Homicide is the killing of a person, including murder, manslaughter, euthanasia, and infanticide. Generally, the term excludes deaths by dangerous driving and help with suicide, though a few jurisdictions count these within homicide statistics. Homicide is generally regarded as a more serious crime than other types of offenses, and murder convictions are usually treated much more seriously in the criminal justice system than manslaughter convictions.
Many factors influence homicide rates, but the most important are economic conditions and social culture. For example, large cities tend to have higher homicide rates than rural areas. In addition, the incidence of homicide may be influenced by the availability of weapons, which is why gun control laws are important in reducing homicide rates.
The legal distinction between murder and manslaughter has a significant impact on penalties, with murder convictions carrying the highest penalty of all crimes, whereas manslaughter convictions result in lesser consequences such as imprisonment. Understanding these distinctions is vital for anyone navigating the criminal justice system, whether as a defendant or a legal professional.
Psychiatric disorders can also contribute to homicide rates. Several studies reported that different psychiatric diagnoses are linked to different homicide methods. For example, homicides by people with schizophrenia have been linked to sharp instruments, while homicides committed by those with mood disorders are often committed by strangulation/asphyxiation/suffocation. Future research should explore whether these differences are due to the psychiatric symptoms that a perpetrator has at the time of the homicide or the specific characteristics of the homicide.