U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government, Department of Justice.

Characteristics of Canadian Youth-Perpetrated Homicides

NCJ Number
243959
Journal
Criminal Justice and Behavior Volume: 40 Issue: 9 Dated: September 2013 Pages: 1009-1026
Author(s)
Michael Woodworth; Ava D. Agar; Richard B. A. Coupland
Date Published
September 2013
Length
18 pages
Annotation

This study expands on previous limited empirical studies and investigation into features of youth homicides using a sample of 105 Canadian youth homicide offenders.

Abstract

Youth-perpetrated homicide has considerable impact on our society and justice system. Unfortunately, youth-perpetrated homicide is an understudied crime and even less research has been conducted specific to a Canadian population. Two decades ago, Meloff and Silverman published the most thorough examination of youth-perpetrated homicide in Canada. Since that time, it has been proposed that the motivations and characteristics of youth violence have changed in a number of important ways. The present study expands on previous limited empirical studies and investigation into features of youth homicides using a sample of 105 Canadian youth homicide offenders. A number of important differences were observed. For instance, there were substantially more multiple-perpetrator, stranger, and instrumental homicides. Results are considered in relation to trends observed in Canada and the United States. Abstract published by arrangement with Sage Journals.