Juvenile homicide: The need for an interdisciplinary approach

Abstract

Most of the empirical literature on juvenile homicide has emerged from the clinical experience of mental health professionals who have diagnosed and/or treated youngsters who killed. After a critical review of this literature, data on 787 juvenile homicide offenders are presented and discussed. These data indicate that intrafamilial killings represent but a small fraction of all homicides perpetrated by juveniles and that there are clear differences between intrafamilial and extrafamilial juvenile homicides.

Distance patterns and disposal sites in rural area homicides committed in Finland

“…A result having practical importance is that there were at least two offenders present at the time of the killing in nearly half of the rural homicide cases. This also relates to their younger age: there are frequently multiple offenders in adolescent homicides (Ewing, 1990;Hagelstam & Häkkänen, 2006;Rowley, Ewing, & Singer, 1987). Furthermore, the offender acted alone when transporting the victim's body to the rural area in only one out of fi ve cases.…”

The juvenile death penalty: A frustrated society's attempt for control

“…Interestingly, only two of the cases in Table 2 involved homicide arising from domestic disputes. This fact is particularly relevant considering the vast majority of available data on juvenile murderers is based upon familial homicides (Rowley, Ewing & Singer, 1987). As a result, that research data may not be applicable to the juveniles who are currently on death row.…”

“…Following a review of the literature, Rowley, Ewing, and Singer (1987) presented and discussed data on 787 juvenile homicide offenders. They concluded that the present plethora of clinical data may be largely irrelevant in understanding juvenile homicide.…”

An Empirical Analysis and Time Distribution of Deviant Homicides in Houston: A Time Series Observational Study

“…When attempting to determine what is in the best interest of the child, you have to determine what threat to society this juvenile has, and what can be done to rehabilitate them. According to Rowley, (1987) many juvenile killers suffer from neurosis, psychoses, personality disorder, and organic brain syndromes. This should show us that tax dollars could be well spent treating mental illness but many cases of parricide in the United States are the result of brutal parental mistreatment.…”

“…This should show us that tax dollars could be well spent treating mental illness but many cases of parricide in the United States are the result of brutal parental mistreatment. Rowley (1987) found that youth that killed their parents demonstrated fewer indications of poor impulse control, a variable in many youth killings, but high amounts of evidence of having been physically or sexually abused by their parents. In other words, poor impulse control can be blamed for youth killing, but not in most cases of parricide.…”