Criminal Homicide

BOOK:

Brookman, Fiona, 2005; $52.95 Understanding Homicide. Sage Publications. Paperback ISBN: 9780761947554
We had covered the statutes and had examined various data sources both nationally and at the state level concerning major demographic

characteristics of homicide.
The activities for Weeks 9 and 10 were to read Part 2, Chapters 3 to 5, of Understanding Homicide.
These three chapters cover the three main types of theoretical explanations for criminal homicide: Biological, Psychological, and

Sociological.

First, as you read these three chapters, you needed to focus on: (1) whether and (2) how well these various theories are useful explanations

for why some people kill another human being.
Second, consider also whether the theories are useful in making distinctions among the various statutory degrees of criminal homicide that

you learned about in Week 1.

This Extra Credit Writing Assignment is an extension of the Weeks 9 & 10 Discussion activity. This writing assignment requires you to address

the following:

1.10pts. Do any of the three theory groups provide a useful explanation of homicide? Which one(s)?

2. 40pts. If yes, please identify the specific theory or aspect of the theory group that you found useful and explain in detail why. Please

provide examples of why the theory explains homicide.

3. 10pts. Do any of the three theory groups seem helpful in understanding the various degrees of criminal homicide that are recognized under

the law [i.e., 1st degree, 2nd degree; Voluntary Manslaughter, Involuntary Manslaughter?

4. 40pts. If yes, please identify the specific theory or aspect of the theory group that you found useful and explain in detail why. Please

provide examples of how/why.

FORMAT
Your paper must be word-processed, double spaced, with margins of 1″ on all four sides, with page numbers, and Times New Roman 12 font. The

paper MUST be a minimum of 4 typed pages and a maximum of 6. Some of you may inevitably want to submit a longer paper. But, please be advised

that it will generally not be necessary to write more than about 4 -6 pages to cover all the required items satisfactorily.