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Juvenile Homicide: Prior Adjustment and a Proposed Typology

NCJ Number
114199
Journal
American Journal of Orthopsychiatry Volume: 57 Issue: 3 Dated: (1987) Pages: 383-393
Author(s)
D G Cornell; E P Benedek; D M Benedek
Date Published
1987
Length
11 pages
Annotation
Results reported from this study permit a more differentiated view of adolescent homicide than has been possible in the past, both in comparing adolescent homicide defendants with other adolescents referred for pretrial evaluation and in distinguishing subtypes within the homicide group.
Abstract
Case records of the Michigan Center for Forensic Psychiatry for 1977-85 provided data for the study. Seventy-two juveniles charged with homicide constituted the sample; the control group consisted of 35 juveniles charged with nonviolent larceny. Data on the subjects encompassed family dysfunction, childhood problems, criminal activity, psychiatric history, school adjustment, violence history, substance abuse, and stressful life events prior to the offense. Circumstances of the homicide were also explored. The homicide group was subdivided into three groups: crime group (homicide in the course of a crime), conflict group (homicide in the course of a relational conflict), and psychotic group (violent behavior rooted in a psychosis). Adolescents charged with nonviolent larceny scored higher (more problems) on composite measures of school adjustment, childhood symptoms, criminal activity, and psychiatric history. Perhaps the most surprising finding was that so few of the homicide group adolescents were classified as psychotic at the time of the offense. These results suggest developmental differences among violent juveniles and raise the possibility of distinguishable developmental pathways to violent behavior. Implications are drawn for research and the prediction of violent behavior. 3 tables, 33 references.

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