Approximately a third of homicide cases go unsolved each year. Research focused on understanding what affects homicide clearance rates is often methodologically underdeveloped and has produced mixed findings. These deficiencies compromise the ability of researchers to provide important guidance to police practitioners seeking to develop best practices. Under-specified modeling and limited access to accurate sources of homicide investigation data are two potential and interconnected reasons for the inconsistencies found in previous studies. The purpose of this study was to expand the literature on homicide case outcomes as follows: 1) to organize predictors into five substantive domains (involved subjects, event circumstances, case dynamics, ecological characteristics, and investigator factors) and operationalize multiple measures of each as viable predictors of clearance outcomes; 2) to explore the utility of using original and verified police data with a larger number of nuanced data points than previously documented in modeling efforts; and 3) to forward a unique multi-method account of the factors that predict homicide case outcomes that can be readily replicated in future studies. Data were collected from one Southern metropolitan police department's 2009 to 2011 homicide investigations (N = 252). Access to official homicide case files allowed for key subject, incident, and evidentiary information to be obtained. Critical investigation details and context were added to the case file data via interviews and survey administration efforts involving the lead detectives that worked the cases. The dataset was further supplemented with Census data. Subsequent analyses included examination of the data quality and multivariate logistic regressions. A comparison of the dataset after the first stage of data collection to the final product was conducted to understand the extent to which the dataset were improved. The multi-method process resulted in more precision to the data recorded from case files, significant reductions in missing data, and heightened detail on key variables. Consequently those data allowed for specification of a multivariate model that included multiple measures from all of the homicide investigation domains. Those results suggest the expanded data more accurately captured the factors that predict clearance outcomes as measures within all five domains were significant predictors of investigation closure.

Submitted by Maria Creuza Silva (mariakreuza@yahoo.com.br) on 2014-10-03T19:59:41Z No. of bitstreams: 1 DISSERTAÇÃO FABIO CORREIA. 2014.pdf: 1514089 bytes, checksum: 1364161da6981cb1761c887c48a5db45 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Maria Creuza Silva (mariakreuza@yahoo.com.br) on 2014-10-07T14:09:04Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 DISSERTAÇÃO FABIO CORREIA. 2014.pdf: 1514089 bytes, checksum: 1364161da6981cb1761c887c48a5db45 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2014-10-07T14:09:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 DISSERTAÇÃO FABIO CORREIA. 2014.pdf: 1514089 bytes, checksum: 1364161da6981cb1761c887c48a5db45 (MD5) / O homicídio constitui um problema relevante para a Saúde e Segurança Pública em diversos países do mundo. Distribui-se de forma desigual no espaço urbano e há evidências que esteja relacionado com uso de álcool. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito do álcool na mortalidade por homicídio no espaço intraurbano soteropolitano, considerando as inter-relações e influências recíprocas das desigualdades de renda. Realizou-se um estudo ecológico de agregados espaciais em Salvador (BA), 2009, a partir da base de dados do Instituto Médico Legal, tendo o bairro como unidade de análise. Foram construídos mapas temáticos para identificação de padrões da distribuição espacial das taxas de homicídio e de níveis de alcoolemia. A associação entre estas variáveis e indicadores socioeconômicos e demográficos foi avaliada por Regressão Binomial Negativa. Aproximadamente 40% das vítimas apresentaram alcoolemia positiva. Areia Branca apresentou a maior taxa suavizada (173,9/100.000) e não houve homicídios em vinte e um bairros. A taxa de homicídio suavizada aumentou no sentido Sul-Norte e decresceu levemente no sentido Oeste-Leste da cidade. Houve associação positiva estatisticamente significante entre a média de alcoolemia por bairros e mortalidade por homicídio, com maior razão na categoria acima de 0,30 a 0,50G/L (RTM=2,04; IC95% = 1,52 – 2,73). Mesmo considerando as desigualdades de renda, absoluta e relativa, o álcool permaneceu entre os determinantes da vitimização por homicídio no espaço intra-urbano analisados na capital baiana. Assim, para o enfrentamento do homicídio, devem ser prioritárias as políticas públicas de controle do álcool e seu papel na redução deste e de outros agravos.

