NCJ Number
173315
Journal
Homicide Studies Volume: 2 Issue: 1 Dated: February 1998 Pages: 46-63
Date Published
1998
Length
18 pages
Annotation
Based on national data indicating homicide offenders commit suicide in about 10 percent of the cases, this study hypothesized the probability of suicide following homicide would increase when the offender had close social ties to the victim.
Abstract
The study predicted the probability of suicide following homicide would increase in accordance with the strength of the offender's social bonds because of the damage done to these bonds by the act of murder. More specifically, the study predicted the probability of suicide would be highest when the murderer was the victim's father, relatively high when he was involved in a marriage or marriage-like relationship with the victim, and lowest when he and the victim were strangers. Data were obtained from the Canadian Centre for Justice Statistics on 5,408 homicide offenses committed by white males between 1961 and 1983. The focal explanatory variable was the strength of the bond between the offender and his victim. Other variables included measures of the offender's socioeconomic status. The study hypothesis was supported, that the closer the social ties between individuals, the more likely suicide would follow homicide. Further, the probability of suicide increased with the offender's age and education, was higher when the offender used a gun, and was higher when the victim was female. 35 references, 10 notes, and 1 table