NCJ Number
98506
Date Published
1984
Length
23 pages
Annotation
An analysis of research and direct work with teenagers who have attempted or actually committed murder notes the early developmental trauma and deprivation in these offenders' childhoods and the need for techniques for early recognition of assaultive behavior patterns and age-appropriate interventions for these children and their parents.
Abstract
A wide variety of theoretical and empirical studies have focused on the dynamics of adolescent homicide and have sought to identify the crucial environmental and sociological factors. Early deprivation of parental love, parental abuse or seduction, and exposure to violence have been found in a number of studies. Malmquist, Kalogerakis, and Smith have described behavioral patterns in adolescents prior to a homicidal assult. Corder and others compared 10 adolescents assult. Corder and others compared 10 adolescents who had murdered a parent with 10 charged with murdering a close acquaintance and 10 charged with the murder of a stranger. Those charged with parricide had fewer typical adolescent sexual outlets like dating and fewer social relationships than the others. They also had more indications of chronic physical abuse by parents, overattachment to their mothers, family patterns of absent fathers, and more instances of amnesia for the murder act itself. Those who murdered strangers tended to have histories of poor impulse control. A 4.5-year followup showed satisfactory adjustment in the parricide group. Few reports exist regarding treatment for assaultive children. Several authors suggest an initial stage of hospitalization with a multimodal approach to therapy. Some authors have noted the difficulties that professionals have in dealing with homicidal delinquents, particularly those who have murdered parents. Treatment and intervention in general are critical areas where further research is needed. Fifty references are listed.