Domestic homicide and other violent crimes: The same or different phenomena?

Leonel C. Gonçalves; Astrid Rossegger; Friederike Sadowski; Thierry Urwyler; Stéphanie Baggio; Jérôme Endrass

Forensic Science International: Mind and Law (Dec 2022)

Domestic homicide and other violent crimes: The same or different phenomena?

Leonel C. Gonçalves,
Astrid Rossegger,
Friederike Sadowski,
Thierry Urwyler,
Stéphanie Baggio,
Jérôme Endrass

Affiliations

Leonel C. Gonçalves: Office of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Canton of Zurich, Hohlstrasse 552, 8090, Zurich, Switzerland; Division of Prison Health, Geneva University Hospitals & University of Geneva, Chemin du Petit Bel Air 2, 1226, Thônex, Switzerland
Astrid Rossegger: Office of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Canton of Zurich, Hohlstrasse 552, 8090, Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstrasse 10, 78464, Konstanz, Germany; Forensic Psychiatry Hospitals, PSychiatric Hospital of the University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
Friederike Sadowski: Bundeskriminalamt, 65173, Wiesbaden, Germany
Thierry Urwyler: Office of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Canton of Zurich, Hohlstrasse 552, 8090, Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstrasse 10, 78464, Konstanz, Germany; University of Zurich, Faculty of Law, Rämistrasse 74, 8001 Zurich; University of Lucerne, Faculty of Law, Frohburgstrasse 3, 6002 Luzern
Stéphanie Baggio: Division of Prison Health, Geneva University Hospitals & University of Geneva, Chemin du Petit Bel Air 2, 1226, Thônex, Switzerland; Institute of Primary Health Care (BIHAM), University of Bern, Mittelstrasse 43, 3012, Bern, Switzerland; Corresponding author. Geneva University Hospital, Ch. du Petit-Bel-Air 2, 1226, Thônex, Switzerland.
Jérôme Endrass: Office of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Canton of Zurich, Hohlstrasse 552, 8090, Zurich, Switzerland; Department of Psychology, University of Konstanz, Universitätsstrasse 10, 78464, Konstanz, Germany; Forensic Psychiatry Hospitals, PSychiatric Hospital of the University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland

Journal volume & issue: Vol. 3
p. 100075

Abstract

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This study investigated correlates of domestic homicide (DH) and other violent crimes. Data were collected retrospectively from criminal justice files on 617 persons in Switzerland (DH = 47). Multinomial logistic regressions revealed that, overall, DH perpetrators were more likely to be older, female, married, to have a psychiatric hospitalization history, and to be under the influence of delusions when they committed the crime. In addition, they were less likely to have prior convictions. Furthermore, the characteristics associated to DH perpetrators were more similar to domestic violence perpetrators than those of persons who committed non-domestic offenses. Based on the current sample, data, and methods, DH appears to be better explained by specialist theories than generalist views of crime, suggesting that DH and the homicide of non-family members are different phenomena. Therefore, domestic offenders may require specific assessment and intervention methods. However, replications of this study are necessary to generalize the current findings.

Published in Forensic Science International: Mind and Law

ISSN: 2666-3538 (Online)
Publisher: Elsevier
Country of publisher: Netherlands
LCC subjects: Law; Medicine: Internal medicine: Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry: Neurology. Diseases of the nervous system: Psychiatry
Website: https://www.journals.elsevier.com/forensic-science-international-mind-and-law

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