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Citation |
Mohandie K, Meloy JR. J. Forensic Sci. 2011; 56(3): 664-668. |
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Affiliation |
Operational Consulting International, Inc., P.O. Box 88, Pasadena, CA 91102. Forensis, Inc., P.O. Box 90699, San Diego, CA 92169. (http://www.forensis.org) University of California, San Diego, CA. |
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Copyright |
(Copyright © 2011, American Society for Testing and Materials, Publisher John Wiley and Sons) |
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DOI |
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PMID |
21291468 |
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Abstract |
An analysis of suicide by cop (SBC) among female subjects in a large sample (n = 707) of officer-involved shootings (OIS) is reported. Women represented 3% of the total sample (n = 21) and 5% (n = 12) of the 256 SBC cases. Therefore, 57% of the women (n = 12) were classified as SBC, and 81% of the women (n = 17) behaviorally evidenced some suicidal motivation. The results underscore that when a female subject becomes involved in a situation leading to an OIS, there is a very high likelihood that she is motivated to be intentionally killed. She is almost guaranteed to have a diagnosed mental disorder, has been prescribed psychiatric medications, and is abusing a substance at the time, most likely alcohol. Nevertheless, she also poses a serious risk of injury to both police officers and civilians during the encounter and will possess a firearm half the time. The wish for suicide is often precipitated by serious relationship issues. Comparisons are made to the male subjects in our previous study. Language: en |