The Incidence of Homicides in New York City - Research Paper Example

? The Incidence of Homicides using Firearms or non-firearms in New York April 30, Homicides are crimes that can be managed. In a research conducted, homicides that occurred in New York City from 1990 to 1999 shows a computed that 72 percent were killed using firearms and the remaining 28 percent were killed without the use of firearms. The total population of the firearm –killed homicides is 8,820 persons. On the other hand, the number of persons dying from non-firearm –killed homicides is 3,430 (Cerda, 2010). The survey was done on 74 New York police precincts from 1990 to 1999. The research was conducted using five sources. One of the five sources is the Office of Chief Medical Examiner of New York. There are different aspects of homicide. Statistics based on the age of the homicide attackers. In the same light, researches have been conducted to determine the age of the homicide victims. Homicide often occurs because one party is more powerful than the other party. In most homicide cases, the attackers have guns. The homicide victims will die from the superior force exerted by the homicide attackers. In addition, many homicide attackers have psychological problems. The attackers entertain a closed concept that they are authorized to kill the homicide victim. The homicide attacker has already made up one’s mind that he or she is correct in committing the homicide act. Some races have higher homicide attack incidents compared to the homicide attacks done in other races. Some homicides crop up in the workplace. Jealously can also influence the homicide attacker to wage a deadly attack on one’s fellow worker. In the same light, the retrenchment of the homicide attacker may trigger the homicide attacker to get revenge on one’s demotion, termination, and other acts that had triggered the homicide attacker to unleash one’s anger on the fellow company worker. The insane persons, who engineered homicidal acts, have also cropped up during prior generations and prior time periods. Consequently, solutions have been instituted to lessen the person’s insanity levels. Some sectors of American society are brought up to avoid committing homicidal acts. Some people, such as Hitler, are tied up to their destiny to commit murder or homicide. According to the above discussion, homicides are illegal acts that can be controlled. There are different statistical information on homicidal acts. The various aspects of the homicide crime indicate different procedures to resolve the homicide issues. Vividly, a study of the diverse statistical data, incorporating the firearms caused homicides and the non-firearms caused homicides will help lessen future homicide attacks. The incidence of homicides using firearms or non-firearms in New York City Homicides are crimes that can be controlled. The research centers on homicides. The research centers on the different aspects of the crime. Studying the causes of the homicides will help reduce future homicide attacks. In a research conducted, homicides that occurred in New York City from 1990 to 1999 shows that 72 percent were firearm related and the remaining 28 percent were non firearm related. The total population of the firearm related homicides is 8,820 persons. On the other hand, the number of persons dying from non-firearm related homicides is 3,430 (Cerda, 2010). The survey was conducted on 74 New York police precincts from 1990 to 1999. The research was conducted using five sources. One of the five sources is the Office of Chief Medical Examiner of New York. Another source is the New York Police Department. A third source is the New York City Human Resources Administration. A fourth source is the New York City’s Mayor’s Management Office. The fifth source is the United States Census Bureau. The units of analysis were the New York Police Precincts. Specifically, the homicide research was conducted using standard manual review and the abstraction of the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Gregory Moffatt (27) insists “Homicide is not a monolith. The etiologies of homicide are as diverse as the types of homicide. Homicide has been divided into four categories by the International Association of Chiefs of Police: domestic, confrontational, youth, and robbery related. 1 While these four categories are generally useful in classifying homicide, they can each be subdivided. For example, we can divide domestic homicide into subgroups including partner-to-partner, child-to-adult, adult-to-child, sibling-to-sibling, homosexual partner violence, and so on.” The above quote clearly shows that there are different aspects of homicide. One aspect of suicide is gender. Studies have been conducted to determine the gender of the homicide attackers. In the same light, researches have been conducted to determine the gender of the homicide victims. Another aspect of the homicide is the age of the parties. Studies have been conducted to determine the homicide Statistics based on the age of the homicide attackers. In the same light, researches have been conducted to determine the age of the homicide victims. Likewise, the homicide statistics also centers on the location of the homicide attackers. The homicide statistics can center on the location of the homicide victims. In addition, the homicide statistics can focus on the influence of drugs on the homicide attackers’ penchant to commit homicide. The homicide statistics and focus on the possible drug influence as factor in the homicide victims’ falling prey to the homicide assailants. Further, James Buchanan (41) reiterated “Early in the fourteenth century the scholars of the Norman nation at the University of Paris met in convocation. "There it was put to a vote, whether it pleased those who were present that the stronger members . . . should arm themselves and attack the members of another nation. And whoever found this agreeable should raise his hand and say, 'Yes.'" The students voted for the resolution, and in the following fight one clerk was killed and another mutilated. 