NCJ Number
170741
Journal
Advocate Volume: 18 Issue: 5 Dated: (September 1996) Pages: 39-47
Date Published
1996
Length
9 pages
Annotation
The Appalachian culture still clings to the old ways of burial in some families, and suggestions are offered on how to explore and investigate the death of a loved one as a significant stressor and event in a person's life; the focus is on key individuals in a defendant's life who have died and other factors that may have contributed to the defendant's criminality.
Abstract
A comprehensive social history is recommended to obtain necessary details. Proper screening requires collecting potential sources of information or witnesses, and family members are always important resources. An important investigative task is to determine why the defendant committed a crime while no other family members turned to crime. Home life issues must also be explored, such as quality of life, chores, parent's marriage, and domestic violence. Other important considerations are housing, drug abuse, whether the defendant ever ran away from home, financial status, homelessness, discipline, psychological abuse, and sexual abuse.