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PubMed2006

Characteristics of homicide perpetrators among Italian forensic hospital inmates.

OBJECTIVE: To identify distinctive clinical and social features of the psychiatric patients who committed homicide among inmates of Italian forensic hospitals. METHOD: Clinical and social characteristics of four cohorts of patients were compared: 64 inmates who committed or attempted homicide (Hs), their 64 matched controls from community services caseloads, 54 inmates who committed other crimes and their 54 matched controls from community services caseload. RESULTS: When compared with other inmates, patients who committed or attempted homicide showed less severe psychopathology (later onset of mental disorders, later contact with mental health services, lower disability scores) except for higher scores at BPRS "hostility" and "suspiciousness" factors; they also showed better premorbid adjustment (socioeconomic status, employment), and surprisingly better behavioural profile (fewer compulsory admissions, fewer previous criminal records, less substance abuse, less frequently in caseloads of community services). When compared with their matched controls, Hs had lower psychopathology, better adjustment, and a similar behavioural profile. CONCLUSIONS: Italian inmates of forensic hospitals who committed or attempted homicide have clinical features and personal histories which are far from the stereotype of the violent and dangerous psychiatric patients. The risk assessment procedures routinely performed in several countries may detect violent, but not homicidal behaviour.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

Patterns of non-firearm homicide.

Sixty-two recent non-firearm homicides dealt with by an inner London public mortuary were studied. The majority of homicides involved stabbing--usually multiple wounds to the trunk. These were followed by blunt instrument homicides--nearly all involved multiple blows to the head, and asphyxiation--usually consisting of strangulation with a ligature being employed in the majority of cases. Homicides tended to occur during the evening and night in spring and early summer. Most victims were found to be in the 20-39 age group, with male victims outnumbering females in a 2:1 ratio. A marked difference in homicide pattern existed between the male and female victims. Males tended to fall victim to strangers encountered while socialising in and around bars and clubs. Females were most often killed by close acquaintances in domestic disputes at home.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Homicide in Tours (Indre-et-Loire, France): a four-year review.

This retrospective study examined homicides in two French departments located in the West of France (Indre-et-Loire and Loir-et-Cher) for a four-year period from 2000 to 2003. During this period 63 homicidal deaths were investigated at the Institute of Forensic Science of Tours (Indre-et-Loire). There were 45 male and 18 female victims with an average homicide rate of 1.55 per 100,000 persons. The mean age of the victims was 42 years-old. Forty-five assailants were identified; their mean age was 38 years-old. The most common method of homicide was the use of firearms (40% of the cases), followed by blunt-force injury (36%) and sharp-force injury (16%). 51% of the victims knew their assailant, a family member in 26% of the cases. Spousal homicides occurred in 16% of the cases. Dyadic death occurred in six cases. A review of the literature compares these findings to other populations.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

The economic cost of homicide in New Zealand.

Violence has become increasingly recognised as a public health issue, with significant impact on the health of individuals. In addition, there is increasing awareness that there are substantial economic costs associated with violence. The present study estimated the economic costs associated with homicide in New Zealand, using a human capital approach. Direct costs were assessed using information on incidence and costs from government agencies, and indirect costs were assessed based on loss of productivity resulting from death. The total estimated cost of homicides in 1992 was NZ $82997065 (U.S. $53948092), averaging NZ $1012159 per homicide (U.S. $657903). This total was comprised of the estimated total cost associated with homicide victims of NZ $37017010 (U.S. $24061056) and the estimated total cost associated with homicide perpetrators of NZ $45980055 (U.S. $29887035). Limitations of the incidence data and the methods employed suggest that these costs are likely to be underestimates. Nevertheless, the figure calculated represents an enormous drain on New Zealand's economic resources.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Characteristics and circumstances of homicidal acts committed by offenders with schizophrenia.

