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Is serial homicide really increasing?

L B Schlesinger1

  • 1John Jay College of Criminal Justice, City University of New York, USA.

The Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law
|October 11, 2001
PubMed
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Serial homicide is not increasing, contrary to popular belief. Crime data suggests contract murder is rising, necessitating forensic psychiatric research into this evolving criminal behavior.

Area of Science:

  • Criminology
  • Forensic Psychiatry
  • Sociology

Background:

  • Public perception suggests a rise in serial homicide.
  • Existing crime data lacks robust scientific support for this belief.
  • Dramatic shifts in homicide statistics may indicate other trends.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To critically evaluate the scientific evidence for increasing serial homicide.
  • To identify alternative explanations for observed changes in homicide data.
  • To highlight the need for forensic psychiatric examination of contract murder.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of crime statistics, including homicide clearance rates and victim demographics.
  • Comparative examination of serial murder versus contract murder indicators.

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  • Literature review on existing research in serial and contract homicide.

    • Main Results:

    • Little scientific evidence supports the notion of increasing serial homicide.
    • Changes in clearance rates, unknown motives, and victim gender suggest a rise in contract murder.
    • Contract murder is significantly impacting society without adequate forensic psychiatric study.

    Conclusions:

    • The perceived increase in serial homicide is not supported by current data.
    • Contract murder is a more likely explanation for observed statistical anomalies.
    • Urgent need for forensic psychiatric research on contract murder is identified.