NCJ Number
103787
Journal
Indian Journal of Criminology Volume: 14 Issue: 2 Dated: (July 1986) Pages: 132-138
Date Published
1986
Length
7 pages
Annotation
In 1985, interviews were conducted with 193 male murderers being held in jails in Western Orissa, India. Interviews focused on factors that instigated commission of the crime.
Abstract
Of the sample, 75 percent were engaged in primarily agricultural occupations, 92.5 percent lived in rural areas, and 86.66 percent could just manage to read or write or were illiterate. In 58.32 percent of cases, instigating factors were situational, i.e., the social environment favored commission of crime. In 37.52 percent of cases, associational (influence of family, associates, or neighbors) factors influenced commission of the crime. In the remaining cases, influences were mixed with either a situational or associational predominance of influence. For cases involving associational influences, land disputes were the major issue around which most incidents occurred; conflict and rivalry in government service and business also were involved. For respondents who viewed situational influences as primary, family factors -- such as economic insecurity and marital conflict -- most often were involved. Results suggest that in rural areas, land disputes coupled with associational or situational sources of influence contribute to tensions and frustrations that lead to crime. Thus courts should settle these land disputes without delay. 3 tables and 14 references.