Forms of Homicide
While often referred to simply as "murder," homicide is much more complicated than the act of ending the life of another. Homicide can occur in many forms, indicating different levels of guilt and punishment regarding the offender. Different types of homicide exist depending on the intent to kill, as well as the relationship between the perpetrator and the victim. Homicide is given different labels depending on the country or state, and each of these crimes may have a distinct punishment.
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First Degree Murder
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This form of homicide indicates planning and executing a murder. For example, if someone planned to assassinate an enemy, and successfully carries this plan out, they have committed first degree murder.
Second Degree Murder
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The second degree involves a murder that was not premeditated; it is similar to voluntary manslaughter. This category includes crimes of passion; for example, if someone kills the lover of an unfaithful spouse in a fit of rage, it is considered second degree murder.
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Involuntary Manslaughter
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This type of homicide occurs when a person is accidentally responsible for the death of another. For example, if someone steps in front of your car outside of a pedestrian crossing space with no warning, and is struck and killed, the driver has committed involuntary manslaughter. Involuntary manslaughter can also result from reckless behavior.
Gross Negligence Manslaughter
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Corporations or businesses are often the perpetrators of gross negligence manslaughter. If an employer's negligence of employee safety causes a death, the people controlling that business can be tried for gross negligence manslaughter. An example of this form of homicide occurs when powerful individuals in the agriculture industry do not provide workers with shade and water, and as a result an employee dies.
Familial Homicide
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Familial homicide is a term for a murder that occurs within a family. Specific examples include infanticide, in which a mother kills her own baby before it reaches 1 year of age.
Homicide-Suicide
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A homicide-suicide indicates a murder followed by the suicide of the murderer. This type of homicide is most common within couples and families as, on a psychological level, the murderer cannot live after having committed a very personal crime, but cannot prevent herself from committing the murder in the first place.
Suicide
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Suicide alone is not considered a homicide, but a person who assists in another's suicide can be tried for voluntary manslaughter.
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References
- PubMed.gov: An Empirical Study of Characteristics and Types of Homicide-Suicides
- The State of New Jersey: Recidivism among four types of homicide offenders
- Max Planck-Institut: Familiar Homicide
- Pitzer College: Murder, Capital Punishment, and Deterrence
- Clemson University: Murders of Passion, Execution Delays, and the Deterrence of Capital Punishment
Resources
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