ABSTRACT
Probably fewer than five per cent of all known homicides are premeditated, planned intentional killings, and the individuals who commit them are most likely to be episodic offenders who have never had prior contact with the criminal law. Because they are rare crimes often planned by rationally functioning individuals, perhaps they are more likely to remain undetected. We believe that a type of analysis different from that presented here might be applicable to these cases. <123>
Our major concern is with the bulk of homicides -the passion crimes, the violent slayings - that are not premeditated and are not psychotic manifestations. Like Cohen, who was concerned principally with most delinquency that arises from the 'working-class' ethic, so we are focusing on the preponderant kind of homicide, although our analysis, particularly in the next chapter, will include much of the available data on homicide in general.
