Correlates of Homicide by Familial Relationship

Abstract

The study of individuals who commit domestic violence toward partners and spouses has received considerable attention over the past several decades, but there are fewer studies that examine violence perpetrated against children and other extended family members. This gap in the literature makes it difficult to determine whether the correlates of domestic violence, particularly homicide offending, vary by victim group. In this study, we use the 2016 Survey of Prison Inmates to identify the correlates of familial homicide that includes violence toward spouses, children, and other family member types such as grandparents, parents, and siblings. A major conclusion is that discharging a firearm during the commission of a crime greatly increases the odds of homicide offending.