American Homicide

Second Edition

Richard M. Hough - University of West Florida, USA
Kimberly D. McCorkle - University of West Florida, USA

Other Titles in:
Homicide | Sociology (General) | Violent Crime (General)

November 2019 | 320 pages | SAGE Publications, Inc

American Homicide examines all types of homicide, and gives additional attention to the more prevalent types of murder and suspicious deaths in the United States. Authors Richard M. Hough and Kimberly D. McCorkle employ more than 30 years of academic and practitioner experience to help explain why and how people kill and how society reacts. This brief, yet comprehensive book takes a balanced approach, combining scholarly research and theory with compelling details about recent cases and coverage of current trends. Comparative coverage of homicide types and rates in countries around the world shows how American homicide statistics compare internationally.

1. Introducing You to Homicide

Introduction

Homicide: What Most People Think They Know

Organization of the Book

Historic and Contemporary

What This Book Is Not

Policy Implications

2. Who’s Killing Whom and How Much

Introduction

What We Measure

How We Measure

Studying Homicide Situations

Data Challenges

3. Murder by the Numbers

Introduction

Victims—Who Dies

Offenders—Categories and Demographics

Location, Location, Location

Weapons Used in Violence

Other Circumstances

Trends and Patterns

Homicide Internationally

4. Why We Do It: Theories of Homicide

Introduction: Sociological and Criminological Perspectives

Individual Explanations

Social Structural

Life Course, Lifestyle, and Routine Activities Theory

5. Confrontational Homicide

Introduction

Victim Precipitation

Honor Contests

Road Rage

Audience

Alcohol

Physiology

Girls, Women, and Confrontational Homicide

Investigative Considerations

6. Intimate Partner Homicide

Introduction

Rates

Dynamics of Intimate Partner Homicide

Theories to Explain Intimate Partner Homicide

Lethality Assessment

Fatality Review Teams

Prosecution of Intimate Partner Homicide

7. All in the Family

Introduction

Familicide

Parents and Children

Other Family Killings

8. School Killings

Introduction

Mass Shootings and Attacks

The Killers

Motivations of Those Who Kill

International Incidents

Policy Responses

9. Mass Murder in Public and the Workplace

Introduction

Public Places

Workplace Violence

Workplace Victims

The Workplace Killer

Assessing Violence Potential

Policy Implications

10. Killings by Groups: Gangs and Cults

Introduction

Gangs and Killing

Cults and New Religious Movements (NRM)

Cult Leaders and Followers

Assessing Impacts

Policy Implications

11. Tool of Terror

Introduction

Definition and History

Acts of Terror

Who Are Terrorists?

Hate Crimes and Killing

Role of the Media

Stopping Terrorists

12. Serial Killing

Introduction

Myth and Mayhem

Typologies

Profiling Serial Killers

Female Serial Killers

Medical or Health Care Serial Killers

Team Serial Killers

Catching Serial Killers

13. Solving Homicides

Introduction

First Officer on the Scene

Arriving With Caution

Locard’s Exchange Principle

Investigator Arrives

Documentation

Collection of Evidence

ME or No ME?

Prosecutors: Who Needs ‘Em?

Technology

Case Personnel

Working With the Media

Cold Case Investigations

14. Murder in Court

Introduction

Stages in Homicide Cases

Expert Witness Testimony

Building the Case and Charging Decisions

Evidentiary Issues

Defense Attorney Functions and Tactics

Ethical Issues

Plea Bargaining

Sentencing

15. Victims, Society, and the Future

Introduction

Victim Impact

Public Health Perspective

Criminal Justice System Response and Legislation

Societal Issues

Predicting Violence

Technology

This text is an all-around approach to the topic of Homicide. It clears up what a Homicide is which many students have differing opinions. It shows the student data on the prevalence of this crime which many have an erroneous view of. It does a great job discussing the different types of homicide. This is often neglected in many other texts.

Thomas S. Alexander

University of Maryland, College Park-Shady Grove

A well thought-out and organized text on homicide. It combines elements from the academic and practitioner point of view providing a well-rounded aspect. This text also has relevant cases and offers opportunities for the students to discover information on their own through the “Try This” component. It is student and faculty friendly allowing for more in-depth classroom discussion while simultaneously being comprehensive on its own.

American Homicide

Melissa J. Tetzlaff-Bemiller

Augusta University

This text provides a multidisciplinary and balanced overview of homicide and is presented in a clear, well-organized, and student friendly manner.

Mark Winton

University of Central Florida

Covers the topics inclusively

Dr Anita Black

Criminal Just Criminology Dept, Lincoln Memorial University

March 31, 2020

Report this review

I selected to list this text as selective reading, and not mandatory.

Professor Todd Douglas Hand

Law, Unity College In Maine

September 30, 2019

Report this review

Sample Materials & Chapters

Chapter 1: Introducing You to Homicide

You are here

Disable VAT on Taiwan

American Homicide

Sample Materials & Chapters

For instructors

Select a Purchasing Option

Related Products