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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