Criminal Violence: Patterns, Criminal Violence: Patterns, Causes, and Causes, and PreventionPrevention

Riedel and Welsh, Ch. 3Riedel and Welsh, Ch. 3“Violence in Other Times and “Violence in Other Times and

Places”Places”

OUTLINEOUTLINE Difficulties in Studying Historical ViolenceDifficulties in Studying Historical Violence White-Native American WarfareWhite-Native American Warfare Slavery, African-Americans, and ViolenceSlavery, African-Americans, and Violence Social BanditrySocial Banditry ProhibitionProhibition Violence in Other PlacesViolence in Other Places

Difficulties in Studying Historical Difficulties in Studying Historical ViolenceViolence

Many Many mythsmyths and outright fabrications and outright fabrications Much information about violence in the U.S. Much information about violence in the U.S.

prior to the 20th century is fragmentary and prior to the 20th century is fragmentary and unreliable (e.g., unreliable (e.g., poor recordspoor records). ).

Violence has been the instrument not Violence has been the instrument not merely of the criminal, but also of the merely of the criminal, but also of the honorablehonorable (e.g., American Revolution; (e.g., American Revolution; dueling; feuding).dueling; feuding).

Q: Do Q: Do the ends justify the means?the ends justify the means?

White-Native American WarfareWhite-Native American WarfareThe “Trail of Tears”The “Trail of Tears” 17911791 - Cherokees negotiated a peace treaty granting - Cherokees negotiated a peace treaty granting

land in parts of Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina. land in parts of Georgia, Tennessee, and North Carolina.

18191819 - Gold deposits were discovered on tribal lands. - Gold deposits were discovered on tribal lands. 18281828 - Georgia legislature outlawed the Cherokee - Georgia legislature outlawed the Cherokee

government and confiscated their land.government and confiscated their land. 18301830 - President Jackson used the - President Jackson used the Indian Removal Act of Indian Removal Act of

18301830 to forcibly remove the Cherokees from their land. to forcibly remove the Cherokees from their land. 18321832 - The U.S. Supreme Court ruled the Georgia - The U.S. Supreme Court ruled the Georgia

legislation was unconstitutional, but federal authorities legislation was unconstitutional, but federal authorities ignored the decision.ignored the decision.

18351835 - Federal troops forcibly evicted the Cherokees. - Federal troops forcibly evicted the Cherokees. About 18-20,000 people were force-marched 800 miles to About 18-20,000 people were force-marched 800 miles to “Indian Territory.” About 4,000 perished from hunger, “Indian Territory.” About 4,000 perished from hunger, disease, and exposure.disease, and exposure.

Slavery, African-Americans, and ViolenceSlavery, African-Americans, and Violence Slavery was closely tied to the Southern Slavery was closely tied to the Southern economyeconomy, ,

particularly tobacco and cotton. particularly tobacco and cotton. Initially, Initially, indentured servitudeindentured servitude was used. was used. Over the years practice became custom, and custom Over the years practice became custom, and custom

became became lawlaw. In 1664, Maryland law stated all . In 1664, Maryland law stated all “Negroes” were to be slaves for life and the children “Negroes” were to be slaves for life and the children of all female slaves were also to be slaves.of all female slaves were also to be slaves.

But: it was difficult to justify the obvious But: it was difficult to justify the obvious inequalityinequality represented by slavery. represented by slavery.

Only one revolt by slaves came to fruition, the Only one revolt by slaves came to fruition, the Nat Nat Turner RebellionTurner Rebellion (1831). Southern legislatures used (1831). Southern legislatures used white fear generated by the revolt to impose even white fear generated by the revolt to impose even greater restrictions on slaves.greater restrictions on slaves.

Slavery, African-Americans, and Violence Slavery, African-Americans, and Violence (cont.)(cont.)

Conflicts over slavery led to the Conflicts over slavery led to the U.S. Civil War.U.S. Civil War. Of the 2,500,000 who served in the Southern or Of the 2,500,000 who served in the Southern or

Northern armies, Northern armies, 620,000620,000 men (1 in 4) died. men (1 in 4) died. In spite of Lincoln’s In spite of Lincoln’s Emancipation Emancipation

ProclamationProclamation (1863) and victory of the North (1863) and victory of the North (1865), discrimination remained due to legalized (1865), discrimination remained due to legalized segregation and discrimination (e.g., segregation and discrimination (e.g., deprivation of voting rights).deprivation of voting rights).

More than 3,700 More than 3,700 lynchingslynchings occurred between occurred between 1889 and 1930; over 80% occurred in the South.1889 and 1930; over 80% occurred in the South.

Social Banditry (late 1800s)Social Banditry (late 1800s) After the Civil WarAfter the Civil War::

There was enormous industrial growth in the There was enormous industrial growth in the U.S.U.S.

But: few grew wealthy; many were left in But: few grew wealthy; many were left in poverty.poverty.

Gangs organized for the purpose of robbery.Gangs organized for the purpose of robbery. Many Americans saw outlaws as Many Americans saw outlaws as romantic figuresromantic figures, ,

heroes who “fight and die for the things that made heroes who “fight and die for the things that made America great.”America great.”

Q: Was this violence for the sake of violence? Or Q: Was this violence for the sake of violence? Or were they “rebels” against power and wealth?were they “rebels” against power and wealth?

ProhibitionProhibition The The 18th Amendment18th Amendment to the Constitution to the Constitution

prohibited the sale, manufacture, distribution, prohibited the sale, manufacture, distribution, and importing of intoxicating liquors in the U.S. and importing of intoxicating liquors in the U.S. Effective in 1920; repealed in 1933.Effective in 1920; repealed in 1933.

Prohibition produced a switch from low-Prohibition produced a switch from low-potency drinks (beer) to potency drinks (beer) to distilled spiritsdistilled spirits: easier : easier to transport, and less likely to spoil. to transport, and less likely to spoil.

Consequences of Prohibition (?)Consequences of Prohibition (?) encouraged disrespect for the lawencouraged disrespect for the law increased consumption of distilled spiritsincreased consumption of distilled spirits increased the risk of consuming toxic substancesincreased the risk of consuming toxic substances corrupted law enforcementcorrupted law enforcement increased organized crimeincreased organized crime

Q: What lessons does history teach us about violence? Q: What lessons does history teach us about violence?

1. There have been occasions in history when many people felt that the “ends justified the means.” (e.g., American Revolution, Civil War).

2. The least powerful have often been the targets of violence (e.g., women, children, minorities).

3. Violence has frequently been used for economic gain (e.g., slavery, prohibition-era gangsters, Trail of Tears).

4. While we generally condemn violence against others, violence is sometimes admired (e.g., outlaws of Wild West, media coverage of gangsters).

5. Increased exposure to violence may have increased our “desensitization” to violence over time.

Violence in Other PlacesViolence in Other Places The International Police OrganizationThe International Police Organization

(INTERPOL)(INTERPOL) has collected and published crime has collected and published crime data from national police forces since 1950. data from national police forces since 1950.

In 1974, the In 1974, the United NationsUnited Nations began surveys on began surveys on officially reported crimes, including homicides, officially reported crimes, including homicides, assaults, sex crimes, robberies, and kidnappings.assaults, sex crimes, robberies, and kidnappings.

The best-known and most valid source of The best-known and most valid source of information on international homicides is the information on international homicides is the World Health OrganizationWorld Health Organization (WHO) (WHO) of the United of the United Nations. Nations. WHO has collected mortality statistics from national WHO has collected mortality statistics from national

health organizations since 1951. health organizations since 1951. Data are available for 40-55 nations each year. Data are available for 40-55 nations each year. http://www.who.int/violence_injury_prevention/violence/en/

Violence in Other Places (cont.)Violence in Other Places (cont.)

Limitations of Cross-National Statistics:Limitations of Cross-National Statistics:1.1. Few variables; limited detailFew variables; limited detail: (e.g., no data : (e.g., no data

on whether the homicide involved robbery, on whether the homicide involved robbery, domestic conflict, or weapons)domestic conflict, or weapons)

2.2. Variations in cultural and legal definitionsVariations in cultural and legal definitions make it difficult to collect this kind of make it difficult to collect this kind of cross-national data. cross-national data.

3.3. Available data are biased toward more Available data are biased toward more developed countries that have sufficient developed countries that have sufficient resources and political stability to develop resources and political stability to develop adequate reporting systemsadequate reporting systems..

Violence in Other Places (cont.)Violence in Other Places (cont.) Cross-national data on Cross-national data on homicidehomicide are more are more

reliable than cross-national data on crimes such reliable than cross-national data on crimes such as rape, robbery, and assault. as rape, robbery, and assault.

There is little doubt that the U.S. is more There is little doubt that the U.S. is more violent than other developed democratic violent than other developed democratic countries in the latter 20th century (Fig. 3-1).countries in the latter 20th century (Fig. 3-1). These countries were chosen for comparison These countries were chosen for comparison

because they are economically and socially because they are economically and socially developed democracies with well-developed developed democracies with well-developed statistical reporting systems.statistical reporting systems.

Year

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Figure 3-1Homicide Rates in U.S., Finland, and United Kingdom

1980-2007*

1980 1983 1986 1989 1992 1995 1998 2001 2004 20070.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

10.0

12.0

United StatesFinlandUnited Kingdom