<p>Cohabiting with a partner, rather than living in a legal marriage, has been documented as a significant risk factor for intimate partner homicide. This study used national U.S. homicide data from 1990-2005 to examine changes in risk patterns. The results showed that both male and female cohabiting victims experienced a steep decline in intimate partner homicide rates. Such was the strength of this decline that by 2005 cohabiting couples were no longer at higher risk than married couples. A similar, though weaker, trend was found in Canada between 1991 and 2006. It was hypothesised that this convergence of cohabiting and married homicide rates was due to cohabiting and married populations becoming more similar in terms of socio-demographic variables. Contrary to expectation, over time, the U.S. and Canadian cohabiting populations remained younger, poorer, less educated, and less conventional, than their married counterparts. This suggests that demographic changes were not responsible for the decline in cohabiting homicide rates. Further research is required to determine whether changes in union characteristics may have driven the decline in cohabiting homicide risk.</p> / Master of Science (MSc)

Actuellement, la violence conjugale demeure un phénomène social grave et complexe au sein de nos sociétés contemporaines. Au Canada, le taux de violence perpétrée par un partenaire intime ne cesse d’augmenter depuis plusieurs années et la récente pandémie de COVID-19 survenue en 2020 a aggravé les épisodes de tension au sein des foyers, notamment en raison des mesures sanitaires restrictives. Plus que jamais, la protection des victimes de violence conjugale devient critique, et c’est pourquoi il est essentiel que toutes les mesures de prévention disponibles doivent être mises en œuvre dans ce but commun. Ce mémoire propose donc d’explorer les enjeux relatifs à l’implantation de bracelets antirapprochements (BAR) comme moyen de prévention des homicides conjugaux au Québec. Sur la base d’entretiens semi-directifs, l’échantillon est composé d’un total de 14 participants, dont 6 proviennent d’organismes policiers, 3 proviennent d’organismes impliqués dans la gestion des personnes contrevenantes, 3 sont issus d’organismes impliqués dans les missions d’aide aux victimes et 2 sont issus d’organismes associés à la défense des droits de la personne. L’analyse des données recueillies met en évidence quatre types d’enjeux relatifs à l’implantation de BAR en contexte de violence conjugale au Québec, à savoir les enjeux technologiques, légaux, éthiques et sociaux. Ces derniers devront faire l’objet d’une analyse approfondie par les décideurs advenant l’implantation du BAR au Québec. Cela étant, le BAR s’inscrit comme un outil de prévention tertiaire innovant et prometteur des homicides conjugaux, et relève d’un grand potentiel quant à l’amélioration de la qualité de vie des victimes. / Currently, intimate partner violence remains a serious and complex social phenomenon within our contemporary societies. In Canada, the rate of violence perpetrated by an intimate partner has been steadily increasing for several years and the recent pandemic of COVID-19 which occurred in 2020 has aggravated episodes of tension within homes, due to restrictive health measures among others. More than ever, the protection of victims of intimate partner violence becomes critical, and that is why it is essential that all available prevention measures must be implemented for this common purpose. This thesis therefore proposes to explore the issues relating to the implantation of anti-reconciliation bracelets (BAR) as a means of preventing spousal homicides in Quebec. Based on semi-structured interviews, the sample is made up of a total of 14 participants, including 6 from police organizations, 3 from organizations involved in the management of offenders, 3 from organizations involved in victim assistance missions and 2 are from organizations associated with the defense of human rights. The analysis of the data collected highlights four types of issues relating to the implementation of BAR in the context of intimate partner violence in Quebec, namely technological, legal, ethical and social issues. These will have to be the subject of an in-depth analysis by the decision-makers in the event of the establishment of the BAR in Quebec. That said, the BAR is an innovative and promising tertiary prevention tool for spousal homicides and has great potential for improving the quality of life of victims.

