Varieties of Armed Criminals: A Descriptive Typology (From Armed and Considered Dangerous: A Survey of Felons and Their Firearms, P 57-77, 1986, James D Wright and Peter H Rossi, -- See NCJ-118888)

• NCJ Number: 118890
• Author(s): J D Wright; P H Rossi
• Date Published: 1986
• Length: 21 pages
• Sale Source: Aldine de Gruyter Publishing Co
• Publication Type: Survey
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

A descriptive typology of armed criminals was obtained from a self-administered questionnaire completed by a sample of 1,982 inmates imprisoned in 10 States.

Abstract

The weapons usage typology was constructed using information from the questionnaire about the type of weapon most commonly carried or used in the commission of crimes (no weapon, a knife or a club, a handgun, etc.) and for the subset of firearms users, the frequency of criminal weapons use. The inmates were categorized based on information on weapons use in the crimes they committed. "Unarmed criminals" (39 percent) were those for whom there was no evidence that they had ever used any weapons in committing their crimes. "Improvisers" (4 percent) had used weapons in their crimes, but not guns or knives. "Knife criminals" (7 percent) predominately used knives and never firearms in committing their crimes. "One-time firearms users" (14 percent) had committed only one gun crime. "Sporadic handgun users" (14 percent) had used handguns a "few times" but never a shoulder weapon. "Handgun predators" (17 percent) had used handguns many times or most or all of the time in committing their crimes. "Shotgun predators" used shoulder weapons in committing more than one crime. 4 tables.