Homicide occurs when a person takes the life of another person. Instrumental aggression is common in homicide cases as most of the offenders commit the crime due to the urge to possess what they lack from the victim. This includes valuable items and money. Some of the homicide offenders do not act with the aim of killing a person. Expressive aggression in homicide occurs as a result of an individual’s reaction to anger and the intention to harm the victim. The offender kills the victim as a way for them to achieve their goal.
The different kinds of homicide include murder and manslaughter. The common types of murder are first and second-degree murder. The former is the kind of homicide that is more serious as it is concerned with the situations where an individual gets the accusation of killing another individual after planning. This kind of homicide required for an evil intention and a plan to carry out the murder. First-degree murder cases are among the most severe crimes that get faced with lifelong harsh punishments. Second-degree murder occurs when an individual intended to kill another person without having had the plan to carry out the act.
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Manslaughter is the kind of homicide that occurs when the accused had no plan for the murder, and they did not have the intention to kill the victim ( Daly & Wilson, 1988). The offenders get charged due to the unfortunate circumstances that caused the death of the other person. This act can happen, for instance, when a driver causes an accident that leads to death without him having had the intention to kill. The sentences that arise due to manslaughter are less severe than those of second-degree murder. Justifiable homicide occurs when a person murders if they were defending themselves or were in similar circumstances. Justifiable murder occurs in the case when a person kills another person if they were defending themselves. It occurs under unplanned conditions and does not carry any legal charges.
The rate of homicide varies with different groups of people; for instance, the minority and the majority groups, religion, gender, and the social structure. The different rates of poverty and income distribution are among the significant factors the contribute to high standards of homicide. People who find it challenging to secure necessities are at a high risk of committing homicide crimes than the individuals who are well off. Countries that have unequal income distribution have high rates of homicides. This instance indicates the relationship between the unequal distribution of income and high standards of crimes. Additionally, drug and alcohol abuse have a direct impact on the rate of homicide. The use of drugs by individuals may alter their behavior and increase the individual’s chances of committing homicide. Moreover, some individuals who abuse drugs may commit violent crimes accidentally when they did not mean to do it.
Theoretical analysis
Social theory of income inequality implies that society creates conditions that can make an individual commit a crime. Income inequality is a significant driver of violence as countries that experience homicide have low level incomes. There is a relationship between the degree of social inequality and homicide crime levels. Research has it that there are high rates of homicide cases in societies with unequal distribution of income. Moreover, the issue of homicide is related to small nonindustrial communities. The gap between the poor and the rich indicates the high rates of murder than any other factor. About 50% of homicide cases are as a result of inequality.
Homicide crimes are more likely to occur in communities that face economic constraints, are extensive and densely populated (Roth, 2012) . Such social structures deprive the community members an opportunity to practice effective social control. Residents in such communities do not have adequate skills and resources to assist each other. Most of the individuals are poor and face challenges in socializing with each other and with family members. The social environment in which people live has a direct impact on their likelihood to commit homicide. Most people engage in criminal activities because they do not find any benefits in adhering to conventional social values. Such people believe that they engage in crime to boost their financial conditions.
Implications for Public Policy
Informal social control institutions play an essential role in reducing the high rates of homicide as they address the particular concerns of the offender (Roth, 2012) . Measures to ensure that the rich and he poor do not have a huge gap in their income can assist in curbing homicide. Moreover, employment opportunities should be offered to people with a poor background to enable them meet up their basic needs without engaging in crimes. Equal distribution of income enhances equality in education hence individuals are offered with equal opportunities employment. Rehabilitation is a more effective manner to correct such offenders as it provides them with educational programs that help individuals to prevent such crimes in the future. Educational programs can be useful to both the offenders and the victim in a particular crime. It is possible to correct an individual’s criminal behavior through rehabilitation as it offers a chance for such people to learn about their problems and how they can change their behavior to avoid engaging in illegal activities. Moreover, informal social control institutions ease the chances of such people to reenter the community because they become reformed people.
The police play an essential role in the criminal justice system. The main tasks given to police is the enforce the law, protect citizens, arrest suspected law violators, and to help in the prevention of criminal activities. The courts have the responsibility to ensure that criminal suspects receive a fair hearing and then determine whether the suspects are guilty or innocent (Kessler & Piehl, 1997) . Long prison sentences are not the solution to instill positive behavior in law offenders.
Prison reforms should be put in place to replace the long sentences which tend to turn peaceful inmates into violent people. Additionally, long prison sentences cause the overcrowding of prisons, and they do not offer the prisoners a conducive platform to reform. Still, it can instead turn them into more violent people. Having more police in the streets is a more natural way for law enforcement authorities to respond to crimes. Visibly patrolling police can prevent homicide crimes by instilling fears in the would-be criminal offenders. It is no doubt that hiring more police helps in preventing illegal activities.
References
Daly, M., & Wilson, M. (1988). Homicide . Transaction Publishers.
Kessler, D. P., & Piehl, A. M. (1997). The role of discretion in the criminal justice system (No. w6261). National Bureau of Economic Research.
Roth, R. (2012). American homicide . Harvard University Press.
