Abstract

MURILLO ORREGO, Fernando; BEDOYA RAMIREZ, Jimmy Javier  and  LOPEZ MUNOZ, Liliana. Contract assasination: a criminological perspective on the phenomenon. Rev. Crim. [online]. 2023, vol.65, n.2, pp.105-122.  Epub Nov 19, 2023. ISSN 1794-3108.  https://doi.org/10.47741/17943108.487.

Background: hired assassination is a phenomenon of violence that affects contemporary society, amidst values related to respect for life and human integrity. In Colombia, homicide data and figures show that during the years 2017-2020 there were approximately 26 161 cases in the form of hired killings; the motivations mainly associated with drug trafficking, illegal economies, territorial disputes and social factors. Objective: to identify the etymology of the word “sicario”, characteristics, research and some generational trends regarding contract killing. Method: this study was conducted based on a qualitative approach, documentary design by reviewing several theories on criminal subcultures (Cohen, 1955), learning about criminal behaviour (Sutherland, 1974), social learning (Bandura, 1987; Becker, 1974), crime and punishment (Bourdieu, 1997) and the surrounding social environment and criminal economy, studying other authors and reviewing the databases: Mendeley, Proquest, Redalyc, base, BBC learning English, among others. Results: this work allowed the collection of concepts, characteristics, criminal trends and criminological analysis of the phenomenon; some typologies are established, by modus operandi and capacity of the perpetrator of the punishable act, the emergence of assasination by contract in Colombia and some characteristics of the codes of conduct of the last two generations of hitmen. Finally, conclusions are drawn.

Keywords : Crime; juvenile delinquency; homicide; criminality; sicario.

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