Juvenile homicide offenders: 10 years' experience of an adolescent forensic psychiatry service

Abstract

Psychosocial characteristics were retrospectively studied in 46 juvenile perpetrators of homicide who had been referred to an adolescent forensic service in a 10-year period. Results of analysis were compared with a sample of 106 fire-setters referred to the same service. The profile of British homicidal juveniles is similar to that cited in the American literature in that the majority are male and come from disturbed family backgrounds. Compared with a delinquent sample of fire-setters, however, significantly more homicidal juveniles were male and had a history of frequent changes of schools, alcohol abuse and alcohol intoxication at the time of the offence. By contrast, when compared with delinquent juveniles, significantly fewer of the homicidal juveniles suffer from psychotic illness and are known to professional services prior to referral to the service. In a discriminant analysis a history of psychosis, being in care, alcohol intoxication at the material time and prior psychology contact were the most significant variables predicting group membership for homicidal and fire-setting delinquents. Abused homicidal youths do not differ markedly from those who do not suffer abuse but are characterized as coming from families with higher rates of paternal psychopathology. Prevention needs to focus on issues such as quality of parenting and alcohol abuse.