ABSTRACT
Murder by offenders under the age of 18 has generated considerable interest and concern in the United States since the early 1980s. Although the rates of juvenile-perpetrated homicide have generally decreased since the mid-1990s, it is important to note that hundreds of children and adolescents are still arrested for murder and non-negligible manslaughter every year. Moreover, some of the homicide offenses they commit are so disturbing that they garner national and sometimes even global attention. Using prior research that spans approximately eight decades, this chapter examines the most common characteristics of juvenile homicide offenders (JHOs) and the homicide incidents in which they are involved, as well as the risk factors for juvenile homicide. JHOs in the United States are disproportionately more likely to be Black males between the ages of 15 and 17 who grow up in disadvantaged neighborhoods, kill with at least one accomplice and use a firearm, and target an acquaintance or a stranger in the killing. The most influential factors in juvenile homicide have been found to be childhood abuse and neglect, brain dysfunction, history of delinquent behavior, various personality characteristics, prior violence, problems at school, weapon carrying, and involvement in gang activities.
