VioLit summary: OBJECTIVE: The goal of this article by Stearns was to discuss the use of clinical syndromes a s a means of classification in criminology. METHODOLOGY: The author employed a non-experimental, descriptive study of four cases of juvenile murder. FINDINGS/DISCUSSION: The author argues that while current research in homicide has begun to focus on individual offenders, systematic studies are still lacking. Psychiatrists have mad attempts to classify offenders based on categories reserved for insanity. This, according to the author, has resulted in classifications based on personality disorders that are too distinctive for a practical grouping of offenders. The author asserts that it should be possible to classify offenders using clinical syndromes similar to those used in medicine. Further, the author states that the development of some sort of classification system is vital to the study of criminology. Four cases of homicide were described in which the offenders were all young males, ranging in age from 13 to 18. In all of the cases the offender had little or no history of delinquent or violent behavior. All of the crimes were "wanton and ferocious" and involved female victims, two of which were described as being "scantily clad." Further, in all cases the offenders freely admitted guilt, pled guilty in court, and showed substantial remorse after the crimes. The offenders claimed to have no idea why they committed their crimes, but described them being committed on an impulse. Additionally, the author described a similar case in which the victim lived. As in the murder cases, the offense was committed "on impulse." Also, the offender has exhibited no violent or disruptive behavior since the incident. AUTHOR'S RECOMMENDATIONS: The author stated that these crimes are similar enough to be classified within a single clinical syndrome. Additionally, the author asserts that other crimes of this nature would probably demonstrate a pattern similar to that of these cases. Making no other specific recommendations, the author does take issue with the assumptions that 1) a "gross mental disease" is responsible for these crimes, 2) that these offenders represent a threat to society, and 3) that these offenders represent too much of threat to ever be released. (CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado) KW - Violence Causes KW - Offender Motivation KW - Homicide Offender KW - Homicide Causes KW - Juvenile Offender KW - Juvenile Violence KW - Offender Classification System KW - Offender Typology
Language: en
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