Murder patterns and differences between Jamaica and the United States

Murder in Jamaica and the United States

This paper presents a detailed examination of the differences and similarities between murder in Jamaica and the United States. The writer focuses on the nature of the crimes as well as the differences between the two nations when it comes to acts of murder by the government agencies. There were five sources used to complete this paper.

While many crimes can be scary the thought of being murdered or someone we love being murdered is the ultimate fear when it comes to possible victimization. Murder is the final act of life, it is what stops all hopes, dreams, goals, efforts and ambitions. Murders occur worldwide but in the United States and the nation of Jamaica there are similarities and differences in the murders they experience that can potentially change the way their societies think. Murder is a violent crime regardless of how it is carried out but each nation has its individual patterns in how murders occur and why they happen.

WHAT IS IT

Murder is the act of taking one's life. There are many reasons that people murder. Some of them include psychosis, anger, passion, jealousy, and profit. Those who murder for profit may be angered by a drug deal gone bad, or get paid to kill or they may want the life insurance that the dead person leaves behind. One might murder because someone they care about asks them to and they have a lack of empathy or morals to stop them from carrying out the request. Regardless of the reason one commits murder it is the act of taking someone's life away.

JAMAICA

Jamaica has experienced a recent surge in violent crimes including murder the past few years (Murder, 2001). In 2000 the island experienced more than 1,100 murders. This number was an increase of more than 27% from the previous year. "The island of 2.6 million people has one of the worst per capita murder rates in the world. Much of the violence, especially in the poor, inner city areas of the capital, has been blamed on armed gangs loyal to Jamaica's two major political parties, the ruling People's National Party and the opposition Jamaica Labor Party (Murder, 2001)."

This presents one of the key differences in murders that take place in the United States and Jamaica. The political triggers for murder in Jamaica are not the norm in America. Because of the history of political problems leading to murders in Jamaica, Jamaican officials and police are placed on high alert when political events draw near (Murder, 2001).

Another common cause of murder in Jamaica is gang related murder. "The worst outbreak of inter-gang fighting erupted in the capital in May, leaving 71 dead. In July, another 28 people were killed in gunfights when police and soldiers moved in to restore order (Penketh, 2002). "

Gangs are a problem in both locations, but the islands seem to have a higher per capital gang related problem with murder than America does. Whether this is due to the advanced police force in the U.S. Or other causes is debated among experts (Penketh, 2002).

Many of the murders are related to gang members who are unemployed and their rampages are violent enough to spark fear in entire populations. "During one 17-day stretch running into July, 66 victims -- including an elderly woman shot in the head by robbers and three young girls who were raped -- were felled in bloodshed that sent dozens of panicked residents fleeing their inner-city homes. Some sought refuge inside police stations, where they set up makeshift camps (http://www.nisat.org/murder%20madness%20in%20jamaica.htm

Murder 'Madness' Bedevils Jamaica)."

Jamaica not only has different types of murders from the U.S. It also has a much higher per capita murder rate than the U.S. has.

Murder rate per 100,000 inhabitants

Fiscal year

Jamaica

U.S.

Total number of homicides

Jamaica

U.S.

1999*

Not only are there more homicides per year in Jamaica than in the United States but there are more per capita firearm murders in Jamaica than in the United States as well.

Homicide victims killed by a firearm per 100,000 population in 1997

South Africa 26.63

Brazil 25.78

Jamaica 18.23

U.S. 6.24(http://www.nisat.org/murder%20madness%20in%20jamaica.htm

Murder 'Madness' Bedevils Jamaica)"

Another area of homicide that is completely different in the United States than in Jamaica is the rate at which police officers commit killings on civilians (http://www.amnesty-caribbean.org/Jamaica/AMR3800101/bericht.htm

Jamaica). In the U.S. It is a rare instance that a member of the police force kills someone, while in Jamaica it has become commonplace for police to kill (Crime, 2001).

In contrast to Jamaica's rising murder rate the United States has been experiencing a decline in violent crime. According to recent studies the U.S. has enjoyed more than a 15% reduction in violent crime including murder over the past few years (Crime, 2001).

CONCLUSION

Both the United States and Jamaica have been working to reduce their murder rates. Jamaica has one of the highest per capita murder rates in the world and has different types of murders from the United States. The murders in Jamaica are often either gang related or politically motivated, but there are also murders being committed by members of the police force. In the United States it is rare that a police officer kills anyone and when they do it is not usually a murder without cause. Both locations are working to lower their homicide rate but it seems, at least in recent years that the United States has been much more successful than Jamaica. From research and examination of the murders occurring in Jamaica it appears that lowering the risk for politically and police motivated murders will go a long way in reducing the homicide rate.