Theories Involved In Murder Cases

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In the criminal justice field there are so many types of crimes. Murder is definitely one of the more serious and violent ones. But, within just murder, there are different kinds or degrees. They are based on different reasons and results. Murder has different penalties and sentencings. There are so many theories that go with murder and even in the different categories of it. Second degree murder is also called the crime of passion. This degree of murder is an interesting one. What causes a person to commit second degree murder? What are the results from committing this crime? What theories go the best with this crime. What theories explain why someone would commit a crime of passion? There is some confusion when talking about murder. Many …show more content…
Some of those defenses are simply saying that they are not guilty. Most of the time, the offender pleads guilty, though. According to Legal Dictionary, “Some defendants claim that they were legally insane at the time the crime was committed.When a person kills another while protecting his own life, he may claim he acted in self defense. In legitimate self defense situations, the defendant may escape legal prosecution.” (2018). Self defense is the most common form of defense in second-degree murder cases. Since the murder was not planned beforehand and it happened in the heat of the moment, it can be a believable defense. It can be tough to try the insanity defense. Some states do not count this as an actual defense. The offender will also have to prove their insanity to the judge. In some cases the judge can say that even though they are insane, they still have control over their actions. Indiana offers both of these things as eligible defenses. “Some defenses, such as innocence, lead to a not guilty verdict, if believed by the court. Other defenses, including self-defense or intoxication, can be partial defenses, meaning they may only reduce the crime to manslaughter or are mitigating factors to consider at sentencing. Common murder defenses include: Innocence, lack of intent, lack of knowledge, insanity, intoxication, and self-defense.” (Reuters, 2018). The judge of court may believe that the offender is insane or that it was self-defense, but will still say they are guilty. The defense will only help with an easier sentence. Some states will send the guilty that plead to actually be insane to a mental center rather than jail. They need help and jail would not be the best choice for