This thesis examines the criminal offence of familial homicide created by section 5 of the Domestic Violence, Crime and Victims Act 2004. This offence imposes liability on the defendant if he either caused or allowed the death of the victim, and it does not have to be shown which of these alternatives applies. The offence was created to respond to a loophole in the law under which if it could not be proven which of the defendants killed the victim, or that they were acting together to cause death, they could be acquitted. However, the offence created issues of its own. This thesis builds on the positive aspects of the offence in terms of convicting culpable defendants whilst addressing its weaknesses and the issues it creates for underlying criminal theory. The thesis discusses the theory regarding causation, omissions, mens rea, and accessorial liability which are all affected by the new offence. It also considers domestic violence as it is prevalent within this context. The two main changes to the law proposed by this thesis relate to causation and omissions liability. A more gradated law of causation is necessary, and thus a theory of direct and indirect causation is advanced. It also argues that a new personal association duty is needed, expanding the traditional exceptions to omissions liability. Regarding accessorial liability, this thesis argues that in situations where it is unclear who kills the victim and who allows his death, the familial homicide offence which blurs the distinction between the parties is appropriate because it ensures that culpable defendants are no longer escaping liability. However, where the role of each party is clear the law needs to be reformed. This thesis proposes, that the current approach towards mens rea and domestic violence should remain unchanged.

abstract: The purpose of this study is to examine the factors that influence the choice of weapon in homicide. The study focuses on three research questions using data from Newark, New Jersey: what is the most commonly associated weapon with each motive? What factors influence the use of a particular type of weapon in a homicide? How does the method of weapon retrieval, or lack thereof, affect the choice of weapon? The cross-tabulation findings revealed that domestically-motivated homicides are most likely to be committed with knives and blunt objects; and drug-, gang-, dispute-, revenge, and robbery-motivated homicides were most likely to be committed using a firearm. The logistic regression demonstrated the method of weapon retrieval, the mode of how the homicide was carried out, the offender’s gender, and the victim and/or offender being a drug dealer or a gang member were all significant in terms of how they affected the offender’s use of a firearm to carry out the homicide. For knives and blunt objects, the method of weapon retrieval, the mode of how the homicide was carried out, the offender’s gender, and the victim and/or offender being a drug dealer or a gang member were all significant in terms of how they affected the offender’s use of a knife or blunt object to carry out the homicide. The results support the need for focused deterrence and conflict resolution interventions. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Criminology and Criminal Justice 2017

