NCJ Number
152916
Journal
VCPN Volume: 42 Dated: (Summer 1994) Pages: 12-15
Editor(s)
J Grayson
Date Published
1994
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article on juvenile murderers in Virginia considers the incidence of the offense, offender characteristics, societal factors, adolescent parricide offenders, and intervention.
Abstract
The final report of Virginia's Commission on Violent Crime, released earlier in 1994, shows that the number of juvenile murder arrests in the State have increased 250 percent in the last 10 years. Categories of juveniles who murder are those with clear psychotic symptoms, those involved in interpersonal conflict with the victim, and those who commit the homicide in the course of another crime. Factors that contribute to a juvenile's violent behavior are central nervous system abnormalities, the use of drugs or alcohol, being raised in an abusive home, and having a diagnosis of conduct disorder. Societal factors are gang participation, exposure to media violence, and easy availability of guns. Juveniles at risk of committing violence against a family member are those raised in a dysfunctional family, those exposed to ongoing family violence and child abuse, vulnerability to stressors in the home, and the availability of a firearm in the home. If child protection systems can identify the factors likely to precipitate violence in a juvenile family member, professional intervention may be initiated before a tragedy occurs. A 4-item annotated bibliography