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Introduction
The classification of different types of murderers has taken center stage in the United States criminal justice system as stakeholders attempt to develop a comprehensive understanding of the motivations that fuel individuals to kill. The popular debate is that there are different types of murderers who are motivated by diverse factors to commit criminal offences of varying degrees (Soronchinski, Salfati, & Labuschagne, 2015). This paper purposes to not only explain the differences between three types of murderers (serial killers, mass murderers, and spree murderers), but also to provide a description of their specific characteristics, criminal offences, as well as sentence.
Summary of Differences
Although serial killers, mass murderers, and spree murderers are all criminally liable for killing people, their motivations differ and hence their criminal liability should not be evaluated using the same lens. In criminal justice, a serial murderer is described as an individual who have engaged in a series of three or more killings, not less than one of which was committed within the United States, having common characteristics such as to suggest the reasonable possibility that the crimes were committed by the same actor or actors (Serial Murder, 2008, p. 8). This description is different from that of a spree murderer, defined in the literature as an offender who has committed two or more murders without a cooling-off period; that is, simultaneously or not having to go underground after each murder. The difference between a mass murderer and the other two murderers is that the offender commits four or more murders during the same incident and in a single location (Serial Murder, 2008; Siegel, 2016).
Specific Characteristics, Criminal Offenses, and Sentence
Drawing from the above elaboration, it is evident that the time-frame between murders and the murder context (environment) separate the three types of murderers. Murders conducted by a serial killer occur in separate events and at different times, while those perpetuated by a spree murderer may occur without a cooling-off period. While mass murderers such as terrorists commit multiple killings at the same incident and in a single location without necessarily targeting a particular individual, most serial killers are organized and psychologically motivated to kill due to factors such as anger, thrill, financial gain, and attention seeking (Serial Murder, 2008). Most mass murderers are not clinically psychotic, though they demonstrate poor social and interpersonal skills. Although a substantial number of serial killers are psychopaths, some are normal people who demonstrate egocentric tendencies as well as lack of empathy and guilt. Serial killers and mass murderers enjoy manipulating their victims to pass a particular message. Some of the characteristics of spree murderers include alienation, lack of connection to human society, hate, envy, and paranoid delusions (Ghose, 2012).
The three types of murderers are criminally liable for first-degree murder as they commit the offences with a clear premeditation to kill. These types of murderers not only engage in unlawful and willful killing of their victims after careful planning, but also exhibit an evil disposition or purpose and an indifference to the sanctity of life, known in legal circles as malice aforethought (Siegel, 2016; Soronchinski et al., 2015). Although in many countries the sentence for first-degree murder is death or life in prison without the possibility of parole, offenders may be considered for other lesser penalties in the absence of the aggravating factors mentioned above or if it is proved beyond reasonable doubt that they are mentally ill.
Conclusion
This paper has not only explained the differences between serial killers, mass murderers and spree murderers, but also provided a description of their specific characteristics, criminal offences and sentence. It is evident that, although the three types of murderers may have different characteristics and motivations, their acts amount to a criminal offence of first-degree murder which is normally punishable by death or life imprisonment.
References
Ghose, T. (2012). Mass shooting psychology: Spree killers have consistent profile, research shows.Huffington Post. Web.
Serial Murder: Multi-disciplinary perspectives for investigators. (2008). Web.
Siegel, L.J. (2016). Criminology: Theories, Patterns, and typologies (12th ed.). Boston, MA: Cengage Learning.
Soronchinski, M., Salfati, C.G., & Labuschagne, G.N. (2015). Classification of planning and violent behaviors in serial homicide: A cross-national comparison between South Africa and US. Journal of Investigative Psychology & Offender Profiling, 12(1), 69-82.
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