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Do Homicide Perpetrators Have Higher Rates of Delayed-Suicide Than the Other Offenders? Data from a Sample of the Inmate Population in Italy

Author

Listed:
  • Silvia Raddi

    (Department of Health Sciences, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy)

  • Francesca Baralla

    (Department of Humanities, Social Sciences and Education—SUSeF, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy)

  • Alberto D’Argenio

    (Department of Neuroscience, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy)

  • Simona Traverso

    (Department of Medical Science, Chirurgical and Neuroscience, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy)

  • Marco Sarchiapone

    (Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy)

  • Marco Marchetti

    (Department of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Molise, 86100 Campobasso, Italy)

Abstract

Homicide-suicide can be defined as homicide followed by the suicide of the perpetrator shortly afterward. In the so-called “homicide-delayed suicide”, homicide and suicide occur but within a wide and not strictly defined timeframe. This study analyzes data concerning the suicide of 667 inmates in Italy between 2002 and 2015, considering homicide perpetrators compared to all offenders. The analyses revealed that inmates who had committed homicide were more likely to commit suicide (71% versus 45%; χ2 = 10.952, p = 0.001) and the odds of suicide increase concerning 1.58 times among homicide perpetrators. The time-to-suicide interval after homicide ranges between 0 to 9.125 days (mean = 1.687,9; SD = 2.303,1). Moreover, the intimate-homicide offenders who committed suicide had a significantly shorter survival time after the offense than did the other non-intimate offenders who died by suicide ( t test, t = −3.56, df = 90, p = 0.001). The link between homicide and higher suicide risk in homicide perpetrators should be highlighted because of all the homicide offenders passing through the criminal justice system. Superior knowledge about the path of homicide-delayed suicide will be of particular use to professionals in evaluating and treating homicide inmates.

Suggested Citation

  • Silvia Raddi & Francesca Baralla & Alberto D’Argenio & Simona Traverso & Marco Sarchiapone & Marco Marchetti, 2022. "Do Homicide Perpetrators Have Higher Rates of Delayed-Suicide Than the Other Offenders? Data from a Sample of the Inmate Population in Italy," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(24), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:19:y:2022:i:24:p:16991-:d:1006841
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Van Wormer, Katherine & Odiah, Chuk, 1999. "The psychology of suicide-murder and the death penalty," Journal of Criminal Justice, Elsevier, vol. 27(4), pages 361-370, July.
    2. repec:cai:popine:popu_p1993_48n3_0625 is not listed on IDEAS
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