Questions: Donald was arrested for murdering an acquaintance. At the trial, Donald takes the stand and testifies that he and the victim knew each other. He admits that they would drink and use drugs together. One night while "partying," Donald explains in his testimony, an argument got out of hand during a card game. Donald explains that the victim accused him of cheating and pulled out a knife on him and started swinging it in the air. Donald said that he had no choice but to pull out his gun and shoot the victim. The jury convicted Donald of manslaughter. According to Marvin Wolfgang, the incident described above is best characterized as a a) misdemeanor b) criminological enterprise c) white-collar homicide d) victim-precipitated homicide

The answer is D: victim-precipitated homicide.

Explanation for each option:

a) Misdemeanor: A misdemeanor is a minor criminal offense that is less serious than a felony. Manslaughter, which Donald was convicted of, is a serious crime and is classified as a felony, not a misdemeanor. Therefore, this option is incorrect.

b) Criminological enterprise: This term generally refers to organized crime or systematic criminal activities, often for profit. The incident described does not fit this definition, as it involves a personal altercation rather than an organized criminal activity. Thus, this option is incorrect.

c) White-collar homicide: White-collar crimes typically involve deceit and are committed for financial gain, often in a business or professional setting. Homicide in this context would involve a killing related to such activities. The scenario described involves a personal conflict and does not fit the characteristics of white-collar crime. Therefore, this option is incorrect.

d) Victim-precipitated homicide: This term, as defined by criminologist Marvin Wolfgang, refers to situations where the victim is the initial aggressor or plays a significant role in provoking the incident that leads to their own death. In the scenario, the victim accused Donald of cheating, pulled out a knife, and started swinging it, which led to Donald shooting the victim. This aligns with the concept of victim-precipitated homicide, making this the correct answer.