NCJ Number
102204
Date Published
Unknown
Length
19 pages
Annotation
This study documented the psychiatric, neurological, and family factors consistently present among 24 juvenile murderers and compared them with 18 nonviolent delinquents.
Abstract
Neuropsychiatric evaluations were performed on nine juvenile murderers prior to their murder offenses. Similar evaluations were performed on 15 other juvenile murderers subsequent to their homicidal acts. Family information taken from subjects' records encompassed family constellation; occupations; and psychosocial problems such as psychiatric hospitalizations, extreme violence within the family, and child neglect or abuse. The characteristics of the two groups of murderers were remarkably similar in the following areas: head injury, major neurological impairment, psychotic symptomatology, a history of physical abuse, and a history of extraordinary< family violence. The 18 nonviolent delinquents had been incarcerated and clinically evaluated in adolescence. They had no record of violent crimes by the age of 25. The 24 juvenile murderers were distinguished from the 18 nonviolent delinquents in their having a history of central nervous system injury; central nervous system impairment; episodic psychotic symptomatology; and a history of physical abuse, family violence, or both. 2 tables and 17 references.