BACKGROUND: While men with schizophrenia are at higher risk of displaying homicidal behaviours compared with the general population, very little is known about the circumstances related to the triggering of such violent acts among offenders with schizophrenia. The main goal of the present investigation was to describe the surrounding context, psychotic symptoms, target characteristics and other circumstantial factors associated with homicidal acts committed by men with schizophrenia, with or without an additional antisocial personality disorder (APD). METHOD: Comprehensive clinical and research interviews, as well as multiple sources of information including reports from social workers and police officers, criminal records, witness statements and questionnaires completed by friends, acquaintances and family members were used to determine specific characteristics surrounding the homicidal acts. RESULTS: Overall, a significant majority of homicides were considered as the consequence of psychotic symptoms; they mostly involved someone who knew the offender; and they usually occurred in a private residence. However, the subgroup of offenders with both schizophrenia and APD were less likely to be judged as responding to psychotic symptoms; they assaulted a non-relative more frequently, and they were more likely to have used alcohol and to be involved in an altercation with the victim prior to the incident than offenders without APD. CONCLUSION: Even for such extreme acts as homicides, the circumstances affecting the occurrence of violence among offenders with schizophrenia may differ when an additional APD diagnosis is present, which would have important implications for prevention and treatment programmes.

Age Factors↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Mental disorder and homicide: a review of epidemiological research.

OBJECTIVE: This paper reviews 28 studies on the epidemiology of homicide committed by mentally disordered people, taken from recent international academic literature. METHODS: The studies included were identified as part of a wider systematic review of the epidemiology of offending combined with mental disorder. The main databases searched were Embase, Medline, HealthStar, Psyclit, Mental Health Abstracts, Applied Social Sciences Index and Abstracts, and Criminology Penology and Police Science Abstracts. A comprehensive search was made for studies published since 1990, supplemented with key studies from the 1980s identified through citation tracing and personal contacts. RESULTS: A summary is given in tabular form of the content and quality of each study. There is then discussion of the studies in eight categories: descriptive studies, studies of trends, comparative studies amongst homicide offenders, amongst prisoners and including general populations, studies of homicide of relatives, follow-up studies, and studies of recidivism. CONCLUSIONS: There is an association of homicide with mental disorder, most particularly with certain manifestations of schizophrenia, antisocial personality disorder and drug or alcohol abuse. However, the quality of epidemiological research in this area is not adequate to answer key questions, and prediction of potential for homicide remains elusive. Further research is needed.

Female↗
PubMed2003

Characteristics of sexual homicides committed by psychopathic and nonpsychopathic offenders.

In this study, the relationship between psychopathy and the prepetration of sexual homicide was investigated. The official file descriptions of sexual homicides committed by 18 psychopathic and 20 nonpsychopathic Canadian offenders were coded (by coders unaware of Psychopathy Checklist--Revised [PCL--R] scores) for characteristics of the victim, victim/perpetrator relationship, and evidence of gratuitous and sadistic violent behavior. Results indicated that most (84.7%) of the sexual murderers scored in the moderate to high range on the PCL--R. The majority of victims (66.67%) were female strangers, with no apparent influence of psychopathy on victim choice. Homicides committed by psychopathic offenders (using a PCL--R cut-off of 30) contained a significantly higher level of both gratuitous and sadistic violence than nonpsychopathic offenders. Most (82.4%) of the psychopaths exhibited some degree of sadistic behavior in their homicides compared to 52.6% of the nonpsychopaths. Implications for homicide investigations are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

Homicidality in schizophrenia: a replication study.

This study attempted to replicate the results of R. C. Schwartz, S. Petersen, and J. L. Skaggs (2001) by testing predictors of homicidality in a new sample of participants with schizophrenia. Results of multiple regression analyses showed that manic symptoms and substance abuse were significantly positively correlated with more extreme homicidality. Global Assessment of Functioning scale ratings were significantly negatively correlated with ratings on homicidality. Finally, men displayed significantly heightened homicidality as compared with women. These findings lend support to the hypothesis that clinicians should pay particular attention to evaluating homicidality in patients who are male, have schizophrenia, who abuse substances, who show acute manic symptoms, and whose global functioning has recently declined.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1988

Handgun regulations, crime, assaults, and homicide. A tale of two cities.

To investigate the associations among handgun regulations, assault and other crimes, and homicide, we studied robberies, burglaries, assaults, and homicides in Seattle, Washington, and Vancouver, British Columbia, from 1980 through 1986. Although similar to Seattle in many ways, Vancouver has adopted a more restrictive approach to the regulation of handguns. During the study period, both cities had similar rates of burglary and robbery. In Seattle, the annual rate of assault was modestly higher than that in Vancouver (simple assault: relative risk, 1.18; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.15 to 1.20; aggravated assault: relative risk, 1.16; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.12 to 1.19). However, the rate of assaults involving firearms was seven times higher in Seattle than in Vancouver. Despite similar overall rates of criminal activity and assault, the relative risk of death from homicide, adjusted for age and sex, was significantly higher in Seattle than in Vancouver (relative risk, 1.63; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.28 to 2.08). Virtually all of this excess risk was explained by a 4.8-fold higher risk of being murdered with a handgun in Seattle as compared with Vancouver. Rates of homicide by means other than guns were not substantially different in the two study communities. We conclude that restricting access to handguns may reduce the rate of homicide in a community.