1 The papal letter that tells us of this incident illustrates one of the most striking features of medieval homicide, its markedly collective character.” The above quote clearly shows that homicide often occurs because one party is more powerful than the other party. In most homicide cases, the attackers have guns. The homicide victims will die from the superior force exerted by the homicide attackers. The homicide attackers will not push through with the intended attack on their supposed victims if has an equal power or has possession of a gun and other arms at hand. The homicide attacker will surely not push through with the homicide attack if the supposed several persons, friends of the supposed victim, suddenly appear from nowhere and stay beside the intended homicide victim. In the same light, the homicide attacker will not continue one’s intended attack if the attacker finds out that he or she forgot to bring a gun, knife, or any weapon that may help keep the homicide attacker at a more powerful stance compared to the intended homicide victim. In addition, Louis Schlesinger (195) mentioned “The compulsive offender lies on the extreme endogenous end of the motivational spectrum (see Chapter 3) and is least influenced by external or socio-genic factors. From a clinical perspective, the compulsive offender has a powerful urge to act out his violent thoughts and fantasies, with a strong potential for repetition. He knows that the urge is dangerous and often plans his actions first in his mind, then perhaps through some behavioral tryouts; finally, often years later, he commits a criminal act. Other times, the compulsive offender acts out his fantasies in an unplanned, spontaneous manner when a victim of opportunity crosses his path.” The above quote clearly shows that many homicide attackers have psychological problems. The attackers have a closed concept that they must kill the homicide victim. The homicide attacker has already made up one’s mind that he or she is correct in committing the homicide act. The homicide attacker feels that killing the homicide victim is the best alternative in any given situation. In addition, the homicide attacker believes, from false or lacking information that killing the victim is a justifiable act. For example, the homicide attacker sincerely believes that killing the homicide victim is an act of defense to prevent the homicide victim from killing the homicide attacker. In the same light, the homicide attacker believes that killing the homicide victim is an act of revenge for a past crime committed against the homicide attacker. In addition, Rionet Bachman (29) insists “American Indians have one of the highest national homicide rates of all racial/ethnic groups in this country. Further, the homicide rates sometimes reach monumental proportions when reservation county rates are examined. For example, some counties have American Indian homicide rates over 100 per 100,000 population. Other investigators have noted high rates of American Indian homicide as well.” The above quote clearly shows that some races have higher homicide attacks compared to the homicide attacks done in other races. The above quote clearly indicates that the American Indians are prone to committing homicides. Likewise, the American Indians are prone to becoming victims of homicidal attacks. The quote clearly shows that there are communities or races where the homicidal attacks are not as prevalent. Consequently, there are lesser homicide victims when the environment does not persuade or entice one or more persons to commit homicidal acts. Further, Michael Kelleher (171) states “The impact of occupational homicide in most work environments can be mitigated with sufficient understanding of the problem and attention to effective intervention and prevention strategies. Through the examination of case studies, the relevant organizational weaknesses that can be identified as contributing causes to the crime, the study of a variety of behavioral and cultural influences that can be identified as potential causal factors in workplace violence, and the presentation of a number of management techniques designed to identify safety and security concerns, it should be clear that there are avenues available to staff and managers to effectively deal with this onerous threat to the workplace.” The above quote clearly shows that the homicides do occur in the workplace. Jealously may trigger the homicide attacker to wage a deadly attack on one’s fellow worker. In the same light, the retrenchment of the homicide attacker may trigger the homicide attacker to get revenge on one’s demotion, termination, and other acts that had triggered the homicide attacker to unleash one’s anger on the fellow company worker. Furthermore, Robert Heckel (3) mentions “An increasing concern regarding trends in juvenile homicide has resulted in a series of excellent reviews and analyses providing a database for further study and investigation. Unfortunately, because of the structure of these approaches few statistics are currently available on our target group, preteen murderers. When we ask “Who are they, these preteens who commit murders?” we may believe the obvious answer is to be found by simple consulting of official statistics from state and federal agencies and searching through published reports in professional journals.” The above quote clearly indicates that some teenagers can also engage in homicidal attacks. The upbringing or culture of the teenager significantly affects the homicidal attacks. some children grew up in a home where violence is taught to be the best remedy out of a given conflict or fight. The child may have grown under hostile trainings and situations resulting to the child being forced to take the law into one’s hands. The above quote clearly shows that teenagers have the power to inflict damage or death on another person. In the same manner, Robbin Ogle (93) opines “we explore the law of self-defense. As an initial matter, it is good to be reminded that there is not a single “law of self-defense.” Each state recognizes the defense, but our federalist system allows each to define and understand it differently. Given the variety, indeed the discrepancy, of understandings, it is difficult to draw meaningful generalizations.” Some homicidal cases are valid. Some individuals are forced to kill an assailant. The force is used in order to prevent the unwanted homicide attacker from successfully inflicting a deadly wound on the other person. The law and the United States courts allow one to kill another