Juvenile Homicide Offenders: An Examination of Prior Record Offending and Post-Release Recidivism

• In Event: Special Populations of Offenders with Mental Illness

Abstract

Murders committed by juveniles have been a matter of great concern in the United States during the last 30 years. This study is a retrospective look at 59 juvenile homicide offenders who were convicted of murder or attempted murder in the 1980s and sentenced to adult prison. A recent 30-year follow-up study revealed that approximately 81% of the original sample subjects were released from prison. Of those released, 88% were rearrested. This project uses record and interview data to examine the prior criminal / delinquent records of these juveniles. The aim of the study is to assess to what extent these youths had a documented history of antisocial behavior prior to their homicide arrests. Two assessment tools are used for diagnostic purposes: Conduct Disorder as delineated in DSM V and items 18, 19, and 20 of the Psychopathy Checklist Youth Version. Items 18 to 20 measure serious criminal behavior, serious violation of conditional release, and criminal versatility, respectively. Analysis and discussion will focus on the extent to which pre-homicide offending was related to the extent and type of post-release recidivism.

Authors

• Reshma Pinnamaneni, University of South Florida

• Norair Khachatryan, University of South Florida

• Kathleen Heide, University of South Florida

• Eldra P. Solomon, Center for Mental Health