Understanding homicide in Australia: Exploring perpetrator accounts

Abstract

Of all crimes, homicide arguably has the most extreme consequences. It has devastating effects for the victim's family, where experiences of severe loss and emotional distress are common (Hardesty, Campbell, Mcfarlane & Lewandowski, 2008; Peterson Armour, 2002). It has been estimated that more than one in five immediate family members affected by homicide go on to develop homicide-related post-traumatic stress disorder (Amick-McMullan, Kilpatrick & Resnick, 1991). Further, although homicides are rare events when compared against the large volume of non-lethal assaults, the impact of lethal violence on the criminal justice system is considerable. In Australia, approximately 2800 men and women are currently serving custodial sentences for homicide and related offences (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2011b) at a significant cost to society. Es.ti.mates suggest that monetary costs associated 'With homicide are over five million US dollars per offence (Delisi, Kosloski, Sween, Hachmeister, Moore & Drury, 2010). Moreover, the overall health related impacts associated with both non-lethal and lethal violence represent a significant cost to the community (VicHealth, 2004). Given the significance of these events for families and the general community, there is an increasing need to examine and understand the various opportunities for preventing homicide events.