The Influence of Planned Aggression on the Journey to Homicide: An Examination Across Typology Classifications

Abstract

We assessed the impact of planned aggression across homicide mobility types in Newark, New Jersey, from 1997 through 2007. Homicides where offenders traveled to victims’ resident/incident locales were more likely to involve aggressive intent, whereas homicides where victims traversed to offender/incident locales were less likely to involve planned aggression. Planned aggression was unrelated to geographically proximate (internal) homicides as well as geographically distinct (total mobility) homicides. Study findings show that routine activities and situational characteristics are not only important in explaining homicide patterns but also demonstrate that planned aggression meaningfully contributes to the routine activities and environmental criminology frameworks under specific geographic conditions.

Can Victim, Offender, and Situational Characteristics Differentiate Between Lethal and Non-Lethal Incidents of Intimate Partner Violence Occurring Among Adults?

“…Thus, incidents stemming from domestic disputes are significantly more likely to involve a firearm on-scene, as opposed to the offender leaving the scene to retrieve a firearm or having a firearm delivered (Pelletier & Pizarro, 2019). Indeed, offenders appear to remain near the scene during domestic disputes and thus use a weapon that is readily available (Corsaro et al, 2017). Compared to IPH, non-lethal IPV typically does not include weapons.…”

“…Compared to IPH, non-lethal IPV incidents predominantly occur within the victim's residence, but between 6 pm and 6 am (Catalano, 2015). Indeed, IPV and domestic disputes involve significantly shorter distances traveled by victims and offenders because there is a higher probability offenders will select a weapon of opportunity during domestic disputes without premeditation (Corsaro et al, 2017). Finally, according to Dobash et al (2007), the victim/offender relationship in IPH cases is commonly married couples (42.5%), while over a third (36.8%) were separated at the time of the event.…”

Homicides and Weapons: Examining the Covariates of Weapon Choice

“…Consequently, the method of weapon retrieval could not be ascertained, so one can reasonably assume that there is an undercount in some of the categories. While these are important limitations, it is important to note that unlike other crimes, homicides are the best investigated and procedurally followed through by police (Corsaro et al, 2017). Therefore, while there are possibilities of errors, relative to other crime types, homicide files present the most valid and accurate information.…”

“…Planned aggression captures whether the primary reason for the victim and/or offender to be in the incident location at the time of homicide was to (a) confront the other party, (b) seek retaliation over a prior dispute, (c) commit a robbery specifically against the other party, (d) meet with the other party, (d) stall the other party, (e) burglarize the other party’s home, or (f) confront, rob, and/or kill the other party (Corsaro et al, 2017). A little over half of the incidents (56.4%) examined in this study were the product of planned aggression.…”

“…More nuanced operationalization of motive has also yielded important differences in weapon use. Corsaro, Pizarro, and Shafer’s (2017) recent examination of planned aggression found that relative to other weapon types, firearms are more prevalent in homicides where the offender and/or victim traveled to the incident location with the intent of engaging in a criminal act or to confront the other party.…”