Older Homicide Offender - Clinical Perspectives (From Old as Offenders and Victims of Crime - Proceedings, P 52-61, 1981 - See NCJ-85804)

• NCJ Number: 85808
• Author(s): W E Lucas
• Date Published: 1981
• Length: 10 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; New South Wales; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Language: English
• Country: Australia

Annotation

Six case studies of elderly homicide offenders show that they are frequently impaired physically and psychologically, which makes it particularly important that elderly offenders receive high quality medical and psychiatric investigation and reporting prior to case disposition.

Abstract

A significant number of homicides are committed by older persons. As in other homicides, victims tend to be relatives and friends, indicating that interpersonal problems are an important causative factor. Psychiatric disturbance appears to be frequent in these older offenders and is often associated with organic deterioration. Alcohol abuse appears to be a major cause of organic brain disease in the elderly, and acute intoxication appears often to be a contributing cause in the homicide situation. Organic psychiatric disorders are more frequently suspected in older than in younger offenders and may be obvious on initial clinical examination; however, coordination of information from a number of sources and the initiation of full investigations is not easy in a detention setting, and accused persons remanded in custody may possibly be disadvantaged in this respect. Consultant psychiatrists reporting to prosecution or defense counsel often find that full information on accused persons is not readily available, and special investigations are not easily organized. In New South Wales, the prison medical service does not traditionally conduct complete assessments of persons charged with homicide. Also, valuable information contained in medical records is not always seen by consultant psychiatrists. The prison medical service should begin complete evaluations of persons accused of murder, and consideration should be given to instituting a system that will permit persons charged with homicide to be seen by consultant psychiatrists early in the period of remand. Also, the courts should maintain an interest in the quality and relevancy of the psychiatric assessments placed before them. (Author abstract modified)