Faculty Books and Book Chapters

Homicide-Suicide

Homicide-Suicide

Book Title

Handbook of behavioral criminology

Document Type

Book Chapter

ISBN

978-3319616230

Publication Date

2-10-2018

Description

Homicide-suicide (H-S) is a category of interpersonal violence, whereby a person commits suicide after perpetrating a homicide of one or more persons (Barraclough & Harris, 2002). Although their incidence is low relative to other violent acts, homicide-suicides are considered a public health concern, as they typically involve more than one member of a family, and have been found to often target children (Adinkrah, 2003; Violence Policy Center, 2012). In some cases, there are survivors/witnesses of these incidences (e.g., children left parentless) (Adinkrah, 2003), who go on to bear severe psychological and behavioral consequences as a result of the trauma (Sillito & Salari, 2011). Indeed, H-S events impose widespread suffering affecting the individuals involved, their families, and the community. Developing a model unique to H-S incidents requires careful evaluation of known psychosocial, medical, economic, cultural, developmental and psychiatric variables that have the highest correlation with predatory violence (Goranson, Boehnlein, & Drummond, 2012). Within the H-S literature, select populations have been identified as being at an exceptionally higher risk for involvement: couples with intimate partner violence (IPV), individuals involved in family court cases, older adults, and law enforcement officers. Studies have revealed unique precursors and dynamics within each of these populations that increase risk them for this type violence.

Publisher

Springer

City

New York City

First Page

201

Last Page

214

Files

Homicide-Suicide
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