The scientific study of child abuse and infanticide is a relatively young practice in the field of medicine, psychiatry and psychology, and although the role of parents in child homicide has been studied, minimal research has focused on the role of the male paramour, or the child's mother's boyfriend, as the perpetrator of child homicides. This study aimed to examine the differences between male paramours and biological fathers who kill children and hypothesized that biological fathers or step-fathers are significantly more likely than the child's mother's male paramour to kill their children due to relationship factors between the perpetrator and the child's mother, specifically and for the purpose of this study in the context of domestic violence. Child homicides committed by male paramours, in comparison, are more likely to have resulted from factors that are individually or child-centered. Decedent children ages 0-17 that were killed at the hands of their biological father, male-stepfather, or biological mother's male paramours between the years 1999 through 2005 in Miami-Dade County were be studied. The age of the perpetrators and child victims killed by the two groups were compared using an independent samples t-test, with a significance level set at .05. The two groups of male perpetrators were compared on prior domestic violence histories, prior criminal histories, evidence of prior trauma to the child, and perpetration of multiple homicide and post-incident suicide using a chi-square test, with a significance level set of .05. Significant differences were found between the two groups. Specifically, paramours are significantly more likely to be younger than biological fathers and children killed by paramours are more likely to evidence prior trauma. Further, biological fathers are significantly more likely to have a history of domestic violence, as a perpetrator, engage in multiple killings, and commit suicide after perpetrating the child death. The study demonstrates the need for prevention resources to target the two groups differently, to be most effective in prevention. The study also demonstrates the need for more extensive research comparing differences child homicide versus child abuse and in those that perpetrate the two. Lastly, it should inform public policy and the law and how these are applied to cases of domestic violence and child welfare.

published_or_final_version / Sociology / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

published_or_final_version / abstract / Sociology / Master / Master of Philosophy

Disertacijoje, remiantis Vilniaus pavieto pavyzdžiu, nagrinėjami smurtiniai bajorijos nusikaltimai ir bausmės XVIII a. Lietuvos Didžiojoje Kunigaikštystėje. Darbe atkleidžiama nusikaltimų struktūra: statistika, priežastys, erdvė, socialinė aukų bei nusikaltėlių sudėtis, smurto laipsnis, bausmių teorija ir praktika. Per bajorijos kaip valdančiojo luomo nusikalstamumo tyrimą siekiama pažvelgti į to meto visuomenę, tiriami jos konfliktai ir jų sprendimų būdai, bajorijos santykiai tarpusavyje ir su kitais luomais. Pagrindinis darbo šaltinis – Vilniaus pavieto pilies ir žemės teismų knygos. Disertacijoje nagrinėjami smurtiniai nusikaltimai: gyvybės atėmimo, kūno sužalojimo, skausmo suteikimo nusikaltimai (nužudymai, sumušimai, dvikovos ir kiti), nelegalus įkalinimas, seksualinė prievarta, valdų antpuoliai, miesto namų užpuolimai, plėšimas. Tiriamos garbės atėmimo, ištrėmimo, bokšto kalėjimo, mirties bausmės. Nustatyta, kad aukščiausias nusikalstamo pakilimas buvo penktame ir devintame XVIII a. dešimtmečiuose, mažiausiai nusikaltimų užfiksuota aštuntame dešimtmetyje. Daugiausia nusikaltimų vyko kaimo erdvėje. Paskutiniame amžiaus trečdalyje nusikaltimų Vilniuje skaičius smarkiai išaugo. Nustatyta, kad dažniausi nusikaltimai buvo gyvybės atėmimo, kūno sužalojimo, skausmo suteikimo nusikaltimai bei valdų antpuoliai, kiti buvo retesni. Nors Lietuvos Statuto nuostatos buvo griežtos, teisminė ir policinė kontrolė šalyje nebuvo stipri. Daugelis nusikaltimų nebūdavo išaiškinami, o... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Based on the example of Vilnius district, the thesis attempts to analyse violent crimes and punishments of the nobility in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the 18th century. It reveals the structure of crimes: statistics, motives, criminal environment, social composition of victims and criminals, level of violence, theory and practice of punishments. The study of criminal conduct of the nobility as the leading social class provides the opportunity to take a glance at the society of that time; the thesis analyses its conflicts and ways of their solving, relations within the noble class and with other social classes. The major source of the thesis is castle court and land court books of Vilnius district. The thesis analyses violent crimes: homicide, bodily injury, pain infliction (murders, contusions, duels and others), illegal imprisonment, sexual violence, estate raids, city household attacks, robbery. Sentences of deprivation of honour, exile, tower imprisonment, capital punishment fall under the scope of the thesis. It has been determined that the peak of criminal conduct was reached in the 1740s and 1780s, whereas the lowest number of crimes was recorded in the 1770s. The rural environment featured a higher prevalence of criminal activity. However, a number of crimes committed in Vilnius significantly increased in the final third of the century. The study revealed that the most common crimes were homicide, bodily injury, pain infliction and domain raids; others were less... [to full text]

