Exploring the Role of Psycho-Social Factors on the Recidivism of Homicide Offenders

• Published date: 01 November 2023
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.1177/10887679221148407
• Author: Jonathan C. Reid,Raquel V. Oliveira,Nicole Collier
• Date: 01 November 2023
• Subject Matter: Special Issue Articles

https://doi.org/10.1177/10887679221148407

Homicide Studies

2023, Vol. 27(4) 411 –434

© 2023 SAGE Publications

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DOI: 10.1177/10887679221148407

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Special Issue Article

Exploring the Role of

Psycho-Social Factors on

the Recidivism of Homicide

Offenders

Jonathan C. Reid1, Raquel V. Oliveira2,3,

and Nicole Collier4

Abstract

Research on criminal recidivism is extensive. However, little is known about how

cumulative risk factors influence recidivism, specifically among homicide offenders.

The current study examines the effect of cumulative psychological and social risk

factors on recidivism patterns for homicide offenders released in Florida between

2004 and 2011. Analyses of 4,323 homicide offenders indicate that the influence of

cumulative psycho-social risk factors varies depending on the measure of recidivism

and the statistical method used. The implications of these findings for theory and

research are considered.

Keywords

homicide offenders, recidivism, re-offending, life-course, mental health, cumulative

effects

Introduction

Homicide is considered by some to be the most extreme form of violence inflicted by

one human on another (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2019). When such

an event occurs, the local community and the wider public anticipate timely criminal

1Sam Houston State University, Huntsville, TX, USA

2Augusta University, GA, USA

3Analyses and Metric Validation Research Group (CNPQ—UNESP), Araraquara, Brazil

4California State University, San Bernardino, USA

Corresponding Author:

Jonathan C. Reid, Department of Criminal Justice and Criminology, Sam Houston State University,

George J. Beto Criminal Justice Center, Box 2296, Huntsville, TX 77341-2296, USA.

Email: jcr108@shsu.edu

1148407HSXXXX10.1177/10887679221148407Homicide StudiesReid et al.

research-article2023

412 Homicide Studies 27(4)

legal actions to detect, apprehend, and prosecute the perpetrator(s). In the United

States, despite experiencing relatively long periods of incarceration, homicide offend-

ers are often released to communities in large numbers (Antenangeli & Durose, 2021;

Liem et al., 2014). Public safety concerns arising from prisoner reentry of this sort

provide ample reason for scholars to investigate the extent and correlates of homicide

offender recidivism.

This article aims to contribute to the scientific understanding of homicide offender

recidivism by exploring how psychological and social risk factors influence recidi-

vism patterns among a large sample of released homicide offenders in the U.S. In

particular, the study uses a cumulative risk approach to assess how multiple risk fac-

tors work together to affect various recidivism outcomes. Such an approach under-

scores the reality that over the life-course, persons are characterized by diverse

environments, experiences, and personal traits that can, in synergy, impact potential

life outcomes—including criminality (Hatch, 2005; Nurius et al., 2015; Oliveira &

Beaver, 2021; Savolainen et al., 2018). Persons exposed to multiple risk factors

throughout the life-course may therefore have an increased likelihood of criminal

offending and recidivism than persons exposed to fewer risk factors (Hatch, 2005;

Savolainen et al., 2018). With this understanding, the current study explores the cumu-

lative role of psychological and social risk factors and their influence on the recidi-

vism of homicide offenders.

Literature Review

Homicide Offender Recidivism Research

Prior research on homicide offender recidivism, though limited in frequency, has

offered valuable insight into the reoffending patterns of this distinct group of

offenders.1 While some studies have focused on offenders within the U.S. (Liem

et al., 2014; Neuilly et al., 2011; Roberts et al., 2007), most have centered on homi-

cide offenders in Australia and Europe (Baay et al., 2012; Broadhurst et al., 2018;

Clarke et al., 2016; Eronen et al., 1996; Gottlieb & Gabrielsen, 1990; Sturup &

Lindqvist, 2014; Tiihonen et al., 1995). Overall, this research indicates that the

extent of recidivism among homicide offenders varies considerably from about 1%

to upwards of 80%. This wide range is likely a result of methodological differences

across studies, including variations in follow-up times and how recidivism was

defined. For example, when studies analyze violent recidivism as defined by another

homicide offense following release, recidivism estimates range from 1% to 3%

(Bjørkly & Waage, 2005; Eronen et al., 1996; Tiihonen et al., 1995). However, recid-

ivism estimates substantially increase to 35% or greater when measured as a non-

violent infraction, such as a parole or technical violation (Baay et al., 2012; Liem

et al., 2014; Neuilly et al., 2011). A recent study by Antenangeli and Durose (2021)

that generalized to about 409,300 released U.S. prisoners found that homicide

offenders had the lowest re-arrest rates (57.4%) compared with other violent offender

groups.