NCJ Number
108585
Date Published
1987
Length
20 pages
Annotation
A profile of the black female homicide offender is presented, based on an analysis of previous research and results of ongoing research in Chicago and Houston.
Abstract
Fifteen empirical studies reported between 1958 and 1984 have focused on these offenders. These studies and the ongoing research have provided information on offenders' social and demographic characteristics, victim characteristics, offender characteristics during the crime, the offense characteristics, and offenders' experience with the criminal justice system. Black females are disproportionately involved in committing homicides. They tend to have little education and less than normal intelligence, but they do not tend to come from broken homes. They tend not to be under the influence of alcohol or other drugs when committing the crime and do not tend to plan the murders they commit. They tend to kill their mates or other family members, most commonly in the home with firearms. Black women who murder have also been involved more often in the criminal justice system than have their white counterparts. They also receive harsher sentences than white females who have committed the same crimes. Data tables, notes, and 54 references.