Add your conference to our Justice Events calendar

PUBLICATIONS

Stay Informed
Register with NCJRS to receive NCJRS's biweekly e-newsletter JUSTINFO and additional periodic emails from NCJRS and the NCJRS federal sponsors that highlight the latest research published or sponsored by the Office of Justice Programs.

NCJRS Abstract

The document referenced below is part of the NCJRS Virtual Library collection. To conduct further searches of the collection, visit the Virtual Library. See the Obtain Documents page for direction on how to access resources online, via mail, through interlibrary loans, or in a local library.

NCJ Number:	175478

Title:	Suicide by Cop: Victim-Precipitated Homicide

Journal:	Police Chief Volume:65 Issue:10 Dated:October 1998 Pages:111-114

Author(s):	R B Parent

Date Published:	1998

Page Count:	4

Format:	Article

Language:	English

Country:	United States of America

Annotation:	This article examines the role of the victim in police shootings.

Abstract:	Four categories of predictors often combine to influence police officers' use of deadly force: (1) attributes of the participants; (2) attributes of the setting; (3) actions, intentions, and resources of the suspect; and (4) other predictors, such as when the suspect uses alternatives to a gun. In addition, researchers have examined the interactional theory, which attempts to explain extreme violence by focusing upon the character of relationships. The actions of a participant precipitate the acts of another, e.g., a police officer, ultimately escalating the conflict until homicide occurs. It is within this context that "suicide by cop" occurs. An individual engages in a suicide mission by threatening the life of a police officer or innocent bystander. Bent on self-destruction, the individual forces the situation until the police officer has no option but the use of deadly force. Suicide prevention techniques and alternatives to lethal weapon must be made available to police officers if these situations are to be minimized. Notes

Main Term(s):	Police

Index Term(s):	British Columbia; Homicide; Lawful use of force; Police use of deadly force; Police weapons use; Suicide; Suicide prevention; Suicidology; Violence



	To cite this abstract, use the following link: http://www.ncjrs.gov/App/publications/abstract.aspx?ID=175478

*A link to the full-text document is provided whenever possible. For documents not available online, a link to the publisher's website is provided. Tell us how you use the NCJRS Library and Abstracts Database - send us your feedback.

PUBLICATIONS

NCJRS Abstract

Find in a Library