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Capital versus noncapital murderers.
- Source :
-
The journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law [J Am Acad Psychiatry Law] 1998; Vol. 26 (3), pp. 403-10. - Publication Year :
- 1998
-
Abstract
- This study compares three groups of murderers: those who have received a death sentence (n = 18), those who were eligible to receive a death sentence but did not have it sought against them (n = 18), and those who were not eligible for the death penalty (n = 18). A retrospective record review of these 54 pretrial detainees in South Carolina who underwent court-ordered competency and criminal responsibility evaluations was completed comparing the following variables: age, race, marital status, educational level, prior legal history, relationship to the victim, race of the victim, existence of a codefendant, prior psychiatric history, psychiatric diagnoses, substance abuse history, use of substances at the time of the crime, Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) or WAIS-Revised Full Scale IQ, and evidence of organic impairment. Statistically significant findings included race of the murderer, race of the victim, relationship to the victim, and existence of a codefendant. Death row inmates were more likely to be Caucasian and much more likely to have murdered a Caucasian than a non-Caucasian victim. Death row inmates were less likely to know their victims and more likely to have a codefendant. Psychiatric and organic findings did not differ among the groups, but the rate of organic findings and substance abuse was high in all three groups.
- Subjects :
- Adult
Humans
Male
Mental Disorders complications
Mental Disorders diagnosis
Neurocognitive Disorders complications
Neurocognitive Disorders diagnosis
Neurocognitive Disorders psychology
Retrospective Studies
South Carolina
Wechsler Scales
Capital Punishment legislation & jurisprudence
Homicide legislation & jurisprudence
Prisoners
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1093-6793
- Volume :
- 26
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- The journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 9785284