NCJ Number
47451
Date Published
1977
Length
12 pages
Annotation
TO EXAMINE MOTIVATIONAL FACTORS OF HOMICIDES COMMITTED BY WOMEN, QUESTIONNAIRES WERE ADMINISTERED TO 132 WOMEN IN THE WOMEN'S DIVISION OF CORRECTIONS (COOK COUNTY, ILLINOIS) WHO HAD BEEN ARRESTED FOR HOMICIDE.
Abstract
PRELIMINARY INTERVIEWS WITH SOME OF THESE WOMEN INDICATE THAT CONTINUOUS ABUSE WAS A DOMINANT FACTOR IN THE MURDER OF A HUSBAND, COMMON-LAW HUSBAND, OR BOYFRIEND. OF THE TOTAL SAMPLE, 53 KILLED THEIR HUSBAND OR BOYFRIEND. OF THESE, 46 WERE BLACK, 6 WERE WHITE, AND 1 WAS AMERICAN INDIAN. THE WEAPONS USED WERE KNIVES AND GUNS: 26 WERE SHOT, AND 27 WERE STABBED. THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF THE RELATIONSHIP WAS 6.3 YEARS FOR WIVES/ COMMON-LAW WIVES, AND 3.7 YEARS FOR UNMARRIED WOMEN WHO KILLED BOYFRIENDS. ALL 53 WOMEN CITED CONTINUOUS ABUSE AS A FACTOR: 31 LISTED EXCESSIVE ALCOHOL AS THE REASON FOR THE BEATINGS, AND THE REMAINING 22 GAVE SEVERAL REASONS INCLUDING 'MEANNESS' AND ANGER. ALL 53 WOMEN HAD CALLED THE POLICE ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS PRIOR TO THE HOMICIDE. REASONS GIVEN FOR REMAINING IN THE RELATIONSHIP INCLUDED CHILDREN (36) AND FEAR (17); 42 OF THE WOMEN HAD CHILDREN. THE AVERAGE NUMBER OF CHILDREN WAS 2.13, AND THEIR AVERAGE AGE WAS 11.5 YEARS. THE WOMEN RANGED IN AGE FROM 22 TO 63 YEARS; AVERAGE EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT WAS 9.7 YEARS. MOST OF THE WOMEN WERE UNEMPLOYED HOUSEWIVES: 14 OF THE 53 WERE EMPLOYED. ONLY 22 OF THE WOMEN WERE BORN IN ILLINOIS, ALL IN THE CHICAGO/COOK COUNTY AREA. ONLY TWO OF THE WOMEN HAD PRIOR ARREST RECORDS, ONE FOR BATTERY OF HER HUSBAND AND THE OTHER FOR A TRAFFIC OFFENSE. RESULTS INDICATE THAT 40 PERCENT OF THE WOMEN ARRESTED FOR MURDER, MANSLAUGHTER OR INVOLUNTARY MANSLAUGHTER WERE BATTERED WOMEN. ALL HAD UNDERGONE SEVERE BEATINGS BUT REMAINED COMMITTED TO THE RELATIONSHIP UP UNTIL THE TIME OF THE MURDER. ALL OF THE WOMEN STATED THAT THEY FELT THEY WERE IN EMINENT DANGER OF LOSING THEIR LIVES PRIOR TO THE MURDER. OF THESE WOMEN, 25 WERE DISCHARGED ON BOND, 3 WENT TO THE DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH, 4 WERE DISCHARGED AS NOT GUILTY, 4 RECEIVED WORK RELEASES, AND THE REMAINING 17 WERE FOUND GUILTY AND GIVEN AVERAGE SENTENCES RANGING BETWEEN 2 AND 9 YEARS. IT IS SUGGESTED THAT THE AVAILABILITY OF SHELTERS AND THERAPY FOR THESE WOMEN MAY HAVE PREVENTED THEM FROM USING HOMICIDE AS A LAST RESORT IN DEFENSE OF THEIR OWN LIVES. THE CONCEPT OF REHABILITATING THESE WOMEN, WHO ARE NOT CRIMINALS, IS QUESTIONED. TABULAR DATA ARE OMITTED. (JAP)