NCJ Number
153256
Date Published
October 1995
Length
30 pages
Annotation
This study provides information on the processing of a representative sample of 540 spousal murder cases disposed of in 1988.
Abstract
Approximately 1 in 3 spouse murder cases disposed in 1988 in the nation's 75 largest urban counties were sampled. More than half of the nation's murders occurred in these 75 largest counties. Of the spouse murders sampled, 59% were husbands killing wives, and 41% were wives killing husbands. This report discusses how state prosecutors, judges, and juries handled these two types of murder cases and gives specific case histories, describing each case and its outcome in court.