NCJ Number
218728
Journal
Criminal Behavior and Mental Health Volume: 17 Issue: 2 Dated: 2007 Pages: 107-112
Date Published
2007
Length
6 pages
Annotation
This study investigated whether the mortality rate, cause, and manner of death of homicide offenders was significantly different from the general population.
Abstract
Results indicated an increased risk of premature death for homicide offenders in Sweden. Specifically, findings revealed that half of the study participants had died by 2002 and the overall mortality rate for homicide offenders was three times higher than that of the general population. Additionally, the risk and rate of suicide was higher for the offenders than for the general population. The authors suggest that since homicide offenders in Sweden tend to kill those with whom they have a close relationship, the offenders’ self-contempt, coupled with public and professional views of homicide offenders, may predispose homicide offenders to suicide and early death. The findings further suggest that homicide offenders in Sweden may benefit from professional support for their grief, guilt, and shame. Future research might examine how much of the increased mortality risk for homicide offenders is related to the consequences of the homicide itself. Participants were an incidence group of 153 Swedish homicide offenders from 1970 to 1980. Data were drawn from the National Cause-of-Death Register for the period between the offenders’ trials and October 2002, which was approximately 22 to 32 years following participants’ homicide offense. Death certificates were also analyzed. Data analysis involved the standard procedures for calculating Standard Mortality Rate (SMR) and survival analysis. Tables, references