Explaining the Changing Nature of Homicide Clearance in Canada

Abstract

Canadian homicide clearance rates are higher than for any other type of crime, but clearance rates have been decreasing since the late 1960s and they are not uniform across the country. This article examines homicide clearance in Canada using data derived from the Canadian Homicide Survey to determine whether the evident temporal and geographical variations in clearance are explained by either victim characteristics or offense details. There are two competing theories regarding homicide clearance characteristics. On one hand, it is argued that the police use discretion when determining which cases deserving more attention. The alternate theory is that police apportion the same effort to all homicide cases, regardless of the victim's status owing to the heinous nature of the crime; therefore, only case details impede the process of determining culpability. Using logistic regression analysis, this examination first focuses on the influence of time and geography on clearance probabilities and then compares the effect of victim characteristics and offense characteristics on clearance outcomes. Empirically nested models indicate that victim characteristics are not a robust predictor of clearance; offense characteristics are found to be more influential. However, both temporal and geographical factors remain important predictors of homicide clearance. The impacts of increasing gang-and drug-related homicides are discussed, as are implications for future research.

Unsolved homicides in Sweden: A population-based study of 264 homicides

“…In an international perspective, the clearance rate in Sweden is relatively high (approximately 85% [2]). Studies from the U.S. [3], Canada [4] and Trinidad and Tobago [5] report decreasing clearance rates; by contrast, other studies report increased clearance rates during the past 15-20 years in Germany (Bundeskriminalamt, 2013; cited in [6]) and Switzerland [6]. The situation is less clear in Sweden, where there was a decline in the mid-2000s [7].…”

Homicidios e investigación criminal en México

“…142-143;Roberts, 2008;Xu, 2008;Keel et al 2009: pp. 50-51;Ousey & Lee, 2010;Maguire et al, 2010;Trussler, 2010). Gran parte del debate se ha centrado en la naturaleza de los factores que aumentan la probabilidad de que una investigación criminal no sea resuelta.…”

“…142-143;Roberts, 2008;Xu, 2008;Keel et al, 2009: pp. 50-51;Ousey & Lee, 2010;Maguire et al, 2010;Trussler, 2010). Sin embargo, a partir de 2008, las instituciones jurídicas mexicanas han intentado reformar sus prácticas, con el objetivo de mejorar las capacidades institucionales para procesar y resolver los delitos, particularmente aquellos que tienen que ver con el despliegue de la violencia homicida.…”

Establishing the Victim–Offender Relationship of Initially Unsolved Homicides

“…They also indicate there is little research on time of day but that the existing findings suggest no effect on clearance for evening versus daytime homicides. As noted recently by Trussler (2010) even when an effect of discretionary variables (e.g., gender, age, race of victim) is found, demographic characteristics of victims and offenders, as well as the relationship categories between victims and offenders, may act as proxies for homicide circumstances.…”