Abstract

A plea for scaling up (i.e., examining the global dimensions) and expanding out (i.e., considering indirect, alternative and complementary measures) of local crime and criminal justice phenomena is made in this paper. The implications and benefits of doing so are illustrated by utilizing the study of unresolved (or cold case) homicides, which are usually conceived as events responsive to localized co-victim, police, and prosecutorial actions. Cross-nationally, the homicide rate is found to be significantly correlated to the formal contact rate and conviction rate (i.e., as indicators of criminal justice system responsiveness to such cases). Inter-woven with the discussion is a personal narrative of how the author came to develop an interest in this and related topics.

摘要

本文呼吁扩大（即检查全球层面）和扩大（即考虑间接、替代和补充措施）当地犯罪和刑事司法现象。通过对未解决（或冷案）凶杀案的研究来说明这样做的影响和好处，这些凶杀案通常被认为是对局部共同受害者、警察和起诉行动作出反应的事件。在全国范围内，凶杀率被发现与正式接触率和定罪率显着相关（即作为刑事司法系统对此类案件反应的指标）。与讨论交织在一起的是作者如何对这个主题和相关主题产生兴趣的个人叙述。