person. However, the killing must be done in order to protect oneself from the physical attacks of the homicide attacker. In terms of self-defense, the falsely accused homicide attacks. In addition, Janet Colaizzi (3i) observes “Early in the 1980s, a person who had been under psychiatric care attempted to assassinate the president of the United States. The mass media used this occasion to raise the question of why psychiatrists permitted disturbed and dangerous patients like John Hinckley to move freely in society. The expectation that doctors could and should restrain dangerous lunatics has deep roots in the past.” The above quote clearly shows that some persons who commit homicidal acts are mentally challenged. Their mental functions are classified as needing professional help. In this case, the mentally challenged person is not guilt of any homicidal act. However, the insane homicidal attacker will be admitted to the mental hospitals. The admittance into the hospitals will ensure that the insane person is professionally taken care of. The psychiatrist will give dosages of mind-correcting drugs to calm the insane person. The same psychiatrist will give the patient several continuing and regular tests to determine the insane person’s daily insanity levels. Some causes of the person’s insanity include the patients level of pressure had exploded. The insane person could not longer cope with the many pressures of daily life. The insane person is catapulted into another world, the insane world. The same author (Colaizzi 3) states “The issue of homicidal insanity is embedded in the scientific and social history of medicine on the Continent and in the United States; and, despite the panorama of change over a 200-year span, it has remained a central social issue and a conundrum for psychiatry.” The above quote clearly shows that insane persons have also cropped up during prior generations and prior time periods. Likewise, remedies have been instituted to lessen the person’s insanity levels. The United States government is taking a realistic stance on the fight to eradiate insanity within its shores. The government institute plans and projects to soothe and remove. In a related situation, Paul Rock (1) mentions “Criminal homicide is not a single entity in law, and its subdivisions have been shaped by strong moral and instrumental imperatives. Murder, especially, has been set apart from any other form of homicide as an abhorrent act which violates the principle of the sanctity of life and which must be awarded its own distinctive penalty. In the moral language of jurisprudence and Government, 2 it tends to be represented as the most heinous of all crimes (indeed, the word 'heinous' seems to have been reserved especially to describe that one offence).” The above quote clearly indicates that the crime of homicide has been banned and punished in the United Kingdom. The United Kingdom government institutes measures to increase the nations’ morality fibre. The above quote indicates that the murder and homicide are two separate but similar criminal accts. Both the homicide act and the murder act focus on the intention to maim or kill the homicide victims. Harold Pepinsky (42) mentions “THERE ARE certain groups in our society that have a reputation for being more law-abiding than others. Statistics will confirm that some groups of people do not commit as many crimes as others. There is, however, a reason for these statistical miscalculations and for the public willingness to attribute to some groups high quotients of honesty.” The above quote clearly indicates that some sectors of American society are trained to avoid committing homicidal acts. B. Bugelski (39) stated “Problems start with people. There are some who, like Hitler, think that the solution to problems can be found in the elimination of certain people. Today's Hitlers are operating all over the world, in the Near East, the Middle East, the Far East, and the near, middle and far of all continents, some a little more successfully than others. We do not know whose turn is next in the process of the elimination of problems by the elimination of people. All that can be said for the Final Solution ambitions of modern Hitlers is that evolution will see to it.” The above quote clearly discusses that some people are tied up to their destiny to commit murder or homicide. Some unruly members of society are forced to commit homicide to fulfill a job to kill the president of the United States. The above quote shows that HITLER felt he had a duty to the church and the public to commit homicide, murder, or simply eradicate one group of people. In the case of Hitler, Hitler felt it was his destiny to wipe out all the Jews from the face of the earth. According to the above discussion, homicides are illegal acts that can be controlled. There are different statistical data on homicides. The different aspects of the homicide crime indicate different approaches to resolve the homicide issues. Vividly, a study of the different statistical data, including the firearms caused homicides and the non-firearms caused homicides will help lessen future homicide attacks. Works Cited Bachman, Ronet. Death and Violence on the Reservation. New York: Auburn House Press, 1992. Buchanan, J. Society and Homicide. New York: University Press, 1977. Bugelski, B. Psychology in the Common Cause. New York: Praeger Press, 1989. Cerda, M. "Investigating the Effect of Social Changes on Age-Specific Gun-Related Homicide Rates in New York City During the 1990s." American Journal of Public Health 100.6 (2010): 1107-1116. Colaizzi, Janet. Homicidal Insanity. Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press, 1989. Heckel, Robert. Children Who Murder: A Psychological Perspective. Westport: Praeger Press, 2001. Kelleher, Michael. New Arenas for Violence. Westport City: Praeger Press, 1996. Moffatt, G. Blind-Sided: Homicide Where It is Least Expected. Westport: Praeger Press, 2000. Ogle, Robbin. Self-Defense and Battered Women Who Kill. Westport: Praeger Press, 2002. Pepinsky, Harold. Myths That Cause Crime. Santa Ana: Seven Locks Press, 1992. Rock, Paul. After Suicide: Practical and Political Responses to Bereavement. New York: Clarendon Press, 1998. Schlesinger, Louis. Sexual Murder:Catathymic and Compulsive Homicides. Boca Raton: CRC Press, 2004. Read More