NCJ Number
113704
Date Published
1988
Length
2 pages
Annotation
Factors in homicides involving family members were investigated in a study of 2,600 cases of nonjustifiable homicide recorded in Cuyahoga County, Ohio from 1970 through 1983.
Abstract
In 14 percent of these homicides, the assailant was a family member. Compared to homicides involving an acquaintance or a stranger, family homicides differed in their surrounding circumstances and in the characteristics of the victim and the offender. While offenders in all types of homicide are typically young males, family homicides involved more female and older offenders. These homicides also involved more female and juvenile victims. The majority of victims in family homicides were married and were killed by a spouse. The vast majority of family homicides occurred in the victim's home, which was not the case in stranger and acquaintance homicides. While firearms were the predominant mode of death in all types of homicides, family homicides were more likely to involve more personalized methods such as stabbing, beating, and strangulation. Finally, family homicides were more spontaneous, with a higher proportion occurring during or after a quarrel. Alcohol was found in the victim's body in a high proportion of family homicides. Findings provide support for stress, exchange/social control, and social learning theories of family homicide. 9 tables and 23 references.