A violÃncia tem se tornado um problema de saÃde pÃblica no Brasil, vindo a ser a terceira principal causa de mortes. No grupo das violÃncias, os homicÃdios sÃo as principais causas de Ãbito. O principal objetivo deste estudo foi analisar a distribuiÃÃo espacial dos homicÃdios de Fortaleza no triÃnio 2004 à 2006 relacionados a fatores socioeconÃmicos. Foi utilizada a tÃcnica de linkage para resgate do local de ocorrÃncia dos contidos nos registros do IML para o banco de dados do Sistema de InformaÃÃo sobre Mortalidade (SIM). Foi criado um modelo de anÃlise de regressÃo linear multivariada que permitisse a identificaÃÃo de uma relaÃÃo estatÃstica linear entre homicÃdios e indicadores socioeconÃmicos. Foram registrados 35.266 mil Ãbitos de pessoas residentes em Fortaleza, destes 1.815 foram vÃtimas de homicÃdios. O uso do procedimento do linkage possibilitou uma melhoria das informaÃÃes contidas no SIM, com 93,6% recuperaÃÃo das informaÃÃes dos locais de ocorrÃncia do Ãbito do local de ocorrÃncia do evento violento. Para efeito da anÃlise espacial foram somente considerados 1.699 Ãbitos com bairro de ocorrÃncia identificado. O principal grupo de risco de morte por homicÃdio à o de jovens do sexo masculino entre 15 e 29 anos, em que o risco à 15,5 vezes maior que o sexo feminino, cor parda, solteiros e com baixa escolaridade. A anÃlise estatÃstica espacial foi realizada atravÃs da suavizaÃÃo das variaÃÃes das taxas utilizando-se o mÃtodo Bayesiano empÃrico e da observaÃÃo de autocorrelaÃÃo espacial atravÃs do I de Moran local. Quanto à distribuiÃÃo espacial dos homicÃdios, percebem-se contrastes relevantes entre Ãreas de piores e melhores condiÃÃes de vida, aonde 9,65% dos bairros possuem baixo IDH, tambÃm possuem altas taxas de homicÃdio. A distribuiÃÃo espacial teve um padrÃo irregular, foi realizada a suavizaÃÃo da taxa de homicÃdios que passou a se comportar de forma menos fragmentada. NÃo foi detectada autocorrelaÃÃo espacial, sendo avaliada atravÃs do Ãndice global de Moran (I= 0,0425). O modelo de regressÃo proposto com cinco variÃveis mostrou-se apropriado Ãs pretensÃes deste trabalho obtendo um coeficiente de determinaÃÃo significativo (RÂ=0, 4567). / The violence has become a public health problem in Brazil, is the third leading cause of deaths. In the Group of the violence, murders are the main causes of death. The main objective of this study was to analyze the spatial distribution of the homicides in the triennium 2004 fortress to 2006 related to socioeconomic factors. The technique was used for linkage to rescue the place of occurrence of the contained in the records of the IML to the database of Mortality Information System (SIM). Was created a model of multivariate linear regression analysis that allowed the identification of a statistical relationship between homicides and socioeconomic indicators. We recorded 35,266 thousand deaths in residents in Fortaleza, this 1,815 were victims of homicide. The use of the linkage procedure allowed an improvement of the information contained on the SIM, with 93.6% recovery of information places of occurrence of death at the place of occurrence of the violent event. For effect of spatial analysis were only considered 1,699 deaths with neighborhood of occurrence identified. The main risk group to death for murder is that of young males between 15 and 29 years, in which the risk is 15.5 times greater than the drab female, unmarried and with low schooling. Spatial statistical analysis was performed by smoothing the rate variations using the Bayesian method and empirical observation of Spatial autocorrelation through I of Moran. As for the spatial distribution of the homicide, understand-if relevant contrasts between worst areas and better living conditions, where 9.65% of districts have low IDH, also have high rates of homicide. The spatial distribution had an irregular pattern, was held anti-aliasing of the homicide rate that began to behave less fragmented. Spatial autocorrelation was not detected, being evaluated through the global index of Moran (I=0.0425). The proposed regression model with five variables proved to be appropriate to the claims of this work by obtaining a significant coefficient of determination (R = 0.4567).

