Initial chapters of the text review clinical evaluation, psychological testing, and the classification of homicide. The authors show how the usual psychiatric classification of mental illness and the legal division of offenders into sane and insane rarely explain the crime and are virtually useless as prognostic indicators. An alternative approach to classification that is based on motivational stimulit of the criminal act is presented. These stimuli are arranged on a scale that ranges from purely exogenous to purely endogenous. Separate chapters cover these various stages. Included are socially and environmentally stimulated homicides, situational homicides, catathymic homicides, and compulsive homicides. Homicides with organic, toxic, and paranoid causes constitute a separate group. The work then focuses on prediction of future behavior and disposition of homicidal offenders. It is emphasized that while absolutely and consistently correct prediction of behavior is impossible, correct estimates of possibility, probability and, in some instances, certainty can be achieved. Throughout the book, detailed case material is used to illustrate textural points. An index and over 300 references are provided in the book. (Author abstract modified)