in which instrumental violence most often occurs against strangers and expressive violence is targeted against intimates.
Abstract
The analysis focused on two categories of homicide: (1) homicides where the bonds of insularity provided by primary relationships were broken to commit instrumental offenses and (2) expressive homicides within secondary relationships. Results revealed that 28 percent of the homicides between intimates had an instrumental motive and thus could be classified as deviant. The situations included bad drug deals, debts, and disputes over property. In addition, 46 percent of the homicides that involved secondary relationships had expressive motives; this proportion was much greater than expected. This category consisted of killings of nonprimary associates over matters that did not lead to material gain. These findings and further analyses demonstrated that the motive in homicide interacts with the victim-offender relationship in important and unexpected ways. Findings raise questions about the previous understanding of the effect of relationships on motives, particularly when such concepts cannot be measured independently. Findings also underscored the conclusion that understanding of homicide events depends on access to the most detailed descriptions possible. Tables, notes, and 43 references (Author abstract modified)