Situational predictors of adolescent homicide: A secondary analysis
Item
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Title
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Situational predictors of adolescent homicide: A secondary analysis
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Identifier
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d_2009_2013:803fe04cd738:10301
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identifier
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10232
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Creator
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Warley, Raquel Maria,
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Contributor
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Michael Smith
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Date
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2009
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Language
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English
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Publisher
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City University of New York.
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Subject
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Social work | Criminology | Gender studies | Firearms | Juvenile homicide | Male Honor Contest Violence | Masculinity and Violence | Specific Intent to do Harm | Weapon Instrumentality
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Abstract
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At every age and within all racial and ethnic groups, males are more likely than females to be victims and perpetrators of serious physical violence. Sex differences in victimization and offending rates are maintained globally and historically. Research also documents the intrasexual nature of violence and indicates that outcomes from male-to-male assaultive encounters range from no injury to death. This study employed a probability sample of adjudicated violent adolescent offenders in New York State to investigate juvenile perpetrated male-to-male violence. Using a sociological framework that encompasses theories of criminal lethality and compulsory masculinity, background characteristics were assessed to delineate structural-cultural factors that dispose adolescent males to violent interaction. Crime characteristics were also examined to differentiate between assaultive encounters that end in death of the victim (i.e. homicide) and those that do not (i.e. aggravated assault). The results of this investigation confirm theoretical predictions and empirical literature regarding male honor contest violence, as well as situational factors affecting death from assault. The largest portion of these male-to-male confrontations involved Black and Latino adolescents as both victims and offenders. The vast majority of encounters were motivated by some form of "face" or respect dispute. Adolescent perpetrators generally resided in communities with very high rates of neighborhood violence, drug trafficking, and availability of guns. These youth maintained alpha male lifestyles -- namely, participation in drug trade, association with violent peer groups, and experiences with guns -- that increased their exposure to violence. Notwithstanding the similarity of background characteristics, homicides and aggravated assaults were statistically different with respect to several features of the immediate situational context, especially the type of weapon involved, guns to which they had access, and offenders' specific intent to do harm. Social service models and social work practice principles are discussed in relation to the findings of this study.
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Type
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dissertation
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Source
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2009_2013.csv
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degree
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Ph.D.
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Program
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Social Welfare
