NCJ Number
196308
Journal
Journal of Offender Rehabilitation Volume: 34 Issue: 2 Dated: 2001 Pages: 1-19
Date Published
2001
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This article investigates the relationship between several bio-psycho-social variables and selection for the low probability outcome of State-imposed execution as punishment for capital murder.
Abstract
The study focused primarily on those individuals legally put to death in the United States between 1976 and 1995. Qualitative analyses of the crimes leading to eventual offender execution revealed four distinct patterns of offenses: (1) those occurring during the commission of other offenses; (2) those that were explosive or impulsive by nature; (3) those that were crimes of passion; and (4) those that were mercenary killings or involved a murder for hire. Study results supported the hypothesis that murder offenses committed by executed capital offenders were more gruesome than murder offenses committed by incarcerated homicide offenders. Finally, the article suggests that cognitively impaired individuals are more vulnerable to the negative consequences of psychiatric illness, childhood abuse and neglect, and substance use and abuse. It suggests the need for a closer examination of the bio-psycho-social bases of the development of violent behavior. Tables, references