British Columbia↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Drug use by homicide offenders.

This article uses data derived from interviews with 268 homicide offenders incarcerated in New York State correctional facilities to examine their drug use prior to and at the time of the homicide, and their perceptions as to whether and how the homicides were related to their drug use. Most respondents who used a drug were not hard-core users of that drug. About one in five of the respondents could be considered polydrug abusers. Thirty percent of the sample believed that the homicide was related to their drug use. Alcohol was the drug most likely to be implicated in these homicides. The implications of this research are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Alcohol-related homicides committed by women.

In this paper we use data derived from interviews with female homicide offenders either incarcerated or on parole in New York to examine those cases (N=35) that the respondents believed were related to their use of alcohol at the time of the homicide. We found four basic types of these homicides based on victim-offender relationships and the circumstances of the incidents. Women who committed each type of alcohol-related homicide reported a variety of motives for committing these acts. We also found that there were similarities and differences between the types, not only in terms of the kinds of motives reported but also in terms of the extent to which planning was involved. Likewise, there were similarities and differences between the different types of homicides regarding the type and amount of alcohol and other drugs used by respondents on the day of the incident, and regarding respondents' perceptions of the alcohol-relatedness of the events. The implications of our findings are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

The Washington, DC, Youth Curfew: effect on transports of injured youth and homicides.

OBJECTIVE: Curfews are implemented to curtail youth violence. Trauma systems and emergency medical services (EMS) may need to prepare for changes in patient volume resulting from local ordinances. This study evaluated the impact of the 1995 Washington, DC, Juvenile Curfew Act on EMS transports of injured youth and on youth homicides. METHODS: A retrospective, comparative cohort study was performed. Transports of injured youth and youth homicides were counted in corresponding months of 1994 and 1995. Cohorts were formed by year, time of day, age group, and mechanism of injury. Year-to-year statistical comparisons of injury proportions were performed using the chi square and Fisher's exact tests. RESULTS: One thousand forty-eight transports were included. No significant difference was observed in transports with curfew implementation. Most assaults on youth occurred outside the curfew time. No effect of the curfew on homicides was detected. Of 67 homicides, only two victims were under the curfew. CONCLUSION: No effect of the curfew on transports for injuries or on homicides was demonstrated. The curfew was not in effect during the period of highest risk.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1997

Region of birth, migration and homicide rates of African Americans.

A study was made of all homicide deaths among black Americans during the period 1979-1991 in order to test two competing hypotheses about region of birth and region of death. One hypothesis was that Southern-born blacks had the highest homicide rates in every region of the US. The competing hypothesis was that blacks who did not migrate out of their region of birth had the highest homicide rates. We found that Southern-born blacks had the highest homicide rates among the population 35+ years old in the Northeast, Midwest, South and West. Yet non-migrants (region-born population) had higher rates than their Southern-born counterparts among the population 15-34 years old. Long distance migrants who were born in the Northeast, West or were foreign-born had the lowest homicide rates, by far. The distressing implications of these findings for public health efforts to prevent violent death are discussed.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Effects of Maryland's law banning "Saturday night special" handguns on homicides.

Small, inexpensive, often poorly made handguns known as "Saturday night specials" are disproportionately involved in crime. Maryland banned the sale of Saturday night specials effective January 1, 1990. During the 2 years between the law's passage in 1988 and its effective date, legal handgun sales in Maryland were 34% higher than expected (p = 0.09). Interrupted time-series analysis of age-adjusted homicide rates for 1975-1998 with statistical controls for trends in two neighboring states, social and economic variables, and temporal patterns in Maryland's homicide rates was used to assess the effect of the law. Estimates of the Saturday night special ban effects depended on the assumption made about the timing of the law's effects. Models that assumed a delayed or gradual effect of the Saturday night special ban produced estimates indicating that firearm homicide rates were 6.8-11.5% lower than would have been expected without the Saturday night special ban (p < or =0.05). The model that assumed an immediate, constant change in response to the law showed no law effect, unless an outlier was excluded from the analysis. Excluding this outlier, the model estimated a 15% increase in firearm homicides associated with the Saturday night special ban. None of the models revealed significant law effects on nonfirearm homicides.

Firearms↗
PubMed2006

Acceptance of killing and homicide rates in nineteen nations.

BACKGROUND: International variation in homicide rates may be attributable to cultural differences in acceptance of moral justifications for killing. The aim of this study is to investigate the relationships between measures of attitudes towards the justification of killing and homicide rates in diverse international populations. METHODS: Four studies assessed variations in acceptance of killing among adults and young people in nineteen nations and four areas in the USA. Study 1 (1996-1997) assessed adult attitudes in Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica, Spain, and Venezuela with personal interviews in major cities. Study 2 (1999-2001) assessed attitudes among high school students in Denmark, Finland, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, Slovenia, Sweden, Taiwan, and the UK with paper surveys administered in classrooms. Study 3 (2001) used telephone interviews to measure the equivalent attitudes among the US samples nationally and from regions in Texas. Study 4 (2002-2003) used paper surveys in classrooms to measure attitudes among high school students in Armenia, Belarus, Georgia, and the Russian Federation. RESULTS: The acceptance of killing varied significantly among genders and national/regional groups. The mean attitude scores in the four studies combined were significantly correlated with national/regional homicide rates and the amount of variance explained was similar to that for social inequality (GINI). Together the attitude scores and GINI explained 65% of the variance in homicide rates. CONCLUSION: This study provides evidence that variations in attitudes toward the justification of killing may be related to international differences in homicide rates.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

A time-series analysis of trends in firearm-related homicide and suicide.

In order to determine whether firearm use was an increasing component of the general pattern of homicide in Cape Town, South Africa, hidden Markov time-series models were used to examine a week-by-week count of firearm homicides, non-firearm homicides, firearm suicides and non-firearm suicides for the 6-year period from 1986 to 1991. Of several models fitted to the proportion of homicides that involved firearms, the one which incorporated a discrete upward shift in the middle of 1991 was the most successful. There was no evidence of a similar upward shift in the proportion of the suicides that involved firearms. The sharp increase in 1991 in the probability that a homicide involved the use of a firearm is consistent with a reported upsurge in violence related to the so-called 'taxi wars'. Hidden Markov models, as a general methodology for the analysis of discrete-valued time series, may be a useful and flexible means of identifying time trends or points of transition related to events or interventions in a wide range of public health contexts.

Homicide↗
PubMed2002

Firearm availability and suicide, homicide, and unintentional firearm deaths among women.

CONTEXT: In the United States, more than 45,000 women died from gun violence over the last decade. OBJECTIVE: To determine whether measures of firearm availability are related to rates of suicide, homicide, and unintentional firearm deaths among women in the United States. DESIGN: Pooled cross-sectional time series data on suicide, homicide, and unintentional firearm deaths (1988-1997) were used to estimate the association between the rate of violent death among women and four proxies of firearm availability. Two proxies came from survey reports of household firearm ownership rates; two were derived from mortality statistics. SETTING: United States, 1988-1997. RESULTS: The increased rate of suicide and homicide in states with high gun levels was accounted for primarily by significantly elevated firearm suicide and firearm homicide rates. Unintentional firearm death rates were also increased in states with more guns. At the regional level, qualitatively similar results were obtained. CONCLUSION: Between 1988 and 1997, the suicide, homicide, and unintentional firearm death rates among women were disproportionately higher in states where guns were more prevalent. The elevated rates of violent death in states with more guns was not entirely explained by a state's poverty or urbanization and was driven primarily by lethal firearm violence, not by lethal nonfirearm violence.

Accidents↗
PubMed1991

Homicide and the prevalence of handguns: Canada and the United States, 1976 to 1980.

As compared with Americans, Canadians in the 1970s possessed one tenth as many handguns per capita. To assess whether this affected the total criminal homicide rate, the mean annual criminal homicide rates of Canadian provinces were compared with those of adjoining US states for the period of 1976 to 1980. No consistent differences were observed; criminal homicide rates were sometimes higher in the Canadian province, and sometimes higher in the adjoining US state. Major differences in the prevalence of handguns have not resulted in differing total criminal homicide rates in Canadian provinces and adjoining US states. The similar rates of criminal homicide are primarily attributable to underlying similar rates of aggravated assault.

Adult↗