Orientador: Joel Sales Giglio / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campionas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-20T03:59:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Davanco_DanielleTruffiLima_M.pdf: 2475998 bytes, checksum: 4bb474f33d60b42be17afe7feea701b0 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / Resumo: O presente trabalho objetiva a investigação psicanalítica do imaginário coletivo de homicidas acerca do matar. Compreendendo o método psicanalítico como um método investigativo nas ciências humanas e partindo de um paradigma intersubjetivo, realizamos seis entrevistas individuais para a abordagem da pessoalidade coletiva da pessoa que comete homicídio - réus confessos do crime de homicídio do Centro de Ressocialização de Mogi Mirim, SP - acerca do ato de matar. Valemo-nos de uma mediação dialógica conhecida como Procedimento Desenhos-Estórias com Tema, desenvolvida por Aiello-Vaisberg. As entrevistas foram realizadas dentro da própria Unidade prisional referida, mediante convites aos participantes, antecedidos por pesquisas em prontuário criminológico. A partir das entrevistas, narrativas transferenciais sobre o acontecer clínico foram confeccionadas; o material, considerado psicanaliticamente à luz da Teoria dos Campos de Herrmann e de interlocução com o pensamento winnicottiano, foi tomado para a captação dos campos de sentido afetivo-emocional que organizam o imaginário coletivo estudado. O quadro geral permitiu a organização das concepções imaginativas enquanto emergentes de três campos de sentido afetivoemocional: "Acontecimento fatídico "Um mundo próprio"; e "Dramática humana". A partir deste estudo, criamos/encontramos três motivações que poderiam estar sustentando o ato de matar no Imaginário Coletivo de nossos entrevistados / Abstract: This paper is intended as a psychoanalytical investigation of the collective imagination of murderers on killing. In our understanding of the psychoanalytical method as an investigative method for the Humanities, and with an intersubjective paradigm as the starting point, we conducted six personal interviews for an approach to the collective personality of people who commit murder - defendants who admitted to have committed murder and are undergoing reeducation at the Resocialization Center of Mogi Mirim, SP - regarding the act of killing, [and] we resorted to a dialogic mediation known as Procedure Drawings-Story with Theme, developed by Aiello-Vaisberg. The interviews were conducted inside the prison facility itself through invitations extended to those undergoing participants, preceded by research of criminal records in order to locate those who were serving sentences for the aforementioned crime. With the interviews as a starting point, transferential narratives on clinical events were carefully prepared; the material, considered psychoanalytically under the light of Herrmann's Field Theory and an interlocution with Winnicottian thought, was considered in order to capture the affective-emotional sense fields that organize the Collective Imaginary subject to study. This overview allowed imaginative conceptions to be organized while emerging from three affective-emotional sense fields: "fateful event"; "one's own world" and "human dramatics," which is organized around the belief that human living, a very complex phenomenon, encompasses both destructive and violent deeds and constructive and kind deeds, and such deeds are capable of being done by every human being. We concluded that, based on this study, three motives could be supporting the Collective Imaginary for the conduct of the interviewed murderers / Mestrado / Ciencias Biomedicas / Mestre em Ciências Médicas

Orientador: Joaquim Murray Bustorff-Silva / Tese (doutorado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Médicas / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-20T07:02:38Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Fraga_AndreadeMeloAlexandre_D.pdf: 1835249 bytes, checksum: adcb75e4140a6b909cecdf5644ace0fe (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / Resumo: A doença trauma é considerada, mundialmente, a primeira causa de óbito na população entre um e 44 anos de idade. Entre as causas de trauma incluem-se os acidentes e a violência, correspondendo a causas externas intencionais ou não intencionais. Na infância, as principais causas externas que cursam com óbito em países desenvolvidos, estão relacionadas a acidentes de trânsito, seguidas por afogamento. O objetivo deste estudo retrospectivo baseado em laudos de necropsia foi descrever o perfil epidemiológico de óbitos por causas externas em menores de 18 anos de idade na cidade de Campinas, Brasil, no período entre 2001 e 2008. Entre os 2170 óbitos observados em menores de 18 anos, independente da causa, constatou-se que 530 foram por causas externas, com predomínio do sexo masculino, na proporção de 3.4:1. Houve um predomínio de óbitos no grupo etário de 10-17 anos (76%). O principal mecanismo observado foi ferimento por projétil de arma de fogo (FPAF - 47%). No período entre 2005-2008, houve uma diminuição no número de óbitos em consequência da redução dos homicídios. Outros mecanismos frequentes foram acidentes relacionados a trânsito (26%; sendo a maioria vítima de atropelamento - 57,2%) seguido por afogamento (10,4%). Asfixia/sufocação foi o mecanismo de morte em 72% dos casos com idade inferior a um ano; afogamento predominou entre 1-4 anos (30,8%); acidentes relacionados a trânsito foram frequentes nos grupos de 5-9 anos (56%) e de 10-14 anos (40,4%) e FPAF teve a maior incidência (68%) no grupo 14-17 anos. Cinquenta e um porcento dos óbitos ocorreram na própria cena e 15%, durante o atendimento pré hospitalar. Conclui-se que houve um predomínio de óbitos em crianças e adolescentes do sexo masculino, na faixa etária de 15-17 anos, principalmente por FPAF, sendo homicídio a intenção predominante / Abstract: Trauma disease is considered the first cause of death worldwide in the population from 1 to 44 years of age. Among trauma causes are accidents and violence, comprising intentional and non-intentional external causes. In childhood, in developed countries, the major external causes resulting in death are traffic accidents, followed by drowning. This retrospective study based in autopsy examinations describes the epidemiology profile of death by external causes in individuals younger than 18 years from 2001 to 2008 in Campinas city, Brazil. There were 2170 deaths of all causes in < 18 years, 530 of which were due to external causes, with male predominance 3.4:1. The age distribution reveled 76% of deaths in the group 10-17 years. The most predominant trauma mechanism was firearm injuries (47%), but there was a decrease of deaths in the period 2005-2008 in consequence of homicides reduction. Other frequent mechanisms were transport related injuries (138 - 26%; pedestrian struck in 57.2% of these deaths) and drowning (55 - 10.4%). Asphyxia/suffocation was the mechanism of injury in 72% of deaths in group < 1 year; drowning (30.8%) was predominant in group 1-4; transport related deaths were frequent in the groups 5-9 (56%) and 10-14 (40.4%); and firearm had the highest frequency (68%) in the group 14-17 years. 51% of deaths occurred at the scene and 15% at the pre-hospital care. In conclusion, there was predominance of death in children and adolescents males, between 15-17 years old, mainly by firearm mechanism, predominantly due to homicide intent / Doutorado / Fisiopatologia Cirúrgica / Doutor em Ciências

There is growing evidence investigating the aftermath of homicide on those families bereaved. The literature suggests a potentially devastating emotional and psychological impact on family members and loved ones. Despite this, the research focused on developing and empirically evaluating service provision and clinical interventions for this population is sparse and lends its focus to support groups (Blakley & Mehr, 2008) and family therapy (Hatton, 2003). The aim of the current thesis is to conduct an evaluation of a service that provides therapeutic interventions with those bereaved by homicide. It will present a mixed methods approach, utilising thematic analysis of interviews with staff members and quantitative analysis of service user’s psychological distress outcomes. Finally, based on key findings presented, implications for future research, policy development and practice are included.

Studies have indicated that the loss of a child to violence is a traumatic experience that can leave mothers in an unmitigated state of suffering and trepidation. Available research suggests that Black mothers who suffer disproportionately from violent loss, their experience of loss while individualized, is grounded in social contexts. The following phenomenological study explores the lived experiences of three Black mothers who have lost a child to homicide. This study explores the social phenomenon associated with losing a “Black” child to homicide and the grieving and bereavement experience of the surviving mother. Analysis revealed that the themes of race, gender and class are defining facets that intensify and compound the conditions of grief for Black mothers. This study concludes with recommendations in hopes of helping others begin to understand all that is lost and what must be understood when a Black Mother losses her child to homicide.

Independent Homicide Inquiries (IHIs) investigate homicides committed by persons in receipt of mental health services. They explore the potential causes of these events in order to learn lessons and improve the future provision of mental health services. IHIs decipher complex mental health care histories that, on further inspection, appear resistant to linear causal theories about what actually happened. IHIs are thus constantly open to indeterminacy in their findings regarding what caused the homicide, whether it was predictable and whether it could have been prevented. This is important because IHIs use these findings as a platform for changing the way mental health services are provided. The present thesis implements a theoretical framework, based on Niklas Luhmann’s systems theory, which explains why this problem occurs. Luhmann argued that reality is constructed by distinctly meaningful social systems of communication based around specific social codes. He furthermore posits that decisions are open to continual objection, disagreement and regret. Not only can decisions be decided otherwise by virtue of being decisions, but that social systems will observe decisions in different ways. Decisions can always be observed to be objectionable, incorrect and regrettable after they have been taken. Using this framework, this thesis asks how IHIs retrospectively understand the provision of mental health services in the cases that appear before them. It argues that IHIs construct their investigation and findings using specific social communications that give their observations specific meaning. In light of an expanding, interconnected decision making edifice that comprises mental health services however, the link between identifiable decisions and acts of homicide is obfuscated by ‘systems and processes’. This, in turn, obfuscates individual agency. The thesis consequently calls for a revision of what it means to hold mental health professionals to account in the aftermath of homicide.