Based on the example of Vilnius district, the thesis attempts to analyse violent crimes and punishments of the nobility in the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in the 18th century. It reveals the structure of crimes: statistics, motives, criminal environment, social composition of victims and criminals, level of violence, theory and practice of punishments. The study of criminal conduct of the nobility as the leading social class provides the opportunity to take a glance at the society of that time; the thesis analyses its conflicts and ways of their solving, relations within the noble class and with other social classes. The major source of the thesis is castle court and land court books of Vilnius district. The thesis analyses violent crimes: homicide, bodily injury, pain infliction (murders, contusions, duels and others), illegal imprisonment, sexual violence, estate raids, city household attacks, robbery. Sentences of deprivation of honour, exile, tower imprisonment, capital punishment fall under the scope of the thesis. It has been determined that the peak of criminal conduct was reached in the 1740s and 1780s, whereas the lowest number of crimes was recorded in the 1770s. The rural environment featured a higher prevalence of criminal activity. However, a number of crimes committed in Vilnius significantly increased in the final third of the century. The study revealed that the most common crimes were homicide, bodily injury, pain infliction and domain raids; others were less... [to full text] / Disertacijoje, remiantis Vilniaus pavieto pavyzdžiu, nagrinėjami smurtiniai bajorijos nusikaltimai ir bausmės XVIII a. Lietuvos Didžiojoje Kunigaikštystėje. Darbe atkleidžiama nusikaltimų struktūra: statistika, priežastys, erdvė, socialinė aukų bei nusikaltėlių sudėtis, smurto laipsnis, bausmių teorija ir praktika. Per bajorijos kaip valdančiojo luomo nusikalstamumo tyrimą siekiama pažvelgti į to meto visuomenę, tiriami jos konfliktai ir jų sprendimų būdai, bajorijos santykiai tarpusavyje ir su kitais luomais. Pagrindinis darbo šaltinis – Vilniaus pavieto pilies ir žemės teismų knygos. Disertacijoje nagrinėjami smurtiniai nusikaltimai: gyvybės atėmimo, kūno sužalojimo, skausmo suteikimo nusikaltimai (nužudymai, sumušimai, dvikovos ir kiti), nelegalus įkalinimas, seksualinė prievarta, valdų antpuoliai, miesto namų užpuolimai, plėšimas. Tiriamos garbės atėmimo, ištrėmimo, bokšto kalėjimo, mirties bausmės. Nustatyta, kad aukščiausias nusikalstamo pakilimas buvo penktame ir devintame XVIII a. dešimtmečiuose, mažiausiai nusikaltimų užfiksuota aštuntame dešimtmetyje. Daugiausia nusikaltimų vyko kaimo erdvėje. Paskutiniame amžiaus trečdalyje nusikaltimų Vilniuje skaičius smarkiai išaugo. Nustatyta, kad dažniausi nusikaltimai buvo gyvybės atėmimo, kūno sužalojimo, skausmo suteikimo nusikaltimai bei valdų antpuoliai, kiti buvo retesni. Nors Lietuvos Statuto nuostatos buvo griežtos, teisminė ir policinė kontrolė šalyje nebuvo stipri. Daugelis nusikaltimų nebūdavo išaiškinami, o... [toliau žr. visą tekstą]

Despite significant gains in research and programming, domestic violence persists, with domestic homicides remaining a particular concern. Yet, very little has been written about the administrative and policy responses that exist to combat domestic homicide. In Canada, inquiries, inquests, Domestic Violence Death Review Committees, and other models are increasingly being recognized as important policy responses following an intimate partner death. To assess their potential for tertiary prevention, this thesis examines models of inquiry adopted in Ontario, Manitoba, New Brunswick, and British Columbia, using secondary data analysis of relevant literature and reports as well as qualitative interviews with 11 respondents with expertise in one or more of the models. After considering the strengths and limitations of each model of inquiry, the main conclusion drawn is that the models work in complementary fashion such that, in combination, they offer a path forward in combatting the serious problem of domestic homicide. / February 2017

Using data from the Chicago Homicide Dataset for years 1988-1992 and the Chicago Community Area Demographics, multiple regression and mediation analysis are used to examine various community level factors’ impact on Intimate Partner Homicide (IPH) rates per Chicago community area. The relationship between the percentage of non-white and IPH rate per Chicago community area is significant and positive, but disappears once economic strain is taken into account, as well as when family disruption is included in the model. There is a weak, but positive relationship between population density and IPH rates, but neither economic strain nor family disruption mediates the relationship between population density and IPH rates. Economic deprivation is positively related to IPH rates, but economic strain and family disruption partially mediate the relationship between economic deprivation and IPH rates. Finally, the relationship between the percentage of males aged 30-59 and IPH rates per community area in Chicago is moderately negative, but this relationship disappears once economic strain is accounted for in the model. However, family disruption does not mediate the relationship between the percentage of males aged 30-59 and IPH rates. These results indicate that some structural covariates impact IPH rates and that some relationships are mediated by economic strain and family disruption. These results also lend support to a modified approach to general strain theory (GST). More research is necessary to validate these results.

Introduction: The World Health Assembly declared violence as a worldwide public health problem. Homicides have been identified as a leading cause of death in the United States across all age groups. The national homicide rate for 2004 and 2005 are 5.5 and 5.6 per 100,000 population, respectively. The reported rates for Virginia are 5.2 (2004) and 5.6 (2005) per 100,000 population, showing a 16.9% increase. Richmond has been ranked as high as the sixth most dangerous among similar cities in the United States. This study examines penetrating trauma injuries identified through 9-1-1 calls as an indicator of the incidence of homicide in Richmond, Virginia. The purpose of this study was to determine if Richmond has become a safer city, with respect to this type of injury over a five year period. Objectives: (1) To determine if the incidence of penetrating trauma has changed significantly over the five year study period. (2) To examine possible trends in descriptive statistics of study variables. (3) To assess trends in the distribution of response location. Methods: This is a retrospective study of data collected from 91 1 calls to Richmond Ambulance Authority in Richmond, Virginia, with a chief complaint of penetrating trauma during the years 2002-2006. Descriptive statistics were completed on all transported patients. Chi-square tests were used to determine trends. GIs was used to spatially examine the distribution of incident locations.Results: There was no significant trend in the incidence by year. Annual distribution of shooting versus stabbings varied significantly over the study period with the proportions of gunshots decreasing while stabbings increased. There was no significant trend in age, gender, number of patients transported or transport protocol over the study period. Level of care varied significantly over the five year period with BLS decreasing while Basic ALS increased. 39% of neighborhoods had no known incidents, while 8% of neighborhoods accounted for 40% of known gunshot and stabbing incidents. Discussion: These findings show that overall, with respect to known penetrating trauma incidents, Richmond has not become much safer over the five year period. A major limitation of this study is that most analyses were completed using only patients transported by the RAA. Future research should examine outcome data to determine if the change in type of penetrating trauma proportions resulted in greater survival rates.