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RESEARCH PRODUCT

Neurological and Psychological Risk Factors among Young Homicidal, Violent, and Nonviolent Offenders in Finland

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description

This study compares groups of homicidal offenders, violent offenders, and nonviolent offenders across a set of risk factors that included neurological disorders, early behavior problems, and abuse experiences. It was predicted that the homicidal group would present more of these risk factors than the other two groups. Also, it was predicted that the homicidal participants would show more evidence of an accumulation of these problems. The results revealed that the onset of alcohol abuse, prevalence of drug dependence, extent of physical abuse, and cruelty to animals differentiated the homicidal offenders from one or both of the other offender groups. Additionally, a combination of different risk factors proved to be a better predictor of group membership than risk factors considered in isolation from one another. The importance of targeting individuals with a combination of risk factors for preventive intervention is discussed.