NCJ Number
226569
Journal
Journal of Forensic Sciences Volume: 54 Issue: 2 Dated: March 2009 Pages: 456-462
Date Published
March 2009
Length
7 pages
Annotation
This paper reports on the investigation of the frequency and characteristics of “suicide-by-cop” (SBC) cases among a large (n=707) nonrandom sample of North American officer-involved shootings (OIS).
Abstract
“Suicide by cop” is defined as a subject engaging in behavior which poses an apparent risk of serious injury or death to him/her, with the intent of causing police to shoot and kill him/her. This study found that 36 percent of the OIS in this sample were SBC, based on high interrater agreement on OIS category classification. SBC cases were more likely to result in the death or injury of the subjects than other OIS cases. Fifty-one percent (n=131) of the SBC subjects were killed during the encounter with police. In eighty-one percent of the cases (n=206), the incidents were apparently planned to initiate the incident, but rather became acutely suicidal in response to police intervention and the circumstances that evolved. Sixty-two percent (n=158) of the SBC subjects had a confirmed or probable mental health history; 16 percent had a prior known suicide attempt. Forty-eight percent of the confirmed mental health subjects were clinically judged by the researchers to be suffering from depression or some form of mood disorder. SBC subjects were armed with weapons during 80 percent (n=205) of the incidents, and 19 percent feigned or simulated weapon possession. Of those who were armed, 60 percent had a firearm that was loaded and operational. Other weapons wielded by the subjects included knives, blunt force objects, and various combinations. Suicidal communications by the subject at any point prior to or during the incident occurred in 87 percent (n=222) of the cases. Between March 2006 and January 2007, three trained researchers reviewed the OIS files of participating police and criminal justice agencies. 1 table and 16 references