Recidivism Patterns Among Two Types of Juvenile Homicide Offenders: A 30-Year Follow-Up Study

• Published in: International journal of offender therapy and comparative criminology 2018-02, Vol.62 (2), p.404-426
• Main Authors: Khachatryan, Norair, Heide, Kathleen M., Hummel, Erich V.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Conflict; Correctional treatment programs; Crime; Criminal sentences; Ex-convicts; Homicide; Imprisonment; Juvenile offenders; Murders & murder attempts; Offenses; Recidivism; Typology; Variables; Violent offenders
• ISSN: 0306-624X; 1552-6933
• DOI: 10.1177/0306624X16657052

Although juvenile homicide has been a matter of concern in the United States since the 1980s, prior research has not addressed long-term recidivism patterns for convicted juvenile murderers. Furthermore, a prominent juvenile homicide typology had not previously been tested with U.S. offenders. The present study examined whether juvenile offenders who killed or attempted to kill during the commission of a crime differed from those who killed due to some type of conflict on pre-incarceration, incarceration, and post-incarceration variables. These offenders were sentenced to adult prison in the early 1980s. Follow-up data spanned 30 years. The results indicated that approximately 88% of released offenders have been rearrested. Analyses of pre-incarceration variables revealed that crime-oriented offenders were significantly more likely to commit the homicide offense using accomplices than conflict-oriented offenders, and the latter were significantly more likely to use a firearm during the homicide incident. The circumstances of the homicide, however, were not significantly related to any other pre-incarceration variables, release from prison, number of post-release arrests, and number of post-release violent offenses. The implications of the findings, their comparability to previous follow-up research on this typology, and avenues for future research are discussed.