Crime Classification Manual Part I Chapter 4 12
Crime
Classification Manual Part I Chapter 4 12
A
STANDARD SYSTEM FOR INVESTIGATING AND CLASSIFYING VIOLENT CRIMES
SECOND
EDITION
John E. Douglas,
Ann W. Burgess, Allen G. Burgess, and Robert K. Ressler, Editors
In
current approaches to labeling crimes as heinous, courts place heavy emphasis
on actions and victimology, and lesser consideration of actions and attitudes.
This reflects the paucity of evidence presented to courts to reflect on intent and
attitudes. Clearly, however, both of the latter qualities distinguish crimes
from one another. Moreover, courts have upheld findings that a given crime was
evil when striking evidence relating to intent and attitude was available to
the court.
Furthermore,
unless one can estimate the sequence leading to death, it is especially
challenging to presume the nature of the suffering of a victim. My own review
of court decisions upholding findings of heinous crimes also found that killing
using instruments other than guns was heavily represented (Welner, 2003). But
do such trials explore whether killers who use knives and hammers choose them
because there are no